The Crow the Jackal and the Red Crab Read online

  D. R. Michael Buam is an independent researcher, filmmaker and a writer in three languages.

  He is the author of LAMCHWA, an English Romance Fiction published in 2014 which is available in print and ebook versions at all leading online distributors and retailers. Do scroll down for sample chapters of the book.

  Connect with D. R. Michael Buam

  Blog: https://michaelbuam.blogspot.in

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/drmbuam

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drmichael.buam

  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/dkhar-ringson-michael-buam/a6/503/739

  Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/drmbuam

  Author page: https://notionpress.com/author/Michaelbuam

  Sample chapters of ‘LAMCHWA’

  DEDICATION:

  This book is dedicated to my mother, Sumer Sisilia Buam and my late father Denis Dkhar.

  No words can describe what they mean to me.

  PREFACE

  Though the concept of this story was born in 1998-99, it remained churning in my mind for several years because I didn’t get the time to pen it down. It was only in 2006, when I started making digital films in the local languages of Meghalaya, that I began to write this story.

  I wrote this story in two languages – in Pnar and English, but I completed the Pnar version first, titled ‘Ŋait o...’ and self published it in Dec 2012, because I had an urgent message to speak about the way coal is mined in Meghalaya and the effects of coal mining on the environment in Jaintia Hills. To convey the message to a larger audience in the state, I had also made a digital film based on the book in Pnar and released it on CDs in June 2013 (Pnar is one of the languages spoken in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya). This book is not a translation of the Pnar version but is written differently for the English reader.

  My work as a biodiversity researcher during 1998-2004 took me to many remote places of North East India, particularly in the villages of Meghalaya and Tripura and it reiterated my belief that traditional medicine was still relevant among the rural masses and even among townsfolk and some city folk especially in the north-eastern part of India. I also came across many gifted traditional healers who could heal many of those whom modern medicine couldn’t. This also contributed to the ideas in this book because during the same time and even now, traditional medicine, which comprises mostly of herbal medicine, was gaining popularity as a complementary form of medicine in the treatment of difficult diseases. The traditional healing in North East India (traditional medicine is practised all over India) is similar to Ayurveda and perhaps as ancient; but while Ayurveda was already codified in ancient texts, our traditional medicine is handed down through oral tradition or by divine revelation. Of course, this is beyond the scope of this book.

  Cancer is one of the deadly disease that modern medicine is still trying to come to grips with and is affecting more and more people every day. Through this book I wish to encourage screening for cancer so that many lives can be saved through its early detection.

  I welcome readers to send their feedback to me through my website or email and I hope you will enjoy reading the story of Lamchwa.

  Wishing you readers a happy and enjoyable reading,

  (D. R. Michael Buam)

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  At the very outset, I acknowledge God’s grace for making this dream come true. I am also indebted to my father, (Late) Denis Dkhar and my mother, Sumer Sisilia Buam for igniting in me the desire for knowledge and learning at an early age and for all the sacrifices they had made for our family.

  It would be near impossible for me to mention the names of all those who have contributed in the process of writing this book; so, I will mention a few at the risk of offending others.

  I put on record the guidance I received from Dr. B. Myrboh, (late) Dr. B. Kharbuli, Dr. H. Kayang, Dr. Donkupar Syiem and Dr. B. S. Khongwir and all my former colleagues at North Eastern Biodiversity Research Cell, NEHU. The experience I gained there helped me in writing this book.

  The support and ‘ego massage’ given by friends and relatives has always reaffirmed my faith in myself and goaded me. Thank you Ioannis Thamar, Raphael Warjri, Shalarie Kharpuri, Ruhipaia C. Phawa, Samson Pohthmi, Blassius Buam, S. Quotient Sumer, Riquoma Rq. Laloo, R. Konel Phira and others.

  I am also grateful to my wife, Joptimon Dkhar and our children – Deimaya, Joachim, Wametrae and Aamdeeam, for their love, patience and support throughout.

  Thank you all. Khublei.

  D. R. Michael Buam.