With Bah Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih
May 2024 Handpicked Experience
“The Art of Storytelling” featured the book release of award-winning author and lecturer, Bah Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih – “The Distaste of the Earth”. Along with the book release, a serene tea tasting session with brands of Urlong and Anderson were also exhibited, adding more depth and aesthetic to the event.
About the author
Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih, a poet, novelist, and dramatist from Sohra, Meghalaya, writes in Khasi and English. His works include The Distaste of the Earth: A Novel, Funeral Nights (forthcoming), The Yearning of Seeds: Poems, Time’s Barter: Haiku and Senryu, and Around the Hearth: Khasi Legends. He has co-edited anthologies like Late-Blooming Cherries and Dancing Earth. His writings focus on Meghalaya’s tribal heritage and Khasi culture. A recipient of several awards, including the Northeast Poetry Award, Tagore Fellowship, and Sparrow Literary Award, he teaches literature at North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong.
His writing style blends poetic imagery with a deep focus on Khasi culture and heritage and captures the essence of Meghalaya’s traditions and folklore, merging Khasi and English. Through introspective and evocative language, he explores themes of identity, nature, and the connection between land and people.
About the Book
Inspired by the true love story of Manik Raitong and Lieng Makaw, The Distaste of the Earth by Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih weaves a tale set in a world of Khasi kings, warriors, and queens. Through a young man’s tragic journey, the novel explores themes of love, justice, revenge, and oppression. Filled with myth and contemporary relevance, it raises questions about earthly power, divine will, and humanity's future. A masterful blend of fiction, history, and fable, this work is both expansive and deeply poignant.
Musical performance: A symphonic musical performance from Benedict Hynniewta, a visual artist and musician.
Tea tasting session: With tea leaves of Urlong and Anderson, sourced locally from the verdant hills of Meghalaya.
