Mr.Kambel Shullai son of (L) Shri. Mahin Rymbai and (L) Smt. Nasimai Shullai was born on the 08th February 1939 at Iongpiah locality, Jowai in Jaintia Hills District and studied only Class III at Lower Primary School, Jowai. At the age of 13 years old due to deteriorating health and poverty he was compelled to drop out of school, it was then that he realized the hardship of life without any means of livelihood but Mr. Kambel Shullai rose above all unpleasant circumstances to become one of the most outstanding citizen of Jaintia hills district in particular and the State of Meghalaya in general.

            Ma Kam as he is popularly and lovingly called has been endowed with exceptional innovative and creative skills and his innovative thinking and ideas have been manifested into fine works of arts, his ability to utilize the materials locally available for wonderful works of art has earn him wide respect and reputation,  his dexterous hands have made him an artist, his curios mind has made him an innovator, his deprived childhood has made him a mechanic and of later his well co-ordinate mind and soul have made him an Engineer, a Scientist, an Architect , and an Environmentalist.

            To begin with the curiosity that arose to Ma Kam out of the buying of the Camera lens for his friend has led him in the year 1963 to invent his first camera made out of cardboard and other locally available materials, it was a marvelous invention where no one would ever thought that a person amongst us without any qualification would be able to understand the working of the lens and his ability to put it in to use.

On 22nd February 1972 his exceptional talent as an artist was revealed to the lime light during the inauguration of the newly created District of Jaintia Hills where he had created the Welcome Arch and the map of the new District with fine works of arts which had added splendor and beauty of the function and spirit of the celebration of the new District where the then Deputy Commissioner of the new District Shri J.M.Phira IAS had personally written a letter of appreciation to Ma Kam for his fine work of art.                                

At the age of 25 years he was working at Shillong as the motor mechanic and on his returned to Jowai he earned his livelihood by repairing of vehicles, sewing machines, guns, watches etc.

In 1974 what made every one wonderful when he was working as a Cinema Operator at Marynhian Cinema, Jowai where a man without receiving any basic education and training in electrical and mechanical gadgets could handle and operate all types of machines successfully.                      It was from the year 1988-89 that troubled his hearth and his creative and innovative thinking developed at the very fast date where he first invented in 1991 the art of “DEINKHLAM” a large wood trunk tree of about 35-40 feet tall using while celebration of our annual BEHDEINKHLAM FESTIVAL where only four cable wire are used after being pulled the DEINKHLAM to stand up on the flat ground without the manual wooden stand to tie up the DEINKHLAM by ropes. This is a step forward for further for his greater and innovative inventions which have drawn immense appreciation from then people and this same method is continuing to be used in the successive annual BEHDEINKHLAM FESTIVAL till today.  Lest we forget Ma Kam artistically skills is his exemplary capability when shown during annual theatrical festival of Iongpiah locality in the use of electrical gadgets which attracted many spectators from different localities of Jowai town to witness his dramatic artist which drawn immense appreciation and applause.                 

He strives hard towards perfection with his greatest achievement is demonstrated by his sharp mind and his ability to put conceptual approach, blending  cultural and old tradition in harmony with the modern technology in inventing the Wood-based, Low cost, Environment friendly scientific Crematorium known in the local parlance as “ KHNAP THANG BRU” at Khimmusniang , Jowai. This greatest invention has reduced cremation rituals involving felling of pine trees for making the low efficiency pyre, use of firewood in huge quantity, smoke pollution, rain effected ritual in an open air crematorium that was left the unfinished dead body exposed besides that he also observes that feeling of trees could lead to the verge of extinction nad this pained his hearth as a nature lover.                

This is his major achievement where his creative skill, his determination, perseverance, hard work and ability to convert his innovative and creative ideas and mind into reality had made him to become an Engineer, a Scientist, an Architect and an Environmentalist. All these qualities have been manifested in a single classic work in the invention of this scientific crematorium under the patronage of SEINRAIJ JOWAI a local indigenous religion organization adhering to the NIAMTRE religious faith.                             

With the construction of this scientific c4rematorium which was inaugurated on the 21st

 May 2003 by Dr D.D.Lapang Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya , Ma Kam ability to defy the natural law of flame who normally glow vertically in an upward direction by his invention directing the flame to traverse horizontally thereby constantly and continuously coming in an contact with the dead body inside the pyre in a heat intensity controllable mechanism it is now possible to consign the dead body with little fire wood at as faster time with zero feeling of pine tree for construction of old wooden pyre. This achievement of Ma Kam has drawn appreciation and applause from all the scientific and general and communities which have in turn immensely simplified the cremation process and the advantage have been reaped by the bereaved families, relatives and friends.

Thus on the 05th January, 2005 Ma Kam was conferred with the Third National Grassroots Technology Innovative and Traditional knowledge Award 2005 by National Innovation Foundation of India and received the award from the former President of India Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam at Ahmedabad, Gujarat State. And on the 07th October 2008 Ma Kam was also conferred with the Harmony Silver Award by the Harmony Silver Foundation of India            , Mumbai (The description of this crematorium and the award received by Ma Kam was reported and published by Elora Sen of India Today of July -07- 2008 issue and by Local News paper Mawphor on 06-07-2008 & 03-10-2008). Other such crematorium based on the technology invented by Ma Kam had also been constructed and commissioned at Dulong Jowai, Shangpung Village, Mihmyntdu Village, Mukhla Village and hoping that other Elakas Raij, Villages will follow suit whereas outside Jaintia Hills District the under the aegis of Seinraij Shillong this same type of Crematorium had been constructed at Lumthangbru Jaiaw Shillong.

On the International Day of Older person on the 01st October 2008 Ma Kam was honoured as the most successful senior citizen in the field of Creative activities and scientific innovations by the Social Welfare Department, government of Meghalaya.

            Although Ma Kam is a goldsmith by profession where he started his Jewellery shop in 2001 at Iawmusiang, his skilful hands created fine pendants and necklaces, ear rings, wrist rings etc. Where usually worn by the women community to enhance their beauty and appearances which has become the fashion of the day.

            His skilled hand and creation by depicting and carving of traditional items “U THLONG & U SYNRAI” (Wooden rice threshing instruments) “U PRAH” (Sieve for winnowing) “U KHOH” (Cone) “KA WAIT” (Duo) all these were carved out of wood and polished to shine till today and are displayed in hid drawing room and attract many visitors from the art lovers with appreciation.

            His creation of a Master piece in wood carving depicting the traditional activities practiced since time immemorial by the farmers of Jaintia Community showcases the three types of agricultural practices.

1. The Jhum Cultivation practiced by the nomadic Jaintia tribes which is a shifting cultivation.
2. The Cultivation by burning of shrubs and grass known as “THANGSTONG” in local parlance for producing ash fertilizer and manure.
3. The Settle Cultivation by using of the bullocks for ploughing the paddy field for rice cultivation.

This master piece exhibits the different traditional dress worn by the farmers, it is of course rare and distinctive beauty.

Even at the age of 73years Old Ma Kam still renders relentless effort in preservation of old cultural and traditional activities in the form of arts and scientific inventions and creation in the works of art enable the people to gather knowledge about the past heritage and culture of Jaintia Community and has given a good socio, economic, scientific and environmental friendly impact to all the citizen.

Lastly, Ma Kam journey to this earth came to an end on the 16th June 2012 and returned to the Almighty “U TRE-KIROT” as he usually dedicated his works as a successful person with full honour being performed by his family, Seinraij Jowai, Dollois from different Elakas, Different Raijs, relatives and friends.

KHNAP THANGBRU (ECO-FRIENDLY CREMATORIUM) COPYRIGHT RESERVED BY SEINRAIJ JOWAI.

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