Uma Purkayastha captures the intellectual repository of the great bard on his death anniversary despite the poet’s hardships and lack of recognition at the time.
The Pioneer Khasi Poet U Soso Tham, is remembered on December18, every year, on his death Anniversary. To commemorate the day, it has been declared as a state holiday since the inception of Meghalaya, and public meetings and culturals functions are held to pay tribute to the great poet. However, it is also a revered fact that though a great poet, his genius remains confined to the state of Meghalaya only. His poems are composed in Khasi language which is not familiar with other states of the country, and the translation works of his poems are not sufficient to be circulated far and wide; and as a result, till today U. Soso Tham remains unsung nationally and confined to Meghalaya only.
As it is known, the poet was a great lover of nature much like what is seen in the works of Wordsworth, Tennyson, Yeats and Tagore. Love for nature, and Patriotism were the main essence of his poetic creations. His philosophical thoughts and views are of universal value.
His education was only upto the eighth standard, due to his father’s untimely death; but despite such a huge setback, his philosophical thoughts and ideas were far above his academic achievements. The poet’s ideas were for the oneness of people, and the unity among his countrymen; and therefore tried to remind people not to forget their ancestral roots. He wrote:-
“The ancient tribe —- Khasi and Pnar—–
A Multitude that spread throughout the world:
The hidden Light —- that we may quest’…..”
(‘The Golden Grain’ translated)
Learning English helped him to a considerable extent to be able to study English poems and lyrics. He pioneered in making use of Khasi idioms in his poems, sometimes he uttered his self-composed poems, while speaking to his peers, and would be considered of unsound mind. The people from the village were not in a position to comprehend and realise the genius in him and ridiculed him as mad or half-mad. Later, when he came to Shillong in search of a means of livelihood, some of the educated people of the city recognised his exceptional intellectual capacity which had surpassed his academic qualifications. This led to the great poet’s appointment as a Khasi Language teacher in the Shillong Govt. Boys High School in Mawkhar on October 12, 1905. Despite his elevated position at this point, he was often ignored and scorned and called a ‘Lunatic Teacher’.
Soso Tham was inherently a poet-philosopher. Traditional education was secondary to him. His philosophical thoughts and ideas were far above his academic education which at the point in time were beyond the understanding of the then people. A tragedy but the reality of most celebrated artists/creators of the present were considered ordinary during their time.
None of the nays stopped him. His philosophical views had no limitations or boundaries. Braving all the pain, he went on to composing poems; and in 1925, despite the worst financial crunch, he published his first book ‘Ka Duitara Ksiar’ (The Golden Harp), but unfortunately, nobody honoured his noble venture. Like an ordinary vendor, he went from door to door to sell the book, but earned nothing but ridicule and disregard. Even the literate people of the time did not pay him his due honour which he rightly deserved. Soso expressed his feelings of tragic frustration in many of his poems which touch every emotional heart today.
U Soso Tham was a grounded man, a born poet-prophet, a God sent philosopher, who contributed as much as he could, during his short span of life, and later died on December 18, 1940.
It is indeed a pity to think of a man of sagacity and intellect who remained totally unsung till his death. The most tragic points of his life mark poverty and disdain for his works. His many valuable writings are lost or untraceable in the present, which is great intellectual loss.
Today, U Soso Tham is highly honoured by the Govt. of Meghalaya and by the people of the state, but his vision through his writings deserves a larger place as the Pioneer poet of Meghalaya through his invaluable compositions (in Khasi) of universal value.
As we observe a holiday, and celebrate his works through cultural programmes, these are not enough as many of Meghalaya’s children remain ignorant of the day’s significance. More can be done for he ‘came quietly and left quietly’ leaving a vast legacy for the literate world!
‘‘Quietly he lives, quietly he dies,
Amidst the wilderness;
Quietly in the grave let him rest,
Beneath the green, green grass’’.
→ Soso Tham, Translated by Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih