In reminiscence of
late uncle Lhagyal’s visit to Tibet and our home in Topa
Fishing with Sonam Tsering:
I don’t know the date and time, of the uncle
Lhagyal’s visit, which can be verified through other people. But it was
sometime in the summer. Because I recall going to the Gyalmo Ngochu river to
fish with brother Sonam Tsering who came with uncle Lhagyal. Sonam Tsering made
a crude fish hook, and when we reach the river, he made me hold the end of the
fish hook bracelet, while he threw the bait into the river. But as he threw it,
and I couldn’t hold it strong enough, and the bracelet went off with the bait
into the river. Sonam Tsering attempted to wade into the river to retrieve it,
and the river was too deep for that. So we had no luck of ever playing with it,
leaving along to catch fish. It was at the time when uncle Lhagyal was staying
in our home, and I remember, how secretly we went off to fishing, for fear of
uncle Lhagyal’s reprimand for such a pastime. As hunting and fishing is
considered a sin and one hunter in our village is an outcaste.
The Snake incident
As a child, some of my memories of uncle Lhagyal
visit are so fresh and vivid. In preparing for uncle’s invitation, our families
have put up with the best appearance we manage, by rolling out few new carpets,
arranging the well decorated tables and then preparing the best dishes my
mother can think of . The entire house is buzzing with excitements and in a
festive mood. Uncle Lhagyal’s bed is
arranged in the family shrine in the upper floor, which is usually reserved for
only monks and Lamas. As it is a little hot at the time, a makeshift tent has
erected to get some shade up on the upper terras of the house. Uncle Lhagyal
sits out under that, and I recollect, after washing his feet, some kind of
medication is done to his leg, by hot sponging something like that. As a child I was awed with such a precarious treatment
and yet find it bewildering. Around that time, we all have also seen some where
under the beam or the ceiling of our house (probably it is in the shrine), a
large python is crawling. It is said to be harmless, but just the name and
sight of it, terrifies the kids and adult alike. On that evening of our sighting the pantheon,
everyone went to sleep. Around somewhere in the middle of the night, uncle
Lhagyal while was sound asleep in the shrine, felt something is moving on his blankets.
He was sleeping still and didn’t move, even it awakes him. He was thinking that
his movement could scare away the things and even harms it. In his mind, he was
thinking, it must be the snake that we have seen in the ceiling in day time.
Not wishing to disturb the entire family by making a commotion, he went back to
sleep, and nor he disturbs the things that moves on his quilt and on the bed.
Next morning, when he wakes up, he saw two small kittens sleeping soundly by
his bedside on the quilt. So it turns out that what he suspected as the snake
actually turns out to be the cats.
As a child I heard him recounting his nightmarish
dilemma to the elders in the next day. And I don’t know why, I never forget
that incident. I was dumbstruck, and
wondered at the time how he could be so composed and remained calm, even slept
through the night, while thinking a snake is crawling on his bed.
Maybe this shows, he is a fearless person no matter
whatever he encounters in life, a brave soul, a man with a lion’s heart. And at
the same time, he is considerate and does not disturb other’s peace, even at a
time of seemingly crisis situation.
Uncle’s visit was for us children the happiest
moment, I recall when they are leaving for India from Shangritsang family, sister Tseten
Wangmo while riding on a horse wept uncontrollably and so the family members who see them off
at Shangri Gan, reciprocated with emotional farewell. Their departure was a sad moment for me as child. And I recall that
day so vividly.
Proud nephews of Shangri Lhagyal:
We as children are filled with pride for being the
descendents of Shangritsang. At the time, Shangritsang family is respected, has
status and fairly well-to –do by local standard. But being the descendents of
Shangritsang family has also high expectation on us children, in terms of
courage and bravery and integrity. Some years back, my sister in law had a car
accident in Chamdo. She was knocked down while crossing the road by a passing
truck, and had to be hospitalized. My brother who was in Lhoro at the time on
business immediately rushed to Chamdo. The driver of the truck was a Tibetan
and very cooperative and taking full responsibilities of the incident. He
assured to give all medical expenses for the treatment and also negotiate to
reach a settlement for compensation. My brother Tenzin Nyima is a not a very
aggressive fellow, and quit timid and humble guy, and rarely engage in a fist
fight with other. The family members of my sister in law are urging my brother
to demand a huge compensation, or should threat the truck driver in
retaliation. My sister in law’s injuries was not life threatening, but was
visible injuries on the forehead. And later on she has fully recovered albeit a
little scars on from the injuries. As for the settlement with the truck driver,
he was willing to compensate with considerable cash Yuan 30000 on top of the
all the medical bills he was willing to cover. The driver requested for such a
settlement, and if brother doesn’t accept, then the only other recourse for
them is to go to court for settlement.
My brother after weighing all the pros and cons agreed to the
settlement, but the family members of my sister in law was fuming; they are demanding
an eye for an eye for the truck driver. And scorned on my brother for not being
more aggressive and demanding, the elder of the family said to my mother “who
would believe that he is the nephew of Shangri Lhagyal”.
As this incident clearly illustrate that uncle
Lhagyal’s fame is well known in the entire village and we the descendants are
expected to be as courageous as the uncle in their [people’s]sense of what a
really man is.
