By U Spiton Kharakor
Apropos to the letters written by Glenn C. Kharkongor “The RSS Misreads History (ST January 21st, 2020) and the next one by N.K. Kehar “Incorrect reading of History” (ST January 22nd, 2020), both letters are quite interesting if read on a lighter vein. Owing to my preoccupation with some projects I could not respond quickly to the two above letters.
Both writers had narrated the history of India and the world at large, such as the movement of the Aryan foreigners alien to the Gangetic plain in North India and the Khasi people coming from foreign countries into Ka Bri U Hynñiewtrep, and not as sons or daughters of the soil since the beginning of the earth on Ka Bri U Hynñiewtrep.
The Khasi people have been unique in this part of the world. In between the Khasi Hills and Chota Nagpur of the then Bihar State and now present Jharkhand State there are similarities among the people. In the ancient past the whole of Bengal area was under the sea. The South West Khasi Hills including Weiloi, Mawsynram, Cherrapunjee of the East Khasi Hills were near the sea coast. So also the Chota Nagpur was in the Western Coast of Bengal. It might have been the people of Khasi Hills and Mundas of Chota Nagpur contacted each other while rowing or navigating above the sea in Bengal. They might have intermingled with each other through trade and commerce.
The Khasi people of Laitlyngkot village is called “Sohmyntra” and Munda people call the orange “Samyntra.” The people of Shangpung village in Jaiñtia Hills call it the “Hamtara” while Hindi speaking people the orange “Santra.” Always there was a contact between the people in the distant past belonging from different ethnic groups.
A decade ago the Zoological Survey of India came out with a report that the now extinct animal known as Dinosaurs lived and walked at Ranikor of South West Khasi Hills some 60-65 million years ago. Last year, a report came from the International Scientific Age Organisation which says that “Meghalayan Age” originated from the Mawmluh Cave of the “Old Hima Nongkhlaw” of U Tirot Sing near Cherrapunjee of the Shillong Plateau and is as old as 4200 B.C. Anyhow the Shillong Plateau from the Nokrek range in the west to Borail range in the East in Assam are good case studies about the Stone Age and the Iron Age of the Sohpetbneng Mount of the Shillong Plateau.
The Sohpetbneng Mount of the Raid Mawbuh Hima Mylliem, Ri Bhoi District near Umiam Lake nestles in the Centre Point of the earth itself – 25º 42” North Latitude and 91º 55” East Longitude – minus North America and South America (Ri Shong Pdeng Pyrthei). U Lum Sohpetbneng Mount : (above sea level) the Umblical Heavenly peak upholds the belief of righteousness of thought, deed and word of truth, (Ka hok ka shi kyntien) with the Divine Creator being the one and all pervading force of love and compassion.
To understand any race it should be based on its Geography, History and Mythology. Geographically speaking Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep stands on a Metamorphic Rock even older than 60-65 million years ago. During that period Dinosaurs lived as stated above. That area is the confluence of “Ka Wah Blei”, “Wah Rilang” and “Wah Kynshi” known in the area as “Jadukata (Jadukatha) River” (Magic River) of South West Khasi Hills crossing to the Sylhet Plain of Bangladesh now.
Historically our forefathers and elders had narrated that the Hynñiewtrep people came to the earth below from heaven above through the umbilical cord at Sohpetbneng Mount since the days of u Khathynriew Skum and Khathynriew Trep or Sixteen Nests and Sixteen Huts. The Khyndai Skum and Khyndai Trep or Nine Nests and Nine Huts climbed up to heaven never to return to earth. Whereas the Hynniew Skum the Hynñiew Trep or Seven Nests and Seven Huts remained in this mother earth (Mei Ram Ew) right from the days of yore and settled in the land Ka Bri U Hynñiewtrep. Now, they are living in the Eastern part of the State of Meghalaya in North East India and are the ones who had come down to settle on earth through the Golden Bridge called “Ka Jingkieng Ksiar” – ( Enteda Scandens – Ficus Religiosa – Ficus elastic) as decided by the Divine Assembly. The rubber tree – Ka Tangnub Tangjri, Ka Tangngiah Tangchrai). The Mythology has become a legend, history and reality.
On reaching the pinnacle of Mount U Lum Sohpetbneng the Hynniew Skum Hynniew Trep people settled and spread to different directions. The Golden Bridge was dislodged in the physical aspect. Yet it was placed in each Golden Heart and Soul in Communion with God, the Divine Creator. U Syiem Synriang the son of Ka Lisan was chosen by the Almighty to guide the Khasi race for earning righteousness with a positive mind for the Glory of U God jong U Blei jong ka shi tyllup ka pyrthei (God is for all the races and religions of the world).
Some later years there was a conflict between the Sutnga King (later the Jaiñtia Kingdom) and the Governor of the province called U Sajar Nangli. The king proposed to marry Sajar Nangli’s niece named Ka Riang Shadap. Sajar Nangli refused to allow his niece to marry the king. So the king was very furious and in rage wanted to kill him immediately. In order to prevent bloodshed, U Sajar Nangli left the country for good and abdicated his post as Governor.
He fled away and crossed the Kupli River towards the East to North Cachar (Dima Hasao), then Manipur and settled permanently in Burma. Thousands of people followed him and made a first exodus from Ka Bri U Hynñiewtrep. His footprints remain even today. By digging the soil with their bows the Thadlaskeiñ Lake was born near Jowai. Many of the Pnar names still appear on the Burma soil even now they. They are known as Man-da-lai (Mandalay), Moulmein (Teeth Stone), Bhamo (All right). A male person is nicknamed as ‘U’ in Burma and not called ‘Shri’ in India (which means to grin in Khasi).
It is amusing to read how the intelligentsia try to misinterpret that the Khasi race came to settle here from Africa or Cambodia. This is a blatant insult to and disregard of the History, Geography and Mythology of the Hynñiew Skum Hynñiew Trep people. This year the Seng Khasi Organisation is organising a pilgrimage on February 2, 2020, known as “Kiew Pyneh Rngiew” or Strengthening the Aura of a person for protection from various negative diversities, indicating the history of the Khasis and unique mythology in its own way.