By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 12: It is seldom that a person leaves this earth on the day he was born. But Rash Mohon Roy Nongrum, one of the stalwarts of the Seng Khasi movement, was one such person. He was born on February 12, 1870 and died on February 12 1962.
On his birth and death anniversary here on Monday, a reprint of Nongrum’s book U Khasi Hyndai written in 1959, was launched at a function held at the Seng Khasi Hall, Mawkhar.
Rash Mohon Roy, one of the 16 persons who started the Seng Khasi movement on November 23, 1899, was born to Medon Nongrum and Chandra Sing Syiem of Hima Sohra. He spent his early years studying at a school in Nongsawlia after which he was brought to Shillong Government Boy’s School in 1887 by Babu Jeebon Roy another stalwart of the Seng Khasi Movement.
He later started the Seng Khasi Free Morning School in May 1921. He faced several difficulties in running the school and appealed to Mahatma Gandhi for help. Gandhi assisted the school through the Bharatiya Adhinjati Sewa Sangh run by AV Thakkar with Rs 50 every month until 1949.
Noted Khasi scholar Khasimon Phanbuh, while narrating her meeting with Rash Mohon Roy, stated that she had received a letter from him while studying at Kolkata urging her to take on the responsibility of sharing her knowledge with her own people. However, Khasimon had to leave for further studies to Delhi and by the time she returned, he had passed away. But Roy left a lasting impression on her to strive to strengthen the cultural revolution.
Dr Badarisha Kharwanlang, the granddaughter of Rash Mohon Roy, who worked along with late Sumar Sing Sawian and Sweetymon Rynjah to bring out a reprint of U Khasi Hyndai, spoke of the labour of love in putting together this book.
Speaking at the function guest of honour, Syiem of Mylliem Ainam Sing Syiem said he was honoured to be at a function to pay homage to a person who worked at conserving the essence of Khasi culture and practices and whose book was being released by his grandchildren on his death anniversary.
Chief guest of the function, North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum said he is overjoyed to be present at the function where a clan member was being honoured.
Rash Mohon Roy Nongrum has left behind indelible marks for the present generation. He was an elder who walked the talk and realised the importance of education even in those early days and started a school that did not charge school fees. “This is an age where we need men of substance to carry forward the legacy left behind by people such as Rash Mohon Roy Nongrum. The present generation has a duty to nurture and sustain what those of the earlier generation have left behind,” Adelbert Nongrum said, adding that there is great need to look at stalwarts of the past and learn the values they have left behind.
Others who spoke at the function included Dipshon Lyngdoh Nongbri, one of the office-bearers of the Seng Khasi, and Aiban Swer, also a grandchild of Rash Mohon Roy Nongrum.