Recalling the legendary Khasi poet U Soso Tham, a family member shared memories handed down by her mother, offering a touching glimpse into the man behind the literary icon. “I was born in 1939 and he died in 1940. I was just a baby,” she said, adding that whatever she knew about him came from her mother. “She told me he was very broad-minded.”
One such memory spoke of his firm support for traditional Khasi archery, despite criticism. When questioned by a few men, he calmly replied, *“Phi la wan saw ngut, phi la wan saw kynhun, nga la wan saw spah,”* making it clear that he would not be swayed. “He thought, as it’s a game of the Khasi people, we should support it,” she recalled.
She also remembered being told how U Soso Tham engaged freely with people from all backgrounds. “He would talk not only to Khasis, but to non-Khasis and to non-Christians also,” she said, noting his love for long discussions and debates. Through these memories, U Soso Tham—widely regarded as the greatest poet in the Khasi language—was remembered not only for his writings, but for his open mind and deep respect for culture and humanity.
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