The fascinating Singing Village of Meghalaya

We are all born nameless, and given a name after that. But what if our mothers gave us a unique tune as name instead? It sounds completely unbelievable, but it’s true. The tiny village of Kongthong in Meghalaya has a tradition of giving tunes to babies, and not names.  

Where is Kongthong?  
Kongthong a small village in the Khat-ar Shnong area in the East Khasi Hills. Though just 60 km, i.e., about 4 hours of drive along mountainous roads from the state capital of Shillong, the village seems very remote. That is because there are no sign boards en route, traffic is almost absent, and the quiet hills surround the village.  

Why is Kong Thong called the Singing Village?  
The village has a population of less than 700 people. When a baby is born, the mother whispers or whistles a tune inspired by bird calls. This is called Jingrwai Lawbei or mother’s love song in the local language Khasi. No two tunes are same. Throughout the life of this person, he or she is called by that tune. On death, the tune dies with the person. Given the tiny population of the village, everyone knows each other’s tunes.  

Why did the practice of assigning human caller tunes start?  
This is an ancient custom, prompted by practicality and lifestyle. In the remote hills, sharp sounds of whistles travel much further than human voices. So villagers had been whistling to call while working the fields or travelling. The other reason is the way people live there.  

The average Kong Thong villager is peaceful, happy and quiet. They are very close to nature and do not like loud noises. The village has a football pitch, a community hall, with a field to perform their festival and cultural dance. Kong Thong has no hospital or police station, but there’s a dispensary and a school till grade 8. The crime rate is 0%. The people are simple, honest and hospitable. In such a close-knit culture, having whistles instead of names is actually quite possible. Tourists started visiting Kong Thong on learning about how unique it is. Tourism has failed to spoil the pristine beauty of the village and going there continues to be worthwhile.