To Sunday Shillong,
This is in reference to the article, ‘Forgotten Melodies’, which was published on March 24. I would like to thank the writer and Sunday Shillong for coming out with this article. There are few among the young generation in Shillong who know about old singers and their songs. The article reminded me of my childhood days when these songs were played regularly at home. In fact, my mother is a big fan of Rana Kharkongor and sometimes she would play Tiew Kulap in a loop. She also liked John G Soanes’ songs and would often tell me stories about how she went to watch a live performance with her friends without informing my grandmother. The article indeed revived so many happy memories. I vaguely remember knowing a college-going next-door neighbour (who does not live in Shillong any more) during my school days who learnt to play Ki nongpyniap on his new guitar. That tune would be played day and night for weeks till my mother requested him to learn a new song.
I think these old Khasi songs are not exactly forgotten and are still popular and they are often played on AIR Shillong. However, I am not sure whether these songs have been archived by AIR or the artistes. There is a need to preserve these songs and take them to listeners beyond Khasi Hills.
It is a pity to know that some singers, like Rana Kharkongor, are living in financial distress and many are clueless about their songs being uploaded on YouTube. If an organised mechanism is put in place, then these artistes can always earn from online listeners. These singers, most of whom have little or no knowledge of technology and its power, can take advice from experts and upload their songs themselves on YouTube.
Piracy, as mentioned by the singers in the article, is really a big problem for creative endeavour because even a dedicated artiste needs to survive. Besides strict laws to curb piracy, there should be awareness among consumers/viewers/listeners. People who love to listen to classic songs and adore the singers should stay away from pirated CDs as a show of respect to these legends.
Thanking you,
Gavin Kharshandy
To Sunday Shillong,
The article, ‘Forgotten Melodies’, pulished on March 24 was indeed a change from the Western music that we hear most of the time in Shillong. I think our traditional music, tunes, instruments will one day vanish due to the dominance of western instruments and the growing trend of aping. Khasi instruments are simple but its mellifluous tune is an intrinsic part of life in the Khasi Hills. Other than the artistes whom
Sunday Shillong covered, there are many senior artistes like Kerios Wahlang and Helen Giri. I was surprised that no female singers were featured in the article. There were many talented singers in the sixties and seventies though I am not sure whether they are alive. But I would love to know about them, about their career and struggle and how they are living now. If Sunday Shillong can bring out an article on this it will be really wonderful and complete the effort to pay tribute to these singers.
Thanking you,
SW Sunn
Sunday Shillong replies: There are many renowned Khasi singers in Shillong, many of whom are old and ailing. But we promise to bring to you the stories of the female singers who could not be featured last week owing to the spac constraint.