Mother’s loved ones

The Lepchas are an endangered indigenous peoples whose identity is under threat from the dominant religions and peoples

Deepak Roy Delhi
The Lepcha are the aboriginal inhabitants of Sikkim wedged between the kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan but they have become a minority in their own tribal homelands. These people were described in old British sources as forest dwelling "fairy worshippers", and remain a fascination for anthropologists.

The term Lepcha is a mispronunciation of Lap-chea name given to them by Nepali migrants. The Lepchas, however refer to themselves as Rongpas, ravine-dwellers in their own tongue and also as Mutanchi Rongkup, or " Mother's loved ones". The Lepchas are said to be original inhabitants of Sikkim. They existed much before the Bhutias and Nepalis who migrated to the state. Before adopting Buddhism or Christianity they are known as the believers in the bone faith or mune faith. This faith was basically based on spirits, good and bad.
Li or a traditional house of the Lepchas is built on a raised platform with a height of four-five feet on multiple wooden pillars. These pillars are just kept on stones over the ground without masonry work. The upper part is dovetailed with wooden bars. In the past, the builders of Lepcha houses devised this engineering feat to make their shelters earthquake-resistant. It is said that the last indigenous hut of the Lepchas was built two hundreds ago. The Lepchas are like magicians when work with bamboo and cane. This craftsmanship is at the verge of extinction 

The cane bridges hanging over quick-flowing streams also testify to the superb craftsmanship of the Lepchas. Swaying precariously over roaring white waters, cane bridges, are often the only means of moving from one place to another. To erect such a bridge over the fast flowing waters needs engineering knowledge of high order.

Lepcha households follow a patriarchal family system, with the adult male as the head of the household. Among Lepchas, all property, either moveable or immovable, belongs to the male head of household. Women have no legal right to family property. However, women and girls are given gifts and assets including livestock, utensils, ornaments, land if the household is wealthy and other goods, which they may take with them after marriage. Lepchas are polygamous. They are free to choose their partners. The families and clans bind themselves in obligation to supply mutual nuptial requirements for those who are already bound, as well as for those who are still unattached.

Anthropologically, Lepchas are an aboriginal people whose roots lie much deeper than the history of Sikkim. The majority of the Lepchas practise the tantric form of Mahayana Buddhism that became popular in the 16th century. Tibetans began to settle in Sikkim.  Lepchas who were natives of Sikkim were probably converted to Buddhism by Tibetan lamas. The Tibetan migration in early 17th century led the Rongs to shift their habitats so as to avoid conflict. Meanwhile the struggle and conflicts among the followers of the "Yellow Hats" and the "Red Hats" in Tibet forced the latter to seek refuge in Sikkim, where they attained the status of aristocrats. Being aggressive they occupied lands, which were not registered by the Lepchas.

These Tibetan migrants are the Bhutias as they came to be known who were followers of the sect of “Red Hats” now tried to convert these Sikkimese "worshippers of nature" to Buddhism. They succeeded to some extent, though the Lepchas tried to keep themselves aloof as far as possible. In order to avoid any possible opposition from the Lepchas, these immigrants now chose a venerable person, Phuntsok Namgyal, as the temporal and spiritual leader of Sikkim.