December 2016 - Preserving Our Heritage Blog

I've truly been enjoying my final days in India. It was sad saying goodbye to Ranchi where I spent most of my time, but now I've been processing so much of what I learned this past month and a half. Its good to be able to talk through what's been on my mind with a good friend a d fellow writer.

I've been musing over the next chapter of my book, when Ferdinand arrives in Lohardaga where he and his family lives for twenty years. The chapters portrays how he learned the Kurukh language, the langauge of the Oraon people. Later, after the turn of the century, he would write the Kukukh grammar and dictionary, a compilation of folk tales and other writings about the Oraon culture and religion.

Last night I equated the process of my writing to discovering Everest. Earlier this year I watched several great documentaries on Mt. Everest. I realised that perceptions of the mountain change over time. Today thousands of people around the world climb the mountain. Their perceptions differ from Hilary and Tensing, who reached the peak in the 1950s. Their perception even varies from George Everest who measured it in the geographic survey of the Indian Subcontinent in the 1840s. Then the Sherpas, who receive a good livelihood from the mountain, and take the most risk, still listen to the mountain. If the mountain groans and there is an avalanche they want to stop climbing for a while. The foreign climbers only think about how much it has cost them, and press to keep on climbing. Something has been lost in our perception and appreciation of the mountain.

Likewise I do not wish to start with what Ferdinand produced. From the start, how did he discover and aquire the language? What did it tell him about the people? How did he listen? How did he interact with the people? What did he learn about himself? I may not be able to answer all these questions, but as I think of my own experience I know that understanding follows fluency.

As an example the common social interaction of becoming aquainted involve some basic points of inquiry, Typical questions in India are: Are you married? How many children do you have? How old are you? What is your occupation? These may or may not reveal something about class and caste, and the social relations between people. The Adivasi also identify a person by their totem or Sept, which has become a Last Name. So if they are not familiar with your last name, they would ask what is its meaning? What totem are you? Ferdinand would have answered Rooster (Hahn in German). It would then be understood that his clan therefore was given the responsibility to care for and steward the rooster. See list of names below. I wonder if there were questions about why the rooster married the Fox (Voss, Doris' maiden name)

Language and identity are wrapped up in each other. Niether is stagnant. As perceptions change, how much do we pay attention and listen to the language around us? In aquiring language what do we learn about each other and nature?

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Majority of oraons write their septs.
List of totemistic names of Kurukhs:
Sr.Nos Gotras Meaning
1 Kerketta Quail bird, found among Munda and Karia tribes.
2 Xalxo/Khalkho Shad fish
3 Xaxa/Khakha Crow
4 Xess/Khess Paddy/Rice
5 Kujur A climbing plant
6 Toppo Wood picker bird
7 Tirkey Name of a bird or young mouse
8 Tigga Monkey or field rat
9 Minz Eel
10 Ekka Tortois
11 Barla Exogamous sept, found in Mundas and Kharia tribes.
12 Barwa Wild hog.
13 Koiya Wild Dog
14 Lakra Tiger
15 Beck Salt
16 Dhanwar/Dhangar Domestic Worker
17 Baghwar Tiger
18 Kachhap Tortois
19 Kindo Carp fish
20 Kispota Intestine of hog
21 Kanda Sweet potato
22 Kokro Cock
23 Gaddi Deep
24 Khoya Wild dog, Jackal
25 Chermanko An animal, Rate
26 Panna Iron
27 Bakula Crane
28 Bara Banyan tree
29 Bando Fox
30 Bhagat Kurukh priest(Baigas)
31 Binko Star
32 Munjni Creeper
33 Linda Fish
34 Son Son river
35 Rawna Vulture
36 Oroan Cast name of Oroan
37 Ram Lord Ram, Exogamous sept
38 Gidh Vulture Bird
39 Kannhar Vulture Bird
40 Baxla Tank weed
41 Beshra A name of tree
42 Nikunj Exogamous sept
43 Beshra Name of a bird
44 Devi Exogamous sept
45 Ckigalo Jackal
46 Hartu The Haluman ape
47 Orgoda hawk
48 Chelekchela Swallow
49 Dhechua Swallow-tailed bird
50 Chitkha Ficus religiosa
51 Amdi Rice-water
52 Madgi Mahua
53 Kiss khochol Lit, hog bone, a thorny tree
54 Garwa Bird(Saras)
55 Godo Name of a water creature.
56 Kuhu Cockoo
57 Oregora Kite
58 Kinda Coconut
59 Gadi Monkey
60 Gende Duck
61 Godo Crocodile
62 Chidra Squirrel
63 Jubbi Source of water
64 Pusra Kusum tree
65 Argo Mouse

I would like to thank GTC and the GEL Communications and Publications deprtment for putting on the Writers Workshop for the students. Special thanks to Bishop Rev Dr. Hemrom and Rev Bage and Golden K. for hard work to make this happen. I think the students were challenged and stretched. Also thank you for the opportunity to tell a bit of the story that I am writing on Doris and Ferdinand Hahn. They were married at the church here in Ranchi on 8 December 1871.

Here is the power point presentation I gave.

These pictures are from the time of the wedding (approximately) This is a picture of the big bungalow before the memorial stone was erected in 1895

I told the students all that stands of the original seminary building is the wall face where the two big windows once were, and three of the side pillars. One student guessed right where the building had stood, next to where the Gossner High School now stands.

I ended by showing them my family tree and asked how many of them had done a family tree like this of five generations. Only one had. I encouraged them to ask their family. Perhaps dates won't be remembered, especially for family members that weren't Christians with no birth and baptismal records. Still they can get an approximation by asking was it before or after the big war I or II; before or after Independence in 1947, or before or after the Mutiny of 1857.

They didn't have any questions afterwards. After three days I think their brains were tired, but in general they are very reserved and questions and comments come freely only after they are comfortable with you and not in a large group.

One Oraon young woman asked if this was the same man who wrote the Kurukh grammar. Yes! She was so happy to learn, since her family speaks Kuurukh.

Tags

Language, Identity, Perspective

Celebrating Wedding Anniversary

Let Nature Speak