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| Sunday, 18 September 2005 |
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The Garo oath by Arefa Tehsin "Faith is an oasis in the heart, which will never be reached by the caravan of thinking" - Kahlil Gibran
Not much has changed from the old days, the only variation being that faith then was more centred towards natural elements. Our modern day beliefs and superstitions are more centred towards the supernatural, as we are no longer in harmony with nature. If the old tribes and clans, who appear primitive and irrational, were brought to life today they would find us the most irrational of beings looking at the destruction of the natural world and construction of thickets of cement and mortar. Nothing but the truth This real life story dates back to the British rule in India. It being mentioned in the book written in the year 1913 - "Tigerland - Reminiscence of Forty Years Sport and Adventure in Bengal" by a British author of late Indian Police C. E. Gouldsbury. This is the story of a tribe called Garo living deep in the delights of a jungle in the Garo Hill District of Assam, India. Considered "semi-savage" by the author and by the great British Empire, they, oblivious of what was spoken about them by their "white masters", continued their peaceful existence. This story is focussed on their age-old belief that if a Garo tells a falsehood, he would meet a sudden and violent death. This reiterated oath, percolating down from the unknown ages by their nameless forefathers, was -"May I be killed by a wild elephant if I do not speak the truth". There lived at that time, a beautiful Garo maiden, Machmi, in one of the lonely villages surrounded by wooded obscurity. Machmi did not come from a family of importance but her beauty more than made up for this drawback and rendered many admirers thunderstruck. Pembu, her cousin and admirer, was the one who evoked her emotions and she had given her heart to this courageous, handsome boy. Hunting, wrestling, running, jumping and in other such feats of strength, he had no match in the village. Compassion was the other nature of this youth. But someone was nurturing a deadly grudge against him. Kishto, the son of the very headman was also an admirer of Machmi. He was a spineless youth, full of cunning and slyness. As he was educated, he held his brethren in contempt for their traditions and assumed himself above all for his wisdom. Pembu had once given Kishto a good thrashing after coming to know of his brash announcement about his passion towards Machmi. Kishto, being of weak disposition could not retaliate physically and had sworn revenge. For the same, he identified a guy who also fostered an ill-will towards Pembu. These two evil minds at work together hatched a wicked scheme. 'Faith is not belief without proof ...' There was an old moneylender, much disliked amongst the villagers due to his high interest rates, living in Pembu's neighbourhood. One morning a villager, who had come to reclaim his pledged jewellery, found him dead in his hut. The small community followed by the headman instantly gathered at the scene of the crime. The place had been plundered with no trace of any valuables left. No trace of the criminal had been left either. Suddenly a suggestion floated from a remote corner of the gathering to search the neighbouring huts. This astute suggestion was by no other than the wise Kishto. Search commenced soon and ended sooner with a shock. In the neighbouring Pembu's hut, concealed under the thatched roof, were two silver anklets and a bloodstained knife. The anklets were immediately identified by the one who had pledged it to the usurer. An uneasy silence engulfed the crowd and a rude blow swallowed the innocent Pembu. He had lost his knife a few days ago but had not reported. It was too late to report now. However, seeing the sympathy and disbelief in the crowd, he gathered some courage and spoke in a broken voice that he did not know anything about this hideous misdeed. He then uttered the old Garo oath that a wild elephant may kill him if he were not speaking the truth. Traditions still strong This had its effect on the whole gathering. With the traditions still strong in them they could not dare to ignore this vow of such immense weightage. "Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation." Before they could go ahead, in spite of such overwhelming evidence against Pembu, and give their verdict in favour of him, a man swiftly emerged from the assembly and claimed that he had seen Pembu coming out of the old usurer's cottage and running towards the jungle with a knife in his hand. He then repeated the customary oath. To be Continued... |
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Most of us have a tendency to label other people's beliefs as
superstition not realising that our own beliefs may occur as superstition to
others. 
