He died 83 years ago but famed Khasi poet Soso Tham’s warnings against corruption are very much apt for today’s world.
This was stated by Prof Badaplin War of North-Eastern Hill University’s (NEHU) Khasi Department during a function organised by the Arts and Culture Department to commemorate the death anniversary of Tham.
War said that in some of the poems in “Ki Sngi Barim U Hynniewtrep”, he warned about the very fact that corruption is something that will ultimately destroy society.
She also said that the Khasi bard talks about the need to be moderate, honest and truthful and to build societies and avoid corruption at any level.
“Soso Tham therefore is very relevant in today’s world,” War said.
According to her, he was also appreciative of nature and the unique sights and sounds of the land of the Khasis.
She also said that he recounts the horrific effects that nature can unleash on hapless human beings unless and until one gives the respect that is due to nature.
“Taking the readers back to the time prior to the coming of U Hynniewtrep into the world, Tham was able to portray the innocence, beauty of the and that was there before pervading presence of evil started to seep through and guided man away from his creator and this is a warning that we need to take heed even today,” War said.
Meanwhile, Frederick Roy Kharkongor, Commissioner and Secretary in the Arts and Culture Department, spoke on the occasion as the chief guest and said that there should be more translations and publications of Tham’s works so that he does not remain an unsung hero and his greatness is not limited to the boundaries of Meghalaya.
“His works, his thoughts, what he stands for should also be known to a far wider audience,” Kharkongor said, adding a call for the need to adapt to the contemporary times of the digital world.
Challenging the literary community, Kharkongor said that they should come out with more translations, devise creative and meaningful ways in which to extend the huge body of work that Soso Tham has done to make it accessible to a wider reading public, such as through graphic novels.
