By Bijoya Sawian
As we commemorate the 120th Death Anniversary of Babu Jeebon Roy on May 16 we remember with admiration and respect the contribution of Radhon Sing Berry Kharwanlang towards value education. Radhon Sing Berry Kharwanlang, Jeebon Roy’s friend and literary soul mate, compiled ‘Ka Jingsneng Tymmen’ (The Teachings of Elders), the Khasi book of moral ethics and etiquette. It is a literary masterpiece first published in the Khasi newspaper, U Khasi Mynta in February 1897. It comprises a hundred and twelve lines. In March he added another ninety-two lines. In December 1901 it was published in book form by Jeebon Roy in the Ri Khasi Press. The following year Part II was also published. Book 1 has forty-one stanzas and Book II, sixty-eight stanzas. Radhon Sing wrote it in exquisite Khasi, two lines consisting of ten syllables and perfect rhyming. The uniqueness of this work lies in its agelessness and universality for its foundation is Truth, the essence of all religions.
I had the privilege of translating it into English and having it published in the same press a hundred years later in 1997. Here are a few stanzas that encapsulate the Khasi way of life and living.
*All you children, nieces and nephew/Learn good behavior, the best possible/Your good reputation will always remain/From season to season as you grow you will gain/Wherever you walk, wherever you go/Be modest ,be humble, don’t let arrogance show/In the house you are born these you must learn/How to sit and how to stand/How to walk and cross your feet/How to drink how to eat/How to talk how to glance/How to move how to advance/How to work how to labour/How to cope with the work you shoulder/How to dress how to attire/How to be modest how to cover/How your turban you will wear/How to comb and make your hair/How to give how to accept/How you will live and your life will direct/Think and ponder be not vain be not proud/At home or abroad, in or out/Take not these words lightly for they come from God Almighty.
*Whatever you know whatever you gain/It is useless if not by Truth sustained/Even if very rich you become/If no one respects you what use is the pomp?/Even if you are grandly attired/It’s useless for it’s only your shame camouflaged/You may reach the top, sit on horse, elephant/If your reputation is sullied what use is it? /Even if you worship with folded hands/What use is it if you are dishonest and unkind?/Even if you worship God and him entreat/If within you goodness is not rooted deep/How long will you escape His wrath His judgment /Today, tomorrow you’ll come to a sad end.
*In front of elders any time any place/Speak with humility and grace/When they enter the room while you’re alone or with friends/Stand up give your seat, ne’er feel shame or offence/In front of them in smoking don’t indulge/It belittles their position and dignity very much/You too will yourself expose and disgrace/Like a boorish upstart who knows not his place.
*When your kith and kin have trials and tribulations/Never refuse help and co-operation/Whether they can repay your kindness or not /Don’t ever confront them, don’t keep a grudge/If they have a feast go and join graciously/If they don’t invite you don’t sulk needlessly/Around food and drink your life shouldn’t revolve/Eat and drink only to be healthy and strong
*Always with discretion talk and act/It’s an investment that remains intact/Do not overspend and your earnings deplete/In drink and food too be discreet/An extravagant life leads to penury/Concentrate on life that is good and true/Good fortune will always be with you/Never be too inquisitive and too prying/Never meddle and be too interfering/Always keep your hearts pure as a pearl/All you budding youth, you boys and girls.
*Alcohol you shouldn’t too much desire/It has in it both fire and water/Smoking hashish too do not dare/Impoverished you will be, for your life you won’t care/As for opium and other stronger drugs/They will shorten your life if in them you indulge/From gambling too you should stay far/Or like a bottomless pit it will you devour/Keep away from women of bad character/Or your health and wealth will disappear
*Before you decide to woo anyone/First find out what clan she comes from/Inquire with care in case the match is taboo/Speak with respect and regard, all of you/Never scoff at someone who’s not good to look at/For ,one day, your words you’ll surely regret/You are ridiculing and jeering at God ,the Creator/ Who, like the sun and the moon, He created with care/Whatever they are wanting in their physical form/It’s not doing ,it’s the work of God
*When you go for an outing or any sport/For fishing or recreation of any sort/Boys and girls do conduct yourself well/Don’t give people a chance to gossip and tell/When you all go somewhere where elders aren’t present/So you won’t fall into trouble, be wary, be prudent/Don’t ever cheapen your character/Or the world will malign you and defame and slander
*A flower that someone else has worn/Never wish that it should you adorn/And once you have worn a particular flower/Other shouldn’t get its fragrance, don’t let them get near/By this I mean avoid the act so vile/Of trying to seduce someone else’s spouse/You’ll commit the sacrilege and unforgivable sin/That is, to both sexes, strictly forbidden.
*The first scoop of the rice pot/Goes to the man of the house without any doubt/If the women avail of this privilege instead/The world won’t the men respect/Ladies when you are serving each day/Till the meal is over don’t move away/Or it will be likened to serving animals/Even if you are innocent it will rankle
*All superficial pomp and ostentation/Undermines Truth and is the root of destruction/Once your character is destroyed/Whatever you achieve no one will applaud/Well being is assured if by Truth you abide/Right from the beginning to the end of your life/Friends acquaintances and all at home /Do no wrong deeds wherever you roam/Don’t get ensnared by wicked people/Be alert ,be wary and set an example/So that you’ll always be at one with God/From now on please remember my words.
A translation is a pale imitation of the original. This could not be truer than in this case. I have, endeavoured, however, to translate it as accurately as possible keeping young readers in mind without compromising on the meaning for the sake of rhyme and meter.
In those days, children also learnt from folktales and other forms of folklore on endless monsoon days when the rain would fall unceasingly and on long winter evenings around a blazing fire. The stories were closely linked to their mental and physical world for in those days both the narrator and the narratives were hardly exposed to any outside influences.
It is heartening to note that there is a marked revival of the old concept of value-based education because there is an imperative for it. There are Vedanta classes being held for the young in many towns and cities in India. In the Khasi and Jaintia Hills the various branches of the Seng Khasi across the hills hold special classes for the young every Sunday in which Radhon Sing’s Ka Jingsneng Tymmen is taught, discussed and explained besides lectures by elders and prominent members of society.
The next step should, perhaps, be the re-introduction of traditional methods of teaching in some areas of learning.
(The writer is author of Shadow Men among other books)