Khasi poet U Soso Tham remembered

Shillong, December 18: Meghalaya on Tuesday paid tribute to the legendary Khasi poet laureate U Soso Tham as many remembered him as a visionary,  patriot and also recalled his immense contribution to the Khasi literature. A function was organized by the state arts & culture department at U Soso Tham auditorium to commemorate his 73^rd death anniversary.

Meghalaya arts & culture minister Clement Marak was one among the many who paid floral tribute and lit candle at the bust of the great poet. Students also paid their respect to the poet.

Speaking as the chief guest, Marak said, “U Soso Tham was a visionary and a patriot other than being a poet. He reminds us not to forget our roots despite living in an era of development and fast lives.”

The All India Poets Conference president Streamlet Dkhar recalled Soso Tham’s patriotic songs where he narrated how he cared and hoped for his motherland. She said Tham had warned of influx into these lands hundred years ago when he prophesized in one of his writings – “I could vision my land on the brink of a dangerous precipice.”

Students also delivered speeches on the life and works of U Soso Tham besides recitation on some of his famous poems including “U Dieng Bilat”.

Born to a poor family in Nongsawlia in Sohra (erstwhile Cherrapunji) in 1873, Tham, though not very highly educated, had produced many literary works before his death at the age of 67 on December 18, 1940.

A school teacher by profession, Tham interest in reading and understanding the great English classics of the period had inspired him to write in Khasi – his native language. His translator works include the famous Aesop’s fables (Phawer u Aesop), Charles Dickens’s The Life of Our Lord and his translation of Shakespeare’s work, The Tempest was lost.

Tham’s Ki poetry Khasi (1925), Duitara Ksiar (1931) and Ki Sngi Barim u Hynniewtrep (1936) were the first published poems in a book form and are still in use in schools and colleges approved by the state’s board of school.

A similar function was also held at Sohra, the bard’s birthplace, which also coincided with the Cherrapunji Festival in which, apart from poetry readings, the traditional archery competition was organized for the tribal sharpshooters besides other games.- By Our Reporter