SHILLONG: A book entitled – “Samboi ia Myllin” or “Lest we forget”, which is a first of its kind to have poems composed with the use of ‘Pnar alphabets’, was recently released with an aim to promote and preserve the Jaintia literature.
Authored by an upcoming poet, Riquoma RQ Laloo, the book also seeks to imbibe a uniform-way of spelling the Pnar words among the Jaintia folks especially in this age of communicating via ‘texting’ through social mobile applications.
The book was released by the principal of Jaintia Eastern College, Phervision Nongtdu at an impressive function held at Panaliar, Jowai on Saturday last.
Laloo, also a renowned Jaintia filmmaker and song composer, took up the risk to come up with the book after he had made a mark in his career as an upcoming writer by introducing the Pnar Alphabets (29) which he named as “Ki Dak Thoh ne Pure Hei Ktein Pnar” or “The writing letters or reading in Pnar language” in 2010.
The 149-page book has around 120 peoms. Some of the songs which the poet had composed and sung in the All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan besides popular Jaintia movie – “Chakae” were also presented in the form of poems.
It is also a first of its kind in the Khasi – Jaintia region to have tonic-solfa (devotional songs).
“I have decided to write these peoms with the objective to promote and preserve the Pnar language. The poems also have moral values which seem to be weak in this present day society,” Laloo said.
According to him, it is important to make people realize the importance of ones’ own mother-tongue and language especially with the coming up of ‘Khalish’ speaking people, which will only lead to endangering the language.
“There is nothing wrong in learning other foreign languages as long as we ensure we read, write and speak our own language correctly,” he said.
Terming the book as an experiment of the Pnar Alphabets, Laloo said, “Unless I take the lead, nobody will be ready to use the alphabets both in writing and reading. The book will, to a great extent, solve the contradiction in term of spelling the pnar langauge.”
On the other hand, the author however lamented that the Pnar, which is the language richly spoken by the Jaintia people, was sidelined by the state government despite the fact that Meghalaya is known to have three tribes – Khasi, Jaintia and Garo.
“When I approach the Arts and Culture department, I was told that I could not get any financial assistance just because I write in Pnar language,” he said adding “I feel if the Khasi and Garo language can get recognition, the Jaintias should also be given equal place.”
Speakers on the book release occasion have also emphasized the need to include the Pnar language in the lower primary level of education in the state. The book is available for sale at Ri Khasi Books Agency, Mawkhar Shillong. The book is available for sale at Ri Khasi Books Agency, Mawkhar Shillong.
