Peering at sorrow while navigating life outside home/in hostel

By Lungmying Lepcha

“Put yourself behind my eyes and see me as I see myself, for I have chosen to dwell in a place you cannot see “ -Rumi 

I used to think that aamik (translated as eyes in Lepcha) is the only way one can perceive life. Aamik in Lepcha means eyes. It is an impactful word among my family members who mostly wear glasses for better vision. I believe it is with the aamik that we are able to peer at the world. 

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Roots

A poem written by Lungmying Lepcha

I am because

we are

(A quote inspired by Cholhamu Lepcha )

It’s within me “deep inside “

We are not known by our surname

but by our anum Chu (mountains) ,

anom and anum

Aungkyongsong (rivers)

our mother Rungyu and father Rungeet

our eldest brother Anum Kongchen (Mt Kanchenjunga) and

to all the clans connected

within us .


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Shungma

By Sonam Chhomo

Shungma, Jispa, Lahaul valley

The experience of visiting places you always wanted to see for yourself is ethereal. The journey to this shungma felt almost as if I had been divinely allowed to enter its doorstep after many years of waiting for the perfect opportunity to unfold. As a child, I resisted visiting places at high altitudes because Lahaul was/is not a weather friendly place especially during the winter months. Even this time (it happened after a day), my ears remained blocked and my body felt uncomfortable for about two days.

But this year I felt as if I accomplished something.

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