Editor,
HH Mohrmen’s “The Forgotten Khasi Jaintia Gwalia Connection” (ST Feb 17, 2020) brings to mind the many stories of personal relationships that developed amidst the larger themes of colonialism, conversion and cultural incursion. These personal stories sometimes overcame the barriers of language and societal boundaries. True humanism often trumps the forces of divisiveness.
In 2017, when Deepak Laloo and I brought out a reprised version of the book Notes on Walking Around Shillong written by William Allsup in 1934, we never expected that a personal encounter with Allsup’s grandson would take place. The junior Allsup, Mark, sitting at his computer in London, happened one day to be browsing through the online edition of The Shillong Times, when he came across the news item of the book release.
An internet and Facebook search led him to Careen Langstieh’s contact address, her name having been mentioned in the news item as being the illustrator of the book. He had never been to India, much less Shillong and now wrote to me saying, “A visit to Shillong has been added to my bucket list! I am retiring at 63 from my coaching practice later this year and family history has always been of great interest. I look forward very much to receiving and reading the book, which will no doubt be of great interest also to my two sisters.”Our information about his grandfather had been sparse and he added much more detail in his email.
Mark and his wife Carina, visited Shillong in Feb 2019, spending several days sightseeing in the city and Sohra. The highlight of their visit was finding Rock Cliff, the cottage in which their grandfather had lived from 1945-47. The signboard indicated that it was now a B&B homestay. They knocked on the door, explaining who they were and were welcomed in for a cup of tea! We had a meal together and took many pictures. During dinner, Mark brought out a bundle of letters written by his grandfather to his father. The letters, complete with envelopes, stamps and return address contained a few pictures of old Shillong.
Mark wrote after he got back, “Since our return to the UK, I have been reading through my grandfather’s letters. Most of the content is related to family news and personal matters, so unlikely to be of general interest. However, he does refer to people in his close circle in Shillong. These included Sir Keith Cantlie and Audrey (Sir Keith’s daughter) and Thomas Hayley. Other names that recur are Patterson, Stevenson, Snaith and Kingdon Ward (the famous plant hunter), all of whom stayed with him at Rock Cliff at various times from 1945-1947.”
So the Gwalia-Khasi-Jaintia connection continues!
Yours etc.,
Glenn C. Kharkongor,
Via email
Before we leap
Editor
Meghalaya society once again is at the crossroads but someone has walked away with the signposts. The incumbent Rajya Sabha member, Wansuk Syiem is due to vacate her RS seat by April this year. The state sends one RS member and this person is supposed to represent the entire state of Meghalaya to put forth the opinions and aspirations of the people of the state. The nominee has to be elected by the State Assembly. Time is running out for the Govt and the State Assembly to identify such a person. But do we have any one that we can all consider fit for the post?
From a very objective point of view one can say that it is only the MPCC that has a number of suitable candidates but it being in the opposition the view of the Congress will not count. So let’s forget a Congress candidate. What about a person from the ruling coalition? Frankly speaking there seems to be none from the NPP except to accommodate James Sangma after he has been stripped of his Home portfolio. But then we can’t have a sister in the LS and a brother in the RS, and another brother as CM, all from the same party can we? It will smack too much of sheer nepotism, as if we don’t have enough of it.
The only possible choice would therefore be from the UDP. We have two ideal choices. One, Paul Lyngdoh and the other Jemino Mawthoh. The recent controversial floor crossing antics of Paul Lyngdoh within the KHADC and his flagrant flouting of a UDP party whip on the issue has put naught his chances of ever being considered as a RS candidate by his own party. Choosing Paul as the RS nominee at this juncture would rupture the UDP. So cross out that name. It leaves the field open to Jemino Mawthoh and come to think of it, that would not be a bad choice either. We need an educated, articulate person who empathises with the voice of the people to represent us in the Rajya Sabha. Meghalaya faces a number of contentious issues which will require serious arbitration with the Centre, be it funding for the state; addressing the ILP problem; the unresolved stalemate of NEIGRIHMS director or the appointment for the next occupant of Raj Bhavan. These are issue that affect Meghalaya and we need someone with a clear mind to address them with New Delhi. From this perspective I would put my bet on Jemino Mawthoh . As pointed out above we are at the crossroads on the matter. Hope Meghalaya takes the right turn and comes out with the best choice for its RS candidate.
Yours etc.,
Allan Lyngdoh,
Shillong-3