I am very happy and honoured that Ms. Madeline Tham has requested me to write a foreword to her translation of the poems of U Soso Tham from the book: Ka Duitara Ksiar which she titled as, The Golden Duitara: Translations from Soso Tham's Duitara Ksiar.
U Soso Tham (1873-1940) was born in Sohra (Cherrapunjee) in 1873 and after obtaining his basic education, he was very fortunate to have had the privilege to learn and be under the tutelege of Rev. Dr. John Roberts (The Father of Khasi Literature). Many scholars were ignorant of the fact that U Soso Tham spent two years: 1892 and 1893 as a student at Cherra Theological Institution. Here he was taught not only biblical literature, theology, philosophy, logic but also English literature and Khasi language. The time he spent here played a critical role in moulding him not only as a teacher but also as a creative thinker. It was here that he was first exposed to English literature and the love for his own language was sowed. Acknowledging this fact, he vehemently stated in 1938.
When looking back at those years I cannot say as to how much we as a 'nation' and a Church are indebted to Dr. John Roberts. To be taught by him is one thing. To be able to observe his personality and having a discourse with such a man is another thing.
Apart from teaching Theology, Dr. John Roberts taught us English Literature and Khasi Language. He often scolded us for not knowing our own language.
U Soso Tham first published his poems in 1925 as Ki Poetry Khasi. In its third and revised edition, few more poems were added and published in 1936. It was in this edition that the title was also changed into Ka Duitara Ksiar ne Ki Poetry Khasi. His poems clearly shows that nature has served as a major source of inspiration to him and because of this he has often been compared to Wordsworth, the
English nature poet. The publication of this book marked a historic event in the literary landscape of Khasi literature though hi literary career was crowned with the publication of Ki Sngi Barim U Hynniew Trep (The Ancient Days of the Seven Huts) in 1936 Soso Tham lived under the shadow of colonialism and witnessed its onslaught upon his culture and society and the colonisation of the mind and attitudes of his people. Looking at his works from 1 postcolonial perspective we will not fail to notice that it also served as an antidote to colonialism. This is very apparent in his works especially in Ki Sngi Barim U Hynniew Trep.
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