The Distaste of the Earth – Historical Literary Fiction about the popular Folktale of Meghalaya

The Distaste of the Earth is an emotive and poignant historical literary fiction that delves deep into the popular Folktale of Meghalaya.

Synopsis

(THE DISTASTE OF THE EARTH LONGLISTED FOR THE JCB PRIZE 2024)

Inspired by the true and tragic love story of Manik Raitong and Lieng Makaw, Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih weaves an ancient world of Khasi kings and queens, warriors and plunderers, and chronicles the sorrows of a young man caught up in that world. And it all begins in a pata, the local bar.

Ambitious and expansive, lifelike and filled with wonder, this is the layered fictional history of a land where love knows no boundaries, where animals recount their tales of woe against man, and where retribution arrives, sooner or later.

Artfully raising questions about earthly powers, godly dispensation, and where our anthropocentric attitude is leading us, The Distaste of the Earth grapples with such themes as greed and oppression, revenge and justice, love and tragedy, strife and peace.

At once mythical and contemporary, this is the work of a master fabulist.

Review

The Distaste of the Earth is a touching and captivating work of historical literary fiction that reimagines a popular folktale from Meghalaya—the tragic love story of Manik Raitong and Queen Lieng Makaw of the Hima (Khasi hills).

The Distaste of the Earth is written third-person narrative with vivid and descriptive prose that brings the Khasi lands and people to life. Author uses use of  local terms and phrases aplenty which was often challenging to read and slowed the pace however translation provided alongside made it easy to understand the terms. It also adds a distinct, ancient feel to the storytelling. The story is divided in three part-

Part One introduces the Khasi land and its people, particularly the kingdom of Hima Makkhiew and its capital, Nongbag. Here, the famous Lyngkien’s pata (bar) in Nongbah is established as a central setting.

While Manik is briefly introduced in the beginning and we get to know how he got his name Manik Raitong or Manik the Wretched, or Manik the Forsaken, the focus is in this part remains the story of Lyngkien, the bar’s owner, her staff, and her regular customers. Near the end of this section, the reader is introduced to the palace, the ambitious king of Hima, and his marriage to Lieng Makaw.

This section vividly portrays Khasi life, including their culture, folklore, religion, superstitions, as well as marriage and divorce rituals. While I appreciated learning about a new culture, the pace slows considerably as it delves into these intricate details.

Part Two finally brings Manik’s story to the forefront, at around page 150. His tragic backstory is both touching and heart-wrenching. The loss of his entire Risoh clan, the death of his sister after their forced eviction, and the greed of the king and his ministers all set the stage for Manik’s reclusive life. It is here that Manik meets Lieng, though he doesn’t know her identity at first. Their brief romance is shattered by Lieng’s mother, whose cruel words drive Manik to forsake the world.

This section also delves into themes of political greed, power struggles, and a symbolic conversation between animals. The animals share legends that expose the cruelty of men toward them, reflecting how humans often demonize animals to justify their own actions. While these themes deepen the plot and illuminate Manik’s withdrawal from society, the extended conversation (nearly 150 pages) felt unnecessarily long. There is also an extensive focus on the Risoh clan, their culture, and the naming ceremony, which felt overly drawn out.

Part Three brings the story to its tragic conclusion. Manik and Lieng rekindle their love after her marriage to the king, drawn together by Manik’s enchanting music and Lieng’s beauty. Their relationship, however, must remain secret, and it culminates in the birth of their child. Despite the public’s condemnation of their forbidden love, Manik and Lieng remain proud of their bond, even as they face the inevitable consequence—death.

Manik’s trial allows him to reveal the injustices done to him. It was amazing how it moved people and changed their perspective towards him but it couldn’t affect the heartless king or his greedy ministers. While Manik and Lieng’s end is tragic, the supporting characters from the pata find happiness, offering some resolution.

Is it bad to say I enjoyed the stories of the supporting characters more than those of the main characters? I enjoyed seeing the supporting characters develop more which I couldn’t quite say for the main characters.

Many might feel uncomfortable with the relationship here, as Lieng is technically cheating. However, it doesn’t seem that egregious since the king was with her for just a week after their marriage and then disappeared for three years! It was repeatedly emphasized that his ambition to conquer nations took precedence over love and family. Additionally, there isn’t much room for a blossoming romance; we see very little interaction between Manik and Lieng in this 400+ page book.

However, the author explains in the notes that the romance in the original folktale spans only two pages, which is why the focus remains on Manik’s backstory, the exploration of Khasi culture, and the legends of the land and its animals.

Overall, The Distaste of the Earth is an emotive and poignant historical literary fiction that delves deep into Khasi culture and its famous forbidden love story of Manik Raitong, the pauper, and Lieng Makaw, the queen. It explores human cruelty and destruction, but amidst it all, love endures.

Book Links

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