Kongthong: India's Whistling Village in Global Spotlight
Amid debates surrounding languages like Marathi, Tamil, and Punjabi, the village of Kongthong in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, nestled in India's northeastern hilly region, finds joy in its distinctive whistling language. Kongthong represents India in the World's Best Village competition by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and is vying for recognition as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. Renowned for its stunning landscapes and the unique culture of its residents, Kongthong attracts tourists and language researchers from countries such as America, Germany, and Japan. The villagers communicate using a whistled language called 'Jingrwai Iobei,' where each person has a unique name expressed as a whistled lullaby, and they address each other by whistling these lullabies.
Kongthong, also referred to as 'Jingrwai Iobei', is famous for its whistled lullabies. Each resident has a distinct whistled lullaby name, and they communicate by whistling these tunes to address one another. Geography: Kongthong is a serene and scenic hill village situated in the East Khasi Hills, with a population ranging from 500 to 700 individuals.
The residents of Kongthong, part of the Khasi tribe, speak the Khasi language, which is primarily spoken. However, Kongthong is known for its distinctive tradition where each villager has a unique whistling tune as their name. This melody is believed to honor the 'Jingrwai Iobei,' meaning 'original ancestor.' When a child is born, the mother assigns a unique name, which becomes the child's permanent identity. This name is not a conventional word but a unique call or tune expressed through whistling, understood only by the villagers. This matriarchal tradition involves the mother repeatedly humming a specific musical tune as a whistle, which the child gradually learns to recognize. This unique whistle tune, known as the 'Jingrwai Iobei Lullaby,' becomes the individual's permanent identity. Villagers refer to each other using these unique caller tunes. Each Jingrwai Iobei, or individual name, has both a short and long version.
According to Dr. Piyashi Dutta, a researcher who researched this tradition, every clan has an original ancestor. Every time a tune is composed for a child, that ancestor is honored. 'Jingerwai Iobei' is a raga (Jingerwai) that is sung in honor of the original ancestor (Iobei). There are many folk tales about the origin of this tradition which center on how 'a man climbed a tree while battling some goons. He whistled the names of his friends so that they come and rescue him and the goons do not get a clue'. This unique way of communicating has attracted tourists from all over the world as well as language research scholars.
The village has a middle school up to class 8. The village falls under Sohra Assembly Constituency which is a constituency reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST). The economy of the village is based on agriculture. Villagers make long journeys down the hill to markets to sell their harvest, where they also buy supplies for the week for the entire village.
Transportation: Kongthong, situated approximately 65 km southwest of Shillong, was as remote as other villages until 2017 but has now been linked by a motorable road. Nearby larger towns include Cherrapunji to the southwest, Khatrshnong to the north, Pynursla to the southeast, and Dawki to the southeast, which serves as a market and immigration checkpoint on the Bangladesh-India border. These towns are accessible via national and state highways. The closest airports are Shillong Airport, 65 km to the northeast, and Sela Airport, 75 km to the southeast. Mendipathar Railway Station, located 272 km to the northwest, is the nearest railway station.
Visitors can explore Kongthong village, which offers a scenic journey along a hilly path flanked by valleys and rocks, providing a delightful and picturesque experience. The village is encircled by stunning hills, some of which are among the wettest places on earth, with Mawsynram now surpassing Cherrapunji in terms of rainfall. The region features living root bridges, waterfalls, and unique geographical formations like 'Jingkieng Muir,' a natural stone bridge connecting two rocks with the Sohra river flowing a hundred feet below. Tourists appreciate the local 'rural-tourism' hospitality.
The villagers are keen on preserving the distinctive tradition of Jingrwai Iobei tunes, which serve as names for their residents. They are advocating for the school to offer higher classes and include 'whistle language' in the curriculum. In the Canary Islands, the Silbo Gomero whistle language, with 22,000 users, and Turkey's Bird language, with 10,000 users, are taught in schools and recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013 and 2017, respectively. However, Jingrawai Iobei, with only 700 practitioners, is not taught in schools, raising concerns about its preservation..