By Olivia Lyngdoh Mawlong
Many a bulls eye was hit on the national platform and many a bet was won on the local teer field but the quiver from where the arrows came and the bows from where they were shot belong to none other than Woodran Khongsngi.
The 65-year-old arrow maker from a serene village of Nongkynrih, not far from Lailyngkot, is almost a legend. From the village’s nook and cranny to Shillong’s archery fraternity, Khongsngi is as well-known as his variety of arrows that he has been making for the past 50 years.
Sumar Sing Sawian, founder and organising secretary of Aphira Archery Association, says most of the arrows they use are taken from Khongsngi. “There are many arrow and bow makers in the village but Khongsngi’s are the best and more in demand,” he adds.
Khongsgni, who started as an arrow maker at the age of 20, is always available at his humble workshop of bamboo and thatch where he is accompanied by two of his nieces who help him in his work.
His wrinkled hands steadily and skilfully cut and shape the bamboos to make bows and arrows.“Making an arrow is not easy. It requires skills, effort and a lot of patience,” he says smiling and sharpening an arrow.
It is indeed as each arrow has to be balanced and all in a group should be perfectly identical. One has to go to the minute details while making an arrow. The shaft has to be of similar thickness for a specific sport. The fletching, the arrowhead and the nock all have to be measured with utmost acuteness.
Special kinds of bamboos are used in making the arrows and Khongsngi procures them from different parts of the state.
The arrow maker says he follows the traditional form of the art. “Different bamboos are made for different arrows and nature has put them separately and an expert eye can recognise it just by looking at the black and white marks. Coloured bamboos are used for making local arrows for teer. However, this does not make a difference to an amateur,” explains the man as he takes a break and raises his face from work for the first time.
Despite age, Khongsngi’s face has not lost the radiance and his eyes still rove with a youthful restlessness.
The bamboos have to be cut, dried, polished and sharpened. The feathers have to be cut, weaved and attached at the end of each arrow, explains the veteran as he again immerses in his work.
The weaving part is done by women helpers from the village.
Thirty-seven-year-old Linda Rynjah, who is working with Khongsngi for 15 years now, says she has learnt the art of making arrows from ‘Ma Wood’ as they would fondly call him.
“He is a very hard-working person and would teach us how to do the work right with patience,” she adds.
The arrow maker nods in agreement and says without inhibitions that not even a young man can work as hard as he does. “I stay awake for nights when there is any urgent order. I never waste my time,” he says and smiles at the young lady.
When not at his workshop, Khongsngi keeps himself occupied in household chores.
When asked about other arrow makers, the sexagenarian says there are others but “I make a set of both the bow and arrows while others make only arrows or the bow and so most people come to me for the tools”.
Khongsngi makes arrows of various requirements. His arrows are used in the Indian Round of archery at the national and state levels.
Among his clients are the Sports Authority of India as well as local archers for the famous gambling sport ‘teer’.
While arrows used for teer are the cheapest and the easiest to make, the ones used for games are the toughest and can take days to finish a set. The prices vary from Rs 8 to Rs 300 apiece depending on the quality.
As he shows around the workshop, Khongsngi picks up a Nam Pliang, an arrow used in wars and for hunting. This is one of the most effective arrows with strong and sharp edges and its iron tip can pierce the heart of an enemy even from a distance. And to make this arrow, one requires a lot of effort and it is also costlier than the others.
With archery becoming more popular in the region now, the demand is more than before.
Even tourists come to him to buy a set of a bow and arrows to take back to their cities as souvenirs.
Khongsngi also makes miniature bows and arrows used as souvenirs or for decorations. These are in high demand during festivals.
When asked about his age and the difficulties in continuing the work, Khongsngi’s eyes flicker with pride as he holds up a half-sharpened arrow. “This is an art and nothing affects it, not even age,” he says. But the face immediately turns sombre as he talks about the future of the art after him.
“My children are not interested in the art, therefore I teach my nieces and nephews so that they can carry on the legacy,” he says.
At the same time he admits that there is not much profit from the work as he has to buy the raw materials and pay the helpers as the work needs a lot of labour. “But I love the work and will continue,” he says with determination.
“The Khasis use a bow and arrow while naming a male child. This symbolises the strength and the power bestowed upon the child that he is the protector of oneself, the family and the country. Therefore, we are warriors, fighters, protectors of our people and these were once the most effective weapons,” the 65-year-old says.
Khongsngi leaves his cane stool and reaches for a bow lying nearby. He puts an arrow and pulls the string hard to raise the tension. “Khasis are warriors. We should all be ready to fight the enemy of our state,” he says dramatically and sits down as animatedly as he rose and quietly starts working.
The arrow man pulls the curtain down on his quiver full of stories.
A young gentleman and frequent visitor from Shillong gives an insight into this emotional act.
“He was one of the best archers of his time. He loves the sport and he feels that every youth should learn how to use the equipment. Khongsngi stopped shooting after an eye problem but he says he is happy that he can still be associated with the sport in his own way. He is proud of his bows and arrows,” he says.
(Photographs by
Banshailang Mukhim)
