SHILLONG, DEC 18: The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) today expressed its keen interest to promote the great works of poet laureate U Soso Tham beyond the North East India.
Addressing an official function to commemorate his 77th death anniversary held at the auditorium named after Soso Tham here, ICCR regional officer N Munish Singh said, “We are choosing two countries to showcase the rich culture and heritage of the North East India. I would be happy to involve the great works of Soso Tham in such workshops.”
Stating that it is high time to promote U Soso Tham’s works beyond the Khasi Hills, Singh said, “He should be promoted as a greatest poet from the NE India. We will keep a separate section of U Soso Tham as his poems can go beyond the NE region.”
Informing that the making of the documentary on the works of the poet laureate is going on, the ICCR official, being a filmmaker himself said that they would also be visiting places like Shangpung and Sohra.
“It will be a different kind of documentary where only his poems will be rendered,” he added.
Earlier in his speech, Dr Sylvanus Lamare from the Khasi Authors’ Society (KAS) suggested the need to erect a signboard at Saitsohpen in Sohra, for people to know that it was the birth place of U Soso Tham.
He lamented that youths from the place were not aware that the great poet laureate was born in Saitsohpen.
Giving a brief presentation on “Revisiting Soso Tham’s life and works”, Dr Lamare said Soso Tham had written four books – translated Aesop fables and titled “Ki Phawer u Aesop” in 1920 (People did not buy the bood he had to go from house to house to seel it by himself), “Ki Poetry Khasi” in 1925 which was renamed as “Ka Duitara Ksiar lane Ki Poetry Khasi in 1935, “Ki Sngi Barim U Hynniew Trep” in 1936 and “Ka Jingim U Trai Jong Ngi” a translation of Charles Dickens’ “Life of Our Lord”.
He said that the poet was inspired by nature and hence, he wrote many poems in various themes related to nature and one of them is on the rains of Sohra “Ki Kshaid Ba Rymphum”.
Soso Tham also inspired students when he said “The heart too will grieve alone faraway, the tears that gather are actually peals” and “Heat of the sun will hit you, fresh air you’ll get to taste, in your daily chores, inside them hide the fame”.
As a writer, Dr Sylvanus said that Soso Tham was inspired by Khasi folklore like “U Klew bad ka Sngi”, “U Sier Lapalang” and other rich Khasi mythology and philosophy of the Khasi race. It is said that while in Shangpung he used to go and watch the arrow shooting competition (Iasiat thong) in Madan Ialip on Sunday, he said.
Referring the Soso Tham as a prophet, Dr Lamare said in “Ka Jingpynshai” Ki Sngi Barim U Hynniew Trep he wrote, “Nga iohi iaka Ri ha tmier ka riat” (I see the Khasi land on the edge of a precipice).”
“Just look at the facts where Khasi was a medium of instruction and examination in 1902 till class VI today it is till class IV. The number of students opting for Khasi MIL has reduced drastically in Class X, Class XI & XII and at Degree level,” he said.
He further added our territory is becoming smaller, our boundaries unsolved and our customs and traditions are being challenged and there is no real protection.
Earlier, people including relatives of (L) Soso Tham also paid rich tribute by laying of flower wreaths at his monument erected at the State Central Library during the function organized by the Arts & Culture Department.
By Our Reporter
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