THE UNSUNG LAUREATE OF KHASI LITERATURE

By Barns Mawrie

“Rev. Fr. H. Elias SDB is the most versatile and towering genius…He is one of the greatest poets, essayists, story writers and thinkers among the Khasis” (Dr. R. S. Lyngdoh)

Perhaps not many people in Meghalaya will have heard of the name of H. Elias Sohliya (Kharïong). But for those who study Khasi literature, he is a prominent poet and essayist of the Khasi people. In 2016 we celebrated his 50^th death anniversary and some programmes were held in his honour. However, it is quite disappointing to see how this stalwart of the Khasis is being ignored to a great extent by the Khasi literary society. Great pioneers of Khasi literature like Soso Tham, John Roberts and Thomas Jones are sufficiently honoured and their contributions duly recognized. Unfortunately H. Elias on the other hand has not received his due. Let me list down the undeniable great contributions of this literary giant to Khasi literature and to Khasi society at large.

1. Elias is one of the two greatest poets of Khasi literature, the other being Soso Tham. Elias’ classical poems are found in his well known collection Ka Hamsaïa ki Por. In this collection we have his masterpieces in poetry. He has given some of the most recognizable historical poems in Khasi literature. They are not only valuable as poetical masterpieces but they give us historical clues into the ancient Khasi society.
2. Elias has also produced some of the best Khasi essays. He was not merely a poet like Soso Tham, but he was also a qualified prose writer. Many of his essays are found in the many Khasi readers that he had authored. His essay on the Theory of Poetry in Khasi is much richer and more comprehensive than that given by Soso Tham. This particular contribution is very important to the Khasi students of literature to be able to understand the origin, nature and characteristics of poetry.
3. Elias has also done a commendable job of coining Khasi words for the many technical terms in literature. Khasi literature would have remained poor had he not given us these indigenous terminologies. Today Khasi scholars can with pride use our own Khasi words for different literary terminologies. We should never underestimate this contribution because it is highly significant for a community that is evolving its own literature.
4. Elias should be considered a true educationist. He was perhaps one of the most educated Khasi writers in those days. His lifelong involvement in education helped him realize the necessity of promoting education in the vernacular. For this reason, he set himself to the serious task of preparing a great number of Khasi readers and primers for the Khasi students from the primary to the higher classes. He has to his credit 12 such text books published between 1936-1964. These books have served the Khasi people in the process of educating them. They are of perennial value and relevance.
5. Elias is also the only Khasi poet who could be considered a freedom fighter. While studying at St. Xavier’s College in Kolkata, he witnessed the great freedom struggle in that city. As a true Indian, he sympathized with the freedom fighters. Although he did not participate physically in the freedom struggle, he was imbued with the patriotic spirit. He has demonstrated this spirit in his poem entitled Hail Mother India written in 1947. Shri Madhukar Dighe, then Governor of Meghalaya has this to say about H. Elias: “as a patriot, Elias’ idea of a country is not confined to Ri Khasi Jaiñtia, as most of our poets and writers professed. When India emerged as an independent nation in August 1947, he composed a beautiful poem Hail Mother India. Poems having national outlook are rare even today. Elias is perhaps the first among the Khasi poets to have sung a patriotic song and thus to have brought to the general mass of Khasi society an awareness of what a nation is and stands for…” (October 28, 1991).

             From all these facts, it is evident that H. Elias deserves more than what he has received till date. He should be considered one of the three cornerstones of Khasi literature (beside Thomas Jones and Soso Tham). Undoubtedly, he is the central corner stone by virtue of his gigantic contribution in comparison to the other two. I would not be wrong to say that “study of Khasi language or Khasi literature will never be complete or licit without touching the vast portions of H. Elias’ writings.” I hope that the Khasi Authors’ Society will soon give due recognition to this great son of the soil. It is my humble suggestion that the Khasi Department in NEHU is the right forum where the literary contributions of H. Elias are to be critically studied, researched and disseminated to the rest of society. More students should be encouraged to undertake post-graduation and doctoral research of the works of this poet. I hope that MBOSE and NEHU will not commit the blunder of withdrawing H. Elias’ text books from the school and college syllabi. That would be the greatest act of disrespect and ingratitude to the Khasi genius who has influenced Khasi education in the last five decades or so.

            In fact, the State itself should implement something tangible to honour this poet laureate and patriot of our society. Installing a bust or a statue of H. Elias somewhere in the public area, would be the most appropriate thing to do. Do we not have statues of Tirot Sing, Soso Tham and Thomas Jones in our city? Why then do we grudge giving due honour to this unsung hero of our community? Let us get out of any sectarian feeling and show our magnanimity in recognizing talents wherever they come from. As a community, every Khasi should be proud of an eminent personality like H. Elias and we should showcase to the world the rich literary legacy that he has left behind him.