Legends of the Lepchas

<p><i>'In the beginning there was nothing but vast emptiness on earth and in the sky. </i><i>Itbu-moo</i><i>, the Mother Creator, shaped the mountains, rivers and lakes. But something was missing. Why did her creation feel empty? So, taking a fresh ball of snow, she created the first man . . . and then the first woman. These became the chief deities of the Lepchas.'</i><br><br>Thus begins one of the stories in this delightful book, a compilation of folk tales of the Lepchas, passed down through the ages.<br>Custodians of a language and script of the same name, the Lepchas inhabit regions that currently fall under the state of Sikkim, in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, Ilam district of eastern Nepal and the south-western parts of Bhutan. Ancient lore suggests that they have inhabited in the region from time immemorial.<br><br>The tales included in this collection-describing gods, goddesses, people, animals and nature in a cohesive world where one cannot do without the other-skilfully bring to life the beliefs and rich culture of this unique community. Accompanying each short story are stunning illustrations, etching the lyrical sweep and mood of the tale.</p>

<p><b>Yishey Doma (Author) </b><br> A journalist and poet, Yishey Doma has written several books on Sikkim, including <i>Sikkim: A Hidden Fruitful Valley</i>, <i>Faith Healers of Sikkim: Traditions, Legends and Rituals</i>, and <i>The Splendour of Sikkim: Cultures and Traditions of the Ethnic Communities</i>. Her articles on the life and culture in the Sikkim Himalayas have appeared in several newspapers and magazines, as well as in her book <i>Sikkim: A Travel Companion</i>.<br><br><br>A student of Sikkimese Buddhist philosophy, she has contributed to the award-winning documentary, <i>Lama Dances of Sikkim</i>, and also created a book database on the monasteries and temples of Sikkim.<br><br><br>Yishey's short story 'Mantras of Love' won the MSN-Random House short story contest in 2012, and was published in the anthology <i>She Writes</i>. She is a recipient of the Sikkim Sahitya Samman, one of Sikkim's top civilian awards, and the first North Eastern Poetry Award from the Poetry Society (India). She was also one of the first writers-in-residence at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.<br><br><b>Pankaj Thapa (Illustrator) </b><br> Educated at St Edmund's School in Shillong, Pankaj Thapa first began illustrating in his textbooks. After graduating from St Edmund's College, he obtained a master's degree in English at the Northeastern Hill University, Shillong.<br><br><br>He dabbled in journalism for a bit and then settled in Sikkim, where he taught English literature at the Sikkim Government College for thirty-nine years before retiring as associate professor in 2021.<br><br><br>He is a founder-member of <i>Green Circle</i>, Sikkim's first environmental group, and a founder-member of Converse, Sikkim's Annual Literary Meet. He has been invited to share his topical cartoons at the Jaipur Literature Festival, Bhutan Literature Festival, Brahmaputra Literature Festival, Tezpur Literature Festival and National Book Trust events.<br><br><br>Post retirement, Pankaj Thapa is now a full-time illustrator and graphic designer. His illustration projects include <i>The Boy Who Had A Dream, </i>a graphic novel based on a folktale by Rinpoche Ringu Tulku, Kynpham S. Nongkynrih's <i>Around the Hearth</i>, Guru T. Ladakhi's <i>Monk on a Hill, </i>Uddipana Goswami's<i> Where we Come From, Where We Are Going </i>and Pushpa Sharma's<i> Nepali Folktales.</i><br><br></p>