Damchara Mystery Last Part

Long term war suddenly finished in one day.Why ? The ancient books of tungu language has the answer to this mystery.

Photo by Sebastian Unrau on Unsplash

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The Damchara Mystery Unvieled

Part III

“Hello, Madhu Hi Boudi”(Bengali Text Meaning: Sister in Law)…Raju chipped in through the open door of Dr. Gomez's house along with Ghose, their team member.

Dr.Gomez was pleased to see both of them. He and his wife warmly welcome them and ask for Tea or Coffee. As all of them are childhood friends all three preferred the same drink,i.e., Tea.

After sipping on his tea and getting comfortable on the sofa, Raj asked Gomez if he had met Professor Nath. Mr. Raj owns a print magazine and lives in Delhi. He's a tall, slim guy with a birthmark on the left side of his forehead. Ghosh, on the other hand, is a bit bulkier and of medium height, with a beard but no moustache. He's a mystery novelist currently living in Mumbai.

“Yes”

“I had a meeting with him and he was inquiring about Tungu Language.”..after answering the question of Raj he took a break and sipped the tea from his right hand.

“Yes”..now Raj responded.

“This fellow has read my article about our work in deciphering ancient text. This article was published in my magazine a few months ago. But how he found out about the news of war being stopped in one day and why he is so interested in this topic that he has by his means come here to visit Gomez, that I have no idea.”

“Should we join him in his quest to uncover the reason why "war stopped within one day," or should we refuse because the path to the inner parts of Damcharra is somewhat perilous? If he has questionable intentions, we should reconsider.” Rahul was sitting idly all this time and looking at the discussions going on between his two childhood friends, but now on hearing that Raj has no idea about the motive of Prof.Nath for focusing on unearthing the details of the war between the King’s men and the Tunga Tribes, he becomes anxious.

"What if he stranded us in the middle and fled with the perks of this adventure? If we agree to be a part of this, it will be an adventure because the road to Damcharra is full of natural beauty but also danger. There are beautiful hills with a high probability of landslides, a picturesque forest full of snakes and tigers, and tranquil rivers that flood every year. I think Gomez knows much more than me as he is a permanent resident of this place now."

“Let us sit with Prof.Nath all together and then finalize whether we are going or not going on the trip”…after hearing Ghose, Raju replied.

“Sure, let's schedule a meeting to finalize this.”…agreed Gomez.

In the evening of the same day, a meeting took place in Gomez's drawing room. There are four participants:

• Dr.Madhusudan Gomez

• Mr.Raj Roy

• Mr.Rahul Ghose

• Prof.Paresh Chandra Nath

After having tea and snacks, they are busy discussing Professor Nath's project, which aims to uncover the true reason behind the abrupt end of the war between the Tunga Tribe and the Sen dynasty.

“But Professor we want to know why are you so serious about the reason why the war has ended abruptly ? Whether it has ended in one day or multiple days it has ended that is the point we must cherish. But why are you interested to know the reason? And you are no historian,you are linguistic. Then ?”

Professor smiled at all three.

“I understand your query. You may think that I am here for my personal gain, in terms of my career or financial stability. However, if that were the case, I could have approached any other "ancient script decoder" who would decipher the script for a fee. But sir, I am not pursuing personal gain. I am a scholar, and I am not motivated by money, as I have plenty of it. My passion lies in uncovering the secrets within the script. If we can understand the true secret, we can apply it in modern times. This is crucial because many countries are currently at war with their neighbours, and we need to find a way to stop these wars. But how? No one seems to have the answer.”

“That is the reason why if anyone can provide us with a viable solution, we have the potential to save a substantial amount of money and human lives by swiftly ending the war, possibly within a day.”

Raj was taken aback by the professor's response and was unable to believe Professor Nath's altruistic intentions. He genuinely believed that the professor meant what he said.

Turning back to his friends Raj queried about their opinion.

“Where to begin ?”…Dr.Gomez and Ghose replied simultaneously.

Both Professor and Raj understood that all four of them were now convinced about the intention of the Professor.

“We must visit a place called Jatinga Lake View Point. Where is it, Dr. Gomez? The last book written in the Tungu language was found there by a team of foreign tourists. But after that sighting, no other information was received by any of the interested people. So we must begin our search from that place. What do you think, Raj?"

“I agree with Professor. What do you think Gomez ? Ghose ?”

“I also think so”..Ghose nodded affirmatively.

“Jatinga Lake View Point is around 6 hour's drive from Damchara Main City where we are sitting now.Jatinga is a ridgetop settlement in Assam's Dima Hasao district. It is 330 km south of Guwahati. The village is home to approximately 2,500 Khasi-Pnar people plus a few Assamese. It is well-known as the site of strange bird fatalities. It is easy to go there as the place has no terrorist activities. But the road is treacherous yet heavenly. If we leave at dawn, we can arrive within 2 pm.”..Gomez paused and looked at Prof.Nath…"Will I book a car for the four of us tomorrow?”

“Yes …Sure” with this Prof.Nath concluded the meeting as he had to run for his lodge such that he could arrange his luggage for tomorrow’s voyage to unearth the mystery of “Why does a long-term war end so suddenly?”

22nd August 2020: The Day of Journey

At roughly 4 a.m., three friends board Dr. Gomez's car and drive to the lodge where Prof. Nath is staying. When they arrived at the lodge, Professor got into the car, and the four of them set out for the Jatinga Lake View Point near the Jatinga River. After a while, the four travellers forgot their goal and became entirely lost in the grandeur of the countryside through which they were driving. Nature has bestowed all of its blessings on this place. Magnificent hills, a profound forest, and an idyllic road cut across this heavenly environment.

Ultimately around 10 am they reach Jatinga Lake View Point. Now their original work will start. First, they have to find the place where the foreigners have found the manuscript written in the Tunga Language. As per the information collected by the Professor, it was a tea shop where the foreigners had found the manuscript. But there are two to three teashops in this place and none of them has any idea about this. By showing the pictures of that group of foreigners, no one was able to identify them, let alone locate the manuscript.

After investigating the other shops also they could not find any whereabouts of the manuscript. All four were dejected and decided to call it quits for the day. They booked two rooms in a homestay just a kilometre away from Lake View Point.

The homestay is situated in a charming village surrounded by lush greenery and inhabited by a small, close-knit community. The village has only one grocery store and a handful of teashops that cater to the daily needs of its residents. The homestay itself boasts six spacious rooms, all of which are positioned around a serene Buddhist temple. The owner of the house and his family make it a daily ritual to visit the temple at both dawn and dusk to pay their respects to their family deity. The proprietor, an octogenarian, lives with his wife and two adult daughters. His wife is approximately 70 years old, and both daughters have transitioned from their adolescent years into young adulthood.

The homestay is peaceful and well-organized. After the daylong journey, none of the four wasted any time. They freshened up, had dinner, and withdrew to their cosy beds. Raj and Rahul are staying in one room, and Dr. Gomez and Prof. Nath are in the other. Both rooms are located side by side.

The next morning, Raj, Rahul, Madhusudan, and Prof. Nath were having tea at a nearby shop. They felt refreshed and ready to begin their search. After paying the bill for the tea and a few biscuits, they started to survey the area, discussed with local people, and also looked in the government offices located there. They also visited the old temples and libraries in the area. However, all their searches were in vain. No manuscripts written in the Tungu language were found, and most of the people didn't know about the Tunga Tribe either.

So with a dejected heart and frustrated face they returned to their homestay. All four of them were discussing with each other about their next steps at Raj and Rahul’s room when the owner of the homestay knocked.

“I heard that you four are looking for a manuscript written in Tungu Script”…he queried.

The owner of the homestay is quite fit even if his age is eighty-one. Although all his hair colour has now turned white and so has his moustache and beard but his voice, walking style and attitude still resemble a jovial youth.

"I heard you are looking for a manuscript written in Tungu Script. But I am sorry to say that you will not find that here. No one from the tribe now lives here. Only few people who are direct descendants of the tribe can be found at the village located at 3 km across the deep forest.But the tribe people are extremely friendly and they will welcome you warmly. But still I doubt whether they have the manuscript or not because all of them now speak and write in English. They are educated by the Christian Missionaries. So I dont think there are anyone who now speaks or write in the Tungu language.But still you can give it a try."..saying this he takes farewell from the four members of the team who have come here in search of the manuscript written in Tungu language.

"Thank you so much"...Raj told the owner of the homestay gleefully."You have saved a lot of time and cost. We will surely give it a try"

Accordingly, the four members started their journey towards the remotest village of the place. While going through the jungles they were wondering how the roads are constructed here and that also so accurately. As the place is totally inaccessible if these roads are not constructed. They all are thanking the engineers and planners of the road that is taking them towards their destiny.

Although the road does not lead to the exact location of the village. After a while the team understood that. Fortunately, few people of the village were returning back to their homes and they are from that village only. They requested them to park their car on the road and walk with them towards the village. Accordingly, all the four members start to follow the group of people and ultimately reach the village.

As told to them by the owner of the homestay, villagers welcome the team with open hearts and offer them refreshments. However, their search for the manuscript remains inconclusive. As no one from the village even read in the Tungu language. They said that the last person to know this language died last year in a landslide which also destroyed his house and other belongings. His family built a new house nearby but all his possessions are now lost in the oblivion. Now everybody of us can write and speak in English or Hindi or Assamese but not in the Tungu Language.

Although the four members of the team were highly impressed by the way these remote villagers were communicating with them in clear English but they also understood that it is now nearly impossible to find a manuscript written in that ancient script. So they decided to quit and return to their homestay. They also decided that they would return today to Damcharra.

Accordingly, they thanked the villagers and drove straight to the homestay. There they inform the owner about their encounter with the villagers. Then they check out from the homestay. Before going out from Jatinga they stopped their car into one of the tea shops they had not visited earlier. It is located just beside the highway which brings them here.

They ordered Tea and biscuits. While sipping the tea Raj was suddenly distracted by a sound and looked behind him. The tea shop has a rectangular floor shape. On one side the reception is placed from where the tea and snacks are distributed. All the other side benches were arranged for the customers. Raj and Rahul were seated just opposite the reception. Prof.Nath and Dr.Gomez were sitting in the benches placed at the left-hand wall.

While looking behind Raj noticed a framed artwork. By looking at a distance it can be understood that it is at least 50 years old. The artwork was a war scene where two parties are looking at something with all their weapon in hand. One party seems to be a part of the King's soldier and the other party is dressed in tribal attire. Raj got curious and informed Rahul about this. Rahul also looks behind and as he can not see the picture clearly he asks a staff of the tea shop to bring the picture to him.

On seeing this Gomez and Prof.Nath also come near to that place and all of them start to inspect the picture. But they are doing so in a shabby manner as they know that their quest has failed and they have lots of time in hand. But after carefully observing the picture all four of them have the same question.

"Where are the two parties at war looking at ?"

They are not looking at each other as they should be when two parties are at war. Now by observing their dress and weapons, it can be easily understood that they are at war and this war is taking place in ancient times which can be at the time when the mighty Ahom Dynasty ruled this area or may be older than that.

But where are they looking at?

"They are looking at a person standing on the highland. This person has a rod in his hand which has a symmetric shape"...Gomez whispered to the team.

"But that is impossible because the attire and weapon of the army at war indicate that this picture is drawn at a time when weapons can not be made in a symmetric shape.”

“Ancient civilizations used materials available to them, like wood, stone, fire, and metal, to make weapons. Here's how weapons were made in different eras:

Stone Age

Weapons were made from stone and wood, shaped and joined together. For example, a hand axe was made by shaping a stone into a cutting edge and attaching it to a wooden handle using animal tendons or sinew.

Early humans

Spears were first made from bamboo as early as the 9th or 10th century.

Mesopotamia

By the middle of the 3rd millennium BC, mace heads were cast from copper.

Bronze Age

Weapons were made from bronze, which was harder and more durable than copper. Bronze was produced by alloying copper with tin or arsenic.

Later civilizations

Weapons were made from iron and steel.

Early people used weapons for hunting food and protection. Ancient civilizations developed specialized bows and arrows, spears, and swords for warfare. Some civilizations also used “liquid fire”, which was projected onto enemy ships using siphons and could burn on water.”..Gomez continued.

"But the rod this person is carrying and if I am not wrong it is made in the modern era. Another point to observe is the attire of this person. It is quite modern compared to the clothing worn by the kings men and the tribes."...explained Prof.Nath.

On consultation with the staff and also with the owner of the shop who is quite old they learned that this artwork was gifted by a librarian working near their village.

"Which village ?"..shouted Prof.Nath in excitement.

“the village where the Tungu Tribes stay” the owner replied with a frightened tone. He was a little shaky due to the increased tone of Professor.

“That means the village we had visited.”…Raj added.

“Let us go to the village again. This may be our last chance.”..Prof.Nath concluded and ran towards their car.

24th August 2020: The Day of Discovery

The four individuals searching for the manuscript written in the Tungu language have returned to the village where the descendants of the Tunga Tribe reside. Upon arriving, they inquire with the villagers about the library that the tea shop owner mentioned.

Initially, the villagers were confused about which library was being referred to. However, an elderly person provided them with directions to the library and mentioned that very few people visit it nowadays. As a result, most of the recently grown-up villagers are unaware of its existence.

According to the guidance of that person the four person reach the library. However, the present librarian told them that he don’t know about any such manuscript or artwork. But he also added that if they visit the home of the former librarian then he can help. His house is also in this village.

So our searching team run towards the house of the former librarian and found him sitting in the verandah and sipping his evening tea.His age can be understood from the signs in his face and his white hair. He is thin and wear spectacles. By looking at him one can conclude that he is a very methodical person.

“Welcome to my home. How can I help you? You are not from my village. From where have you came and why ?”…he queried.

“We all have come to you to ask you about this artwork,”..Raj showed him the picture of the artwork he had taken from the tea shop. “The shop owner told us that you can enlighten about this picture and also about a manuscript written in Tungu Script.”

“Sorry”.. “I cant help you in this regard.I have never seen any such artwork. But yes I have heard about this Tungu Script and about that war which has been stopped in one day.But I don’t know about any such manuscript which is written in that language.”

Prof.Nath and all three friends were frustrated as their last source of that manuscript had also failed them.

“If you could have helped us we can complete our research and our findings can forward our knowledge about the wartime strategy to finish war within a very short time.It could have saved a lot of money and lives also.”..Prof.Nath explained to the old librarian.

“OK,let me think about it for a little more time. Come inside my room and have a seat. Sorry for making you stand so long. I stay here alone. My daughter stay abroad. I am not anyone from the Tungu Tribe. I come here as a Senior Librarian and then retired. After retiring I found that instead of going to a city like Guwahati or Silchor it is better to stay here for the rest of my life. This is a beautiful place to stay.You will be surprised to know that I am 90 and totally fit and fine. This is only because of this area,its water and air ,the villagers all are extremely pure and pious.”

“My daughter is a Professor at a College in London. She is passionate about her research. Seeing the quest for knowledge in your eyes I remembered my daughter. That is why I will help you all. Let me search my collection of old books.”

The nonagenarian slowly stood up and walked inside his house. After two long hours, he comes back. He is drenched in his sweat. He has dirt all over his shirt and dhoti that he was wearing at that time. But the good thing is he has something in his hand.

“Here is your manuscript. The last text where the Tungu Script was used.Turn to the last page.You will find the artwork whose picture you have shown me.”…the old librarian with shaking hand and breathing heavily hand the manuscript to the hand of the Prof.Nath.

"Are you okay? Please sit and take rest. Thank you so much for your help. You don't know how much you have helped us," said Prof. Nath with an enlightened face and excited voice as he repeatedly thanked the nonagenarian, as did the other four friends.

It was quite late. So the old librarian requests them to stay here for the day. At that time they also remembered that they have already checked out from the home stay. So they accept his invitation.

After dinner, the old librarian and all four of them sat and discussed the manuscript.

The elderly librarian was also assisting them in decoding the language.

The most typical method is to compare an ancient language to known languages to find parallels in grammar, lexicon, and syntax. So, if researchers are familiar with Latin and Ancient Greek, they can utilise their knowledge to interpret documents from civilisations that were neighbours of the Greeks and Romans.

The three friends, who are experts in this field, attempted to apply various methods such as Letter Coding and Semantics to decipher the language from the manuscripts.

But everything yielded nothing.

That night, they all worked until 4 am. At the old librarian's request, they went to their rooms and called it a night. As a result, they all woke up late the next morning. After enjoying a cup of tea, all four of them thanked the old librarian once more and hopped into their car to head back to Damchara.

The Final Revelation

In Damchara also all four of them worked continuously with the manuscripts but they could not decipher the script.