The Language

The Khasi language did not have any script. The early missionaries from Serampore in the present Indian state of West Bengal attempted to write down the Khasi language using the Bengali script. But there were few takers among the Khasis. Rev. Thomas Jones, the first Welsh missionary amidst the Khasis and who is now honored as the ‘Father of Khasi Alphabets’, used the Roman script in the early 1840s to

write down the Khasi spoken language.

Neither the then British government establishment ruling the place was in favour of this attempt nor the superiors of the young missionary at the Welsh Mission Society at Liverpool. However, the writing of Khasi language using the Roman script was well received by the Khasis and is now well established.

Dr. John Roberts, a Welshman from Corris, was the founder-Principal of Cherra Theological College established in Nongsawlia, Sohra in 1887. It was the first College in North East India. For starting the College, he had to shoulder the entire responsibility of putting the administrative set up in place, prepare the curricula, engage teachers and arrange for the required finance.

Dr. John Roberts, a Welshman from Corris, was the founder-Principal of Cherra Theological College established in Nongsawlia, Sohra in 1887. It was the first College in North East India. For starting the College, he had to shoulder the entire responsibility of putting the administrative set up in place, prepare the curricula, engage teachers and arrange for the required finance.

Inspite of all these responsibilities, he translated much of the Old Testament, composed many hymns in Khasi, co-founded the first Khasi Journal, and wrote many books and poems. For all these, he is honoured as the ‘Father of Khasi Literature’. He died in Sohra on 23^rd July 1908 and was buried at the Nongsawlia Presbyterian Cemetry, in the land of the people whom he so deeply loved and served faithfully.

Since the first missionaries had established their first mission at Cherrapunjee the dialect of Sohra (Cherrapunjee) became the literary Khasi throughout Khasi land. The people of Cherrapunjee are known for their oratory. Some of them really have the gift of the gab.

Different villages even around Cherrapunjee have completely different dialects that others from nearby villages even, cannot understand and use the standard Khasi to communicate in between themselves. For example, the people of Nongriat where the Double Decker Root Bridge is there speak a different dialect, which a person knowing only standard Khasi cannot understand. Thus there are different dialects for Tyrna, Shella, Mairang, Nongstoin, Mawlynnong.

So So Tham, a Khasi Poet was born in Nongsawlia, Sohra (Cherrapunjee) in 1873. He was the first Khasi Poet who initiated secular literature. So So Tham was born as the only son of Hat Tongper (father) and Lyngkien Tham (mother), who had three more daughters. The early demise of his father leading to grinding poverty, he had to quit school after eighth standard.

Though his school education was truly little, he went on to become a brilliant high school teacher. After changing jobs several times, he finally joined as a teacher of Khasi in Shillong Government High School, Mawkhar. He worked from October 12, 1905 till his retirement in July 1931.

So So Tham was a natural poet. One can see spontaneity in his poems. He was a simple and humble person to say “I know nothing about the art of poetry. Foot, meter, rhyme, rhythm, idea – these are like the scattered bones of dead cows. Nobody taught me how to create Khasi poetry and literature.”

So So Tham’s main contribution was the two volumes of poetry that he left behind .

1. “Ka Duitara Ksiar” (The Golden Harp, 1925) comprising of 46 short poems including lyrics, ballads and nursery rhymes, and 14 translations of various English Poets.
2. “Ki Sngi Barim U Hynniew Trep” (The Olden Days of Hynniew Trep, 1936) is considered as a masterpiece of Indian literature. This is a single long poem having 181 stanzas of six lines divided into 10 sections. The poem is about the Hynniew Trep people, anscestors of the seven Khasi sub-tribes.

So So Tham translated Aesop’s Fables in to Khasi language. He also translated Charles Dickens’ “The Life of Our Lord” and the Shakespearean comedy “The Tempest”, which he titled “U Kyllang”. He is considered the greatest literary icon in the history of Khasi literature.

During his lifetime he sold his first book “Ki Phawar U Aesop” from house to house. An illiterate fan of So So Tham assisted him financially to bring out his first book of poetry “Ka Duitara Ksiar” (The Golden Harp). The intellectual community ignored him and his works, considering him a half-educated mad teacher.

So So Tham died on 18^th December 1940. His contribution to Khasi literature didn’t reward him during his lifetime. A statue of So So Tham was installed only in 1975. There is one statue of So So Tham installed in Cherra Teacher Training School and one bust of him at Dukan Road Crossing in Saitsohpen, Sohra.