In this episode we tell a tragic story of forbidden love and dire consequences- “The Legend of U Raitong” as described by Mrs. K.U. Rafy in her 1920 collection “Folk-Tales Of The Khasis.”

All Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar

Narration by Jim Billbrough

While researching this story we found two more recent translations of “U Manik Raitong” by contemporary Khasi authors, both of which are worth checking out:

“Khasi Myths, Legends & Folk Tales” by Bijoya Sawian

(No direct link to the story on Google Books, but open the Table of Contents and follow the link to “U Manik Raitong”)

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Khasi_Myths_Legends_Folk_Tales/Unr2BEAEezoC?hl=en

…and

“U Manik Raitong” by Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih from his book “Around the Hearth: Khasi Legends”

U Manik Raitong - Monash Indigenous Studies Centre

Apologies to the Khasi people for any mispronunciation of Khasi names or places in this episode. To balance things out we mispronounced some English words as well.

Two stories about the elusive dream of freedom- A secret dream suddenly dashed and a dream unlooked for fulfilled.

Kate Chopin’s “The Story Of An Hour” and “A Pair Of Silk Stockings.”

Narrated by Arline Billbrough

Music by Paul Billbrough

Produced by Bob Familiar

In 1950 Akira Kurosawa merged two of Ryūnosuke Akutagawa’s short stories together to make his classic film “Rashomon.”Last episode we covered the story that gave the film it’s name and in this episode we explore the story of the murder at the heart of that film, told by seven characters with seven different, often conflicting accounts:

“In A Grove” by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar

Narrated by Mandy Familiar, Bob Familiar, Joey Pesce, Shannon Wilson, Jace Wilson, Danielle Barry, Matt Gruenberg, and Jim Billbrough