From voice to verse: Exploring Khasi origins in U Jespil Syiem’s oral account

The Khasi creation myth has been retold by many scholars and storytellers, yet prevailing narratives often display inconsistencies and gaps in coherence. While the belief that the Khasi people descended from heaven via the sacred Sohpetbneng Oak is widely shared, most versions lack a clear account of why U Hynñiew-Trep came to dwell on Earth. Moreover, the myth’s chronology remains unsystematised, often unfamiliar even to traditional custodians of the oral tradition. This paper explores how U Jespil Syiem’s poetic rendition-composed in couplet form-offers a striking exception. Through a structured and lyrical approach, Syiem presents a coherent sequence of cosmic events while preserving the myth’s spiritual core. His work not only revitalises the origin narrative but also repositions it within the broader framework of Khasi cultural identity. This study examines Syiem’s contribution as a foundational reimagining of oral literature, highlighting his role as a brilliant mythologist and poet and a preserver of ancestral memory.