The flame of love burns eternally

But Ding Ka Jingieit or ‘Fire of Love’, Written by Raphael Warjri with some excerpts from Donbok T. Laloo’s play of the same name and directed by Rembrandt I. Kharnaior, is mellifluous like the echoes in the hills and speaks poignantly and poetically of love that lives eternally through death.

Manik and Lieng’s flame of love keeps burning even after their death.

The story of Manik Raitong is popular, and retold through countless generations by the Khasis. He is called raitong, or the wretched for a reason, as he had deserted all his kins in the past. He hence stays alone in his hut suffering the agony of leaving his family and having been rejected by his old love Lieng Makaw as she went to marry the Syiem or King. His only consolation lied in playing his sharati, a musical instrument.

Manik composes beautiful music with the sharati as all who witness and hear him play are beguiled.

Manik and Lieng Makaw first meet in the fields, as Lieng instantly falls for his music. The story later turns tragic as Lieng is forced to marry U Syiem or the King. She lives a life of sadness and distress in the palace.

It is when the King had to go to war that she was able to return to Manik. Manik Raitong was reluctant in starting an affair with her for she was the Mahadei now or the Queen. But love is an emotion which can overpower other feelings, the two fell for one another again.

The King returns from war only to be shocked to see his Mahadei pregnant. After the baby is born, the Lyngskor suggests to the King that he call all the males in the Hima or kingdom and make them offer a banana to the baby of Mahadei. The baby rejects the banana offered by all the men except Manik Raitong, who is forced to be present there.

The baby rejoices and eats the banana offered by Manik. It is hence deduced that he is the father. The King, distressed, orders for death-sentence of Manik. Manik Raitong chooses to die in a pyre while first playing his sharati.

The beautiful heavenly music from his instrument moves the people of the kingdom assembled. It is when he jumps into the pyre after planting his sharati in the ground that the Mahadei or Lieng Makaw follows him.

On the evening of June 6 the audience who came to watch the drama was enthralled to their senses to have witnessed how Lieng Makaw, played by Regina Lamo, brings out the pathos of a woman separated from her love under pressure from her family.

The tale is a tragedy that tries to question families who force their children into marriage.

The drama, which was staged by RITI Academy of Visual Arts in collaboration with the Directorate of Arts and Culture and East Khasi Hills District Arts and Culture Society, had background music by Gerard Manley Nongbri, Phrangsngi Wahlang, Banshailang Mukhim, Franky Mylliemngap and Dalariti Kharnaior.

Lamo delivered a spectacular performance as in one scene she wept in agony where she expressed her unrequited love for Manik Raitong who had disappeared from her life.

Banjop Kharmalki playing the role of Manik Raitong was talented as the demure, retiring hero who first hesitates at the advances of Lieng Makaw/Mahadei.

Paul Lyngdoh Mairang (an established actor in Khasi film industry), who played the role of Lyngskor, showed grace and charisma as he took the decisions for the Syiem/King.

“We are with our humble efforts trying to revive Khasi theatre which is a dying art in Shillong today,” were the words of playwright Raphael Warjri as he spoke to the audience at U Soso Tham Auditorium after the drama.

~ Willie Gordon Suting