The Black Hill, a novel by Arunachal Pradesh's noted author Mamang Dai, is another
must read. Unlike her previous novels, The
Black Hill is juxtaposition of the recorded documents of Jesuit priest’s
visit to Tibet blended with imagined invented story. It takes the readers back to mid-nineteenth century when the
British had started gradual entry into the tribal’s hills territory;
the present day Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and its consequences.
It is a
story of a daring Abor girl, Gimur; a brave Mishmee man Kajinsha; a French
Jesuit priest Father Nicolas Krick and their dreams, their aspirations and the
tragedy that follows. It is a story how Krick’s entry into tribal territory
affects and what were its consequences. Though it’s a story of a man, a woman
and the priest but it also deals with:
True love. Gimur falls in love with Kajinsha hailing from Mishmi Hills of
Dau Valley near Tibet border. In spite of belonging from different tribal
communities they decide to live together. Gimur leaves her native
place to spend rest of her life with Kajinsha whom she loves more than life and
god. Both endured the difficulties and troubles together crossing many streams, rivers, hills and mountains and their fate unfolds as the story
progresses.
Missionary. This has been illustrated through Father Nicolas Krick’s sole aim
to reach Tibet and start a mission there. He was willing to sacrifice
everything to accomplish it. In spite of being cautioned, he treks the
difficult and deadly route to reach Tibet. He reasons: “I come with no soldiers, no
guns. I am alone. My wish is to travel
to Tibet. I will not disturb anyone on the way. I only seek passage through the
territory of the Mishmee chiefs.” His presence creates
misunderstandings among the natives. Bonding between Kajinsha and Krick,
though silent, was very strong.
The novel also thoroughly deals with how coming of outsiders create an
unprecedented tension and restlessness among the natives. This is illustrated through Gimur’s thought:
Wherever the migluns-the
British go they bring death and
outrage. It justifies her extreme fear, doubt and confusion. “They are armed with an evil wind that
starts blowing the moment they set foot anywhere.” Migluns are
too determined to give up their plan and it is illustrated though Moi’s words
when she says, “They are very clever people, when they want something they will never leave until they
get it. Mark my words I know them.” Sometimes the novel
also reminds the readers of Chinua Achebe’s Things fall Apart. There
is some parallel connection between The Black Hill and Things
Fall Apart.
Tribal custom, rituals and superstitious beliefs are appropriately
described in
the novel. It also explains what happens if their tradition, custom and their
superstitious beliefs are disturbed.
Kajinsha never opposes Krick visits Tibet with an aim to start a mission
there. He was for religious harmony.
Kajinsha says, “I believe in life. There may be a chief
God, yes but it is better to be friends with all gods. I do not pray like you
everyday. But we honour our gods when the kambring tells us. At other time we
live. We have a life and our lives are also ruled by gods.”
Treachery, greed and deceit :
The
tragedy would have been averted had there been trust, understanding and honesty
among the different community and clans.
Marpa was cunning and never trusted Kajinsha. Lamet was mean, greedy with
grudges against Kajinsha and his clan. He betrays Kajinsha and helps the
British arresting him accused of murdering Krick.
Love for land gets
an ample space in The Black Hill. Love for land and its importance is
frequently illustrated many times.
For example, the shaman said: “The land belongs to us. It is the soul of our ancestors. Where would
we be, what would we do, without this
land?” Kajinsha says: “We read land. Land is
our book.
True Friendship and trust is portrayed through minor characters. Though
Kajinsha’s own community from different clan has some grudges against him but
he has good friends in Chowsa and Zhumsa. They were always with him during the
time of his thick and thin. In the earlier days too they were together during
hard times. Yong, Lendem, Lasong were all honest which is an evidence of hill
people’s true friendship and trust.
Status of
women in the past is another theme of the novel. Not only in
tribal society but the European women also did not enjoy high status during
those time. It is evident when it is said: “Among
the migluns too, a woman’s name is
forgotten so soon.”
Written in a beautiful poetic language, the novel
will certainly leave an impression upon readers’ minds. The author has used a
lot of vernacular words ( Adi and Mishmi) with their meanings and such use of words has added an extra
beauty to the novel. Sometime the novel creates some kind of fear
and suspense. And other time they are
mesmerized by the beautiful description of pristine natural beauty of the hills. Though The
Black Hill is a juxtaposition of recorded history blended with imagined
invented story but, as it says in the prologue, the readers can decide whether
this story be true or not. The reader can decide whether to believe, or not.
But the narrator believed is that after everything is laid to rest, all that
matter is love; and that memory gives life, and life never ends.
Published by by Aleph Book Company, the novel was released in 2014. This 294-page novel book costly only Rs 395 and is an interesting reading.
