SHILLONG: At a time when the State’s water bodies are facing threats from various quarters, intellectuals from the Khasi Authors’ Society felt that there is a need for a detailed deliberation on the issue which affects the day to day life of people.
To this effect, the Khasi Authors’ Society organised a seminar on ‘Water and Rivers as Reflected in Khasi Culture and Literature’ here on Saturday.
The seminar was inaugurated by Prof B Myrboh, Pro-Vice Chancellor, NEHU, in the presence of Khasi litterateurs and scholars.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Myrboh stated that the topic is most relevant in the present situation. “Conservation of water can be achieved only by preserving all the components of nature,” he said.
Prof Myrboh also envisaged the need to have similar discussions on other elements of nature like plants, trees and herbs which according to him are primarily responsible for maintaining a perennial water reservoir.
Meanwhile, two books – the fourth volume of Syngkhong Jingtip, a journal of Khasi Authors’ Society and a book written by EW Dkhar titled Ka balang katkum ka testament ba thymmai (The Church according to the New Testament) were also released on the occasion.
Earlier, president of the Society, Prof DRL Nonglait, delivered the keynote address.
In the first session of the seminar the resource persons, MM Khymdeit and SS Majaw, presented their papers. Khymdeit deliberated at length on the metaphor of water in the poems of eminent Khasi bard U Soso Tham, while Majaw provided a narrative reference of water in the literary works of some Khasi authors and poets.
