By Willie Gordon Suting
Comprehending the Khasi language, in many ways, is still elusive to non-Khasis. As a means to bridge the language barrier non-Khasis experience in Shillong, Khasi Learning Centre, an initiative by Seng Biria U Khasi (SBUK), comes as a blessing.
Established on September 5, 2015, on the Shillong Law College premises, the centre aims to educate non-Khasis the Khasi alphabets, grammar, and mostly everyday speech and conversations. The course structure is designed in such a way that non-Khasis in different working professions can interact in the local language with Khasi colleagues, clients and customers; also, negotiating over prices and local names of fruits and vegetables while grocery shopping.
The aspect of culture is sensitised to students, especially with terminologies used in describing Khasi family relationships.
Lily Kharpran, teacher at Sunrays Secondary School, and Sukjai Syiem, Professor at Sankardev College, had witnessed two batches successfully pass out with certificates.
“Since we’re getting into the very basics of the language, it is like teaching little schoolchildren. But seeing the avid curiosity and passion in those working professionals, the process is rewarding,” says Swer.
The session is from February to November with classes held every Saturday. The current first year and second year batches are given regular class tests for assessment.
SK Rampal, student and Superintending Engineer at Central Public Works Department (CPWD), finds a lot of beauty in the language. “There is a particular sweetness about it. Combined with the cultural background of speaking in a softer tone, it makes the effect even sweeter. The language is rich in vocabulary and is progressive, adopting words from the other languages, inventing new words as the need arises, and the old words get evolutionary improvements.”
Swer says curiosity helps, as some pick it very fast. “My students peruse through the Khasi and English translated essays and do a comparative study. They ask questions even on the most trivial of sentences.”
Practical use of Khasi language is the aim of the centre. In order to exercise it, students are made to participate in Khasi skits and singing of Khasi songs. As a further means to familiarise with Khasi culture, SBUK organises field trips for students. Visits to Lum Kyllang, Kshaid Dain Thlen and U Tirot Singh’s birthplace at Nongkhlaw had been beneficial with the distribution of notes on folktales associated with each of these places.
“The field trips provided wonderful insights into Khasi culture for we learned so much about history and oral literature,” says Shruti Pradhan, a chartered accountant.
Considering the diverse working professions of students, each has benefitted from the course, thus making conversations with locals intelligible and clear.
Dr V Raghunatha Rao, Physics Professor and Superintendent, Br JN Foley Students’ Residence at St Edmund’s College, says it is imperative to understand the local language.
“The course is certainly helpful, there are many in our group who are doctors, bankers, businessmen who need the local language to communicate daily. As a superintendent of the college hostel, it has been beneficial to know the local language.”
Babita Jhunjhunwala, tutor, values that it has helped her with grocery shopping. “Yes, of course things have changed now. As I can communicate with local vendors in purchasing and also am slightly able to understand what others are talking about.”
Armeet Singh Sondhi had been picking up the language well, and had also started reading Khasi newspapers. “Yes, at times I have bought the Khasi newspaper Mawphor and after going through The Shillong Times, I try to read Mawphor. Although it is difficult to fully understand, but having gone through The Shillong Times I get some idea about what the articles say, as the headlines are quite similar.”
Swer says she narrates stories in the photocopied essays that she distributes, and encourages students to speak in Khasi. The skits performed and singing patterns, though in broken Khasi in terms of enunciation and pronunciation, yet are a healthy attempt.
The course is designed as such that it introduces students into intricacies of the language, directing them to mostly read Khasi literature when they pass out. The library at the centre has a rich collection of Khasi books which the students use as reference.
Rampal praises the efforts of Swer and Kharpran who had pushed him into learning the language. “The teachers are very cordial, understanding and cooperating. They always help us by replying to even the most puerile questions, which would otherwise appear to be laughable. That attitude has encouraged us to learn the language more in a pleasant manner.”
Swer has hopes that the Khasi language will soon be recognised by the Eighth Schedule. The centre aims not only to spread the message of brotherhood and fraternity by teaching Khasi language but also that the Centre should pay heed to the fact that non-Khasis are curious of this language.