Sikkim Lepcha Tungbuk & Pumtong Pulit receive national recognition with GI tag

BIJOY GURUNG

GANGTOK,: The Government of India has granted Geographical Indication (GI) registration for two traditional Lepcha musical instruments - Sikkim Lepcha Tungbuk and Sikkim Lepcha Pumtong Pulit - giving a major cultural boost to the indigenous community of Sikkim.

The Tungbuk is a three-string instrument, while the Pumtong Pulit is a bamboo flute. Both are integral to Lepcha folk music and hold deep cultural and spiritual significance. They were officially registered under the Musical Instrument category of the Geographical Indication Registry, Government of India, on November 5.

The GI registration certificates were formally presented on Wednesday during the 1st Tribal Business Conclave held in New Delhi, organised by the Ministries of Culture, Tribal Affairs, and Commerce & Industry.

Ugen Palzor Lepcha and Namgyal Lepcha, who had submitted the GI tag applications for the Sikkim Lepcha Tungbuk and Sikkim Lepcha Pumtong Pulit respectively, received the certificates at the event. The applications were facilitated by Mutanchi Lom Aal Shezum (MLAS), an NGO based in Dzongu, with support from NABARD, Gangtok.

Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Jual Oram attended the event.

The GI registration not only provides formal recognition to these distinctive folk musical instruments of the Lepcha community but also strengthens efforts to preserve and revive them, shared the MLAS. The association believes that the institutional recognition will help bridge the knowledge gap among the younger generation and support the livelihoods of artisans who craft these instruments.

It was informed that the NABARD, Gangtok had extended extensive support in the GI filing process. It took around two years of work to receive the GI tag.

MLAS expressed gratitude to everyone involved in securing the GI tags, especially NABARD for its two-year-long support in this pursuit for national status.

“Mutanchi Lom Aal Shezum extends its sincere gratitude to all individuals who contributed to this endeavor. We particularly appreciate those who participated in the workshop and provided their valuable insights. Our utmost appreciation goes to NABARD, Gangtok, for their unwavering support and guidance throughout the Geographical Indication (GI) filing process. This significant milestone would not have been achievable without your invaluable assistance,” said the MLAS.

MLAS plans to hold workshops and awareness programmes to promote the Tungbuk and Pumtong Pulit among youth. The organisation also intends to undertake plantation drives of two special bamboo species - Po (choya bash) and Poyong - used in crafting the Pumtong Pulit, ensuring the sustainability of this cultural heritage.