Many areas in Meghalaya’s northern Ri Bhoi and Jaintia Hills districts have stories about people who acquire the ability to “inhabit” the body of tigers and leopards.
Most never shape-shift into these cats but are reportedly able to link their souls or spirits with the animal.
They have a life-long link with the cats and should the animal die or is killed, they also suffer the same fate.
In the photos, you see the late Mr Dising Maring who was a well-regarded elder and famous “tiger-man”. The newspaper cut-out is from a German publication which had done a story on him in the mid 90s.
The video interview is with Kong Kel Makri, who is reportedly a Khruk, a leopard woman.
Ki Khlaphuli Jong Ka Ri Bhoi
Ki bun ki shnong ha Ri Bhoi bad Jaintia ha kiba don ki briew kiba don ka sap ban kylla khla. Ia kum kine ki ju khot ki khlaphuli.
Kane kam mut ba ka met jong ki ka kylla dur sha ka jong u khla hynrei ba ka mynsiem jong ki ka rung shapoh ki met jong ki khla kiba ha khlaw.
Ka jingjan jong kita ki briew bad kita ki khla ka khlain haduh katta katta ba lada iap ne shah pyniap u khla, u briew ruh u lah ban kyllon iap hajuh.
Kine ki dur ki dei jong u Ma Dising Maring (bam kwai ha dwar U Blei), uwei na ki khlaphuli ba la pawnam bha haduh ba ki nongGerman ruh ki la wan thoh khana halor jong u (dur haneng)
Ha ka video phin iohsngew ia ki khana jong ka Kong Kel Makri, kawei na ki tymmen briew kaba don bor ban kylla Khruk, ne khlaphuli kynthei.
Photo courtesy/Dur na – Prof Desmond Kharmawphlang
