By Reeta Ghosh
Come December, the golden rays of the sun and the pink blossoms of wild cherry trees amidst the lush greens of Shillong fill hearts with the joy of Christmas and the New Year. Besides this festive cheer, the month also marks the remembrance of the life and works of the revered Khasi poet, U Soso Tham. Every year on December 18, many observe the death anniversary of the bard in different ways to pay homage.
The great poet, who died in 1940, was born in 1873 in Sohra, Meghalaya. Born into a poor family, he could complete his education only up to the eighth standard. Despite these odds, Tham went on to become a Khasi teacher at the Government Boys’ High School in Shillong. Some of his notable works include Ka Duitara Ksiar (The Golden Harp, 1925), a collection of poems, and Ki Sngi Ba Rim U Hynniew Trep (The Olden Days of U Hynniew Trep, 1936), reflecting Khasi history and culture.
To commemorate his legacy on his death anniversary, the Department of Arts and Culture, Shillong, Government of Meghalaya, along with the Department of Education, members of the Tham family, and the Red Oleanders Cultural Society, has been observing the occasion at the State Central Library, now renamed the U Soso Tham Auditorium and Library.
In the early years, the day was marked by a humble gathering, paying floral tribute to the poet’s bust, followed by a brief cultural programme. Over time, the observance has grown into a two-day-long event featuring poetry writing and recitation, painting, and various competitions. Participation has increased significantly, with students, artistes, scholars, and leaders attending in the presence of Tham’s family members and admirers.
U Soso Tham’s deep love for Mother Nature, his spirituality, and his lifelong struggle for the development of his mother tongue have resonated with many. His poems are full of appreciation for the intricacies and natural beauty of the Khasi Hills, often reminding us of another nature-loving poet, Jibanananda Das of post-Tagorian modern Bengali literature, in these lines:
“Banglar much ami dekhiachi, tai ami Prithibir rup Khujite jai na ar” – ‘Rupashi Bangla’ (A regional entertainment channel).
(I have seen the beautiful face of Bengal, so I don’t wish to seek the beauty of other lands of the earth.)
It also reminds us of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in this lines from “Sphulingo”
“Bohudin dhore, bohu croshe dure,
Bohu byay kori, bohu desh ghure,
Dekhite giyechi porbatmala,
Dekhite giye chi Sindhu,
Dekha hoy nai chokkhu melia
Ghor hote shudhu dui pa phelia
Ekti dhaner shisher upore
Ekti shishir bindu.”
(“I have spent a lot of time and money travelling to enjoy the beauty of faraway hills and seas, but have not seen the beauty of a single dew drop on the top of the pinnacle or plant stem very near my home”.)
U Soso Tham wrote-
“Jingshai ngi wad sawdong Pyrthei
Jingshai Ka Ri ngim tip ei ei”
(“Enlightment we seek around the world
That of the land we know but nought”)
Translated by Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih
Here, if the word ‘enlightenment’ is replaced with ‘beauty’, the meaning is the same.
A common thread between all the great poets mentioned above is the affinity for nature and its admiration. As poets and thinkers are the most valuable assets of any culture or civilisations, the beauty and spirituality of the life and works of U Soso Tham has immense potential to spread worldwide.
About Red Oleanders Cultural Society
Around two decades ago, the Society was started by former Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, Ranjan Chatterjee in Shillong to honour Tagore and his time in Shillong. The society’s name Red Oleanders translated as ‘Rakta Karabi’ , one of Tagore’s famous dramas, was written in Shillong, thus finding immense significance. The Society has been multicultural in its outlook, with a cosmopolitan nature has been honouring and representing the cultural milieu across the city.
(The author is a member of the Red Oleanders Cultural Society, previously a National Awardee teacher at Laban Bengali Boys Higher Secondary School)
