Da u: Dr. R. P. Kharshiing, Mawphlang
Ka Maitphang: Ka 22 tarik u bnai Jylliew, manla ka snem ka dei ka sngi kyrpang jong ka jaitbynriew Khasi, ïa kaba la tip kum ka ‘Sngi u Thomas Jones’ (Thomas Jones Day). Dei ha kane ka sngi jong ka snem 1841, u Thomas Jones u mishonari na ri Wales u la wan ïuh kjat ha kine ki lum ban trei ïa ka kam mishon hapdeng ki Khasi. Mynba une u mishonari u dang trei ïa ka kam ha kine ki lum Khasi, u la pynnoh shibun u synñiang baradbah uba ka jaitbynriew Khasi kam lah shuh ban klet. Katto katne napdeng u synñiang u bynhei ba une u ‘riewkhraw u la pynnoh ki long: Ka jingwanrah ïa ki Dak thoh Khasi; ka jingseng ïa ki skul primary; ka jingïaleh ban ïada ïa ka hok u Khasi na ka kti ki English. Kine ki kam baradbah ki la long shisha ka jingkyrkhu ïa ka jaitbynriew Khasi. Namar kata ka long kaba dei eh ban kynmaw burom ïa kine ki matti jong une u ‘riewkhraw. Ha ka snem 2018, ka sorkar Meghalaya ka la pynbna ïar ïa ka 22 tarik Jylliew kum ka Sngi u Thomas Jones (Thomas Jones Day) ha kaba ki District kiba ha Khasi, Jaiñtia bad Ribhoi kin ïoh їa ka Sngi Shuti Kyrpang manla ka snem, kum ka dak ka jingkynmaw burom ïa ki jingtrei une u ‘riewkhraw.
Shaphang une u ‘riewkhraw ki la don shibun ki jingthoh, kiba khring ïa ki ‘riew wadbniah ban thoh halor ka jingtrei bad ka jingim jong u, ha ka dur ka kot bad ki jingthoh wadbniah (article). Hynrei, haba khmih bniah, donkam shuh shuh ban ngam kham jylliew ïa u synñiang bad kiwei de ki kam kiba u la aiti ha ka jingshakri. Ka phang kaba la shon eh ïa une u nongthoh hadien ka jingpyrshang ban khmih ïa ki sla jingim u Thomas Jones katba u dang don ha ri Khasi, ka dei ka jingïaleh pyrshah ïa ka bamsap. Ha kane ka jingpyrshang ban pynkhuid ïa ka bamsap bad ka jingïasaid ïa ka hok ki Khasi, u Sahep Harry Inglis u kylla long u nongshun ba jan eh jong u. Dei ruh u Harry Inglis uba la khang lad ïa ka jingtrei hok u Thomas Jones da kaba beh thong ruh ha ka jingthmu ban shim wat ïa ka jingim jong u. Kumta, kane ka jingthoh kan khmih kyrpang tang ïa ka bynta jong ka jingïashem ïakynduh u Thomas Jones ha ka jingïaleh pyrshah ban weng ïa ka bamsap.
Tang tiak halor ka kyntien ‘Bamsap’: Ha shuwa ban ktaid sha ka jylli jong ka jingshakri u Thomas Jones ha ri Khasi, sngew dei eh ban ïa pashat lem katto katne ki jingbatai halor ka kyntien ‘bamsap’. U Rev. I. Kharkongor ha ka kot Ka lawei u Khasi u thoh:
Ka bamsap ka long kawei pat ka rukom kamai u briew ban ïoh peisa. Kane ka ktien bamsap ka long ka ktien ba dang pyndonkam shen. Kham mynshuwa lane katto katne phew snem mynshuwa, ki briew ki ju pyndonkam da ka ktien bam tyngka. Ka ktien bam tyngka ka long ka ktien kaba eh bad khor katta katta ha ki shkor jong ki nongsngap. Ha ki por mynshuwa, ka ktien bam tyngka ka kham thew їa ki nongshohnoh briew lane їa kino kino ki briew kiba kamai peisa na ka bynta kano kano ka kam sniew. Kane ka ktah їa u nongai bad їa u nongpdiang їa ka peisa (1998:46).
Hangne ka bamsap ka thew ïa ka kam tuh tyngka da kaba shu leh thok, ka dei ka kam bymhok ïa u nongpdiang bad ïa u nongai, bad ka dei ruh ka kam kaba ïa ryngkat kyrdan bad ka kam nongshohnoh briew.
U Ram Ahuja u ai de ka jingbatai jong u kumne, “Ka jingbamsap ha ki kyntien kiba kham suk lah ban batai ba ka dei ka ‘jingpynbam tyngka’. Lah ban batai ruh kum ka jingpyndonkam bakla ïa ka bor u paidbah na ka bynta ka jingmyntoi shimet da kaba pynbakla lane pynkheiñ ïa ki aiñ jong ka imlang sahlang” (1997:449). Na kane ka jingsot, lah ban sngewthuh ba ka bamsap ka dei ka jingïabam pisa lane ka jingpynbam tyngka. Ka dei ruh ka jingpyndonkam bymdei ïa ka pisa bad ka hok u paidbah da uno uno u briew uba don ha ka bor, khnang ban myntoi shimet. Kumta, haba batai kyllum, ka bamsap ka dei ka jingleh bymhok, ka jingbam klop lane ka jingleh bymman kaba u briew u pyndonkam bakla ïa la ka iktiar kaba u bat, da kaba lute noh ïa ka tyngka lane ka hok jong kiwei. Kane ka thew ruh ha ki khep babun jong ka kyrdan longbriew manbriew, ha kaba u briew u pyndonkam bakla na ka jingduh noh ka bor jingïatip lem tang ban ïoh jingmyntoi sha lade.
U Thomas Jones kum u ‘riewïaleh pyrshah ïa ka bamsap: Ha ki sngi mynba u Thomas Jones u dang trei ïa ka kam mishon ha Ri Khasi. Ka histori ka ïathuh ba ka ri lum Khasi ka hab ha ka jingpynïaid ka East India Company, hapoh ka jingpeit jingkhmih u Colonel F. G. Lister kum u Political Agent bad u Lieutenant Harry Inglis kum u Assistant Political Agent. Ha ka synshar bad bishar, kine ki dohlieh ki la pyndonkam bakla ïa la ka iktiar; khamtam eh u Harry Inglis uba la knieh jubor ïa ka hok jong ki Khasi, tang ban ïoh jingmyntoi shimet. Hooid, ha ka por ba thung ïa u Harry Inglis kum u Assistant Political Agent ha ka snem 1835, la shah kyrpang ïa u ban khaïi tang ïa u sohñiamtra. Hynrei, kham hadien ynda ka shuki ka la skhem, u la kdiah jubor ïa ki kyndon da kaba pynbor ïa ki trai bri ban siew khambun na ka jingmih bad ban shalan ïa ki mar sha u. Ka Helen Giri ka thoh kumne:
Hadien ba u briew uba duk bad la kiba ha ïing ki la thung shitom ïa ki soh, ki la trei shitom ban pynsan ban kheit bad ban lum ïa u soh ban die sha Shatok, u Inglis pat u shim ïa ki pisa bad u ai ha ki tang kawei na ka lai bynta bad hateng hateng, kawei na ka hynriew bynta, ne kawei na ka phra bynta jong ka pisa baroh…Kim nud ban ïaleh pyrshah ïa kane namar ba u byrngem ïa ki. Don napdeng jong ki kiba la die hi ïa ki soh bad kiba la lum hi ïa ka pisa, kine ki shah pynshitom ha ban da syrtok. Ïa ki ïing ki la lied jubor, ki la shah pynjot pynjulor ïa ki diengsoh (Giri:57).
Na kane ka jingthoh lah ban sngewthuh ba u Inglis u la khñoit beiñ ïa ki Khasi ha kato ka por. Nalor ka jingkhaïi ïa u sohñiamtra, u Inglis u la pynkheiñ ruh ïa ki kyndon da kaba khaïi ruh ïa kiwei pat ki mar kiba don ha ri Khasi, kum u mawshun bad u dewïong.
Kane ka jingleh don bor u Harry Inglis ïa ka khaïi pateng ha ri lum Khasi, ka la ktah shisha ïa ka ïoh ka kot jong ki paidbah ha kito ki por. Kiba bun ki shu pyndem ngon hapoh ka jingpynïaid jong u. Lah ban ong ruh ba kane ka dei ka bamsap kaba shyrkhei ha kaba la knieh noh ïa ka hok u paidbah. Halor kane ka jingleh donbor, sngew ïahab ban ïarah kti lang bad ka jingong u J. Nye, “Ka jingbamsap ka thew ïa ka jingpyndonkam bakla ïa ka iktiar u paidbah na ka bynta ka jingmyntoi shimet. Ïa ka jingbamsap la batai ruh kum ka jingïaid lait ha ka jingkitkhlieh na ka bynta u paidbah, khnang ban ïoh jingmyntoi namar ba don ka bor bad ka kyrdan”(1997:450).Ki jingbatai hangne ki kdew shai ba ka bamsap ka dei ka jingpynkheiñ ïa ki aiñ ka imlang sahlang, da kaba shim kabu na ka kyrdan kaba ki bat khlem da salia ïa ka hok kiwei tang ban myntoi ïalade. Namarkata, ka jingleh bymman u Harry Inglis ka paw shai kdar ba ka dei ka jingbamsap. Ha kito ki por, ym don ruh ba nud ban ïaleh pyrshah ïa u Inglis, namar u don ha ka bor. Wat ki Syiem lane ki nongïalam ruh ki shu kbum sbak ïa la ka shyntur. U Iaithrang Nongbri u pynksan kumne, “Lah ban pynkymmaw ba ki Khasi hadien ka jingshah jop ha ka East India Company, ki la shah ïeh khlem nongïalam” (2016:33). Kane ka jingïakynduh jong ka jaitbynriew, ka dei ka jingshah banbeiñ lane ka jingshah ïuh roit ha la ka jong ka ri.
Na kane ka jingshah ñiewbeiñ, u Thomas Jones u ïohi ïa ka buit shukor ki nongtrei ka sorkar Phareng, ha kaba la khanglad ïa ki trai ri ban shalan dalade ïa ki jingmih na ka ri bad la khñoit beiñ ruh ïa ki paidbah Khasi ha ka khaïi pateng. Kane ka jingïohi jong u, ka la ktah shibun eh ïa ka mynsiem jingïatip lem para briew. U la rai ban ïeng ha ka liang ki nongshah ban beiñ bad ban ïada ïa ka hok jong ki. U Iaithrang Nongbri u thoh, “Ka jingdum tliw ka jinglong jingman ha Ri Lum Khasi bad Jaiñtia ka pawshai ba tang u Thomas Jones marwei u ïakhun pyrshah ïa ka jingleh beaiñ u Sahep Inglis na ka bynta ki paidbah Khasi” (2016:34). Na ka jingsot, lah ban sngewthuh ba u Thomas Jones u ïeng ban ïaleh marwei na ka bynta ka hok u Khasi. Ha ka jingpyrshang ban ïasaid ïa ka jingshisha, u Thomas Jones u la shah kynnoh pynban ba u dei u ‘Commercial Character’ (1910:96). Kane ka paw hadien ba la don ka jingïapher jingmut na ki daw kiba bun, hapdeng u Thomas Jones bad ka Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Foreign Missionary Society (Ka seng kaba kyrshan ïa ka jingtrei mishon ha ri Khasi). Bad kawei na ki daw ba kongsan eh ka dei ka jingmana ïa u Thomas Jones ba um dei shuh ban don bynta ha ki kam khaïi lane bad ki kam pyrthei. Kane ka pynsuba ba don eiei sha lyndet, kaba la pynlong ïa ka WCMFMS ban maham ïa u kumtei.
Kawei pat ka bynta jong ka jingpyndonkam bakla ki nongïalam ka kompani, ka dei ka jingbamsap ha Kashari Saitsohpen. U S. S. Majaw u thoh, “U Thomas Jones u la poi ha Sohra ha ka por ba ka Kashari Saitsohpen ka la man long ka ktem bah bad ka krem jong ka bamsap bampong kaba la kiew haduh shynrong khlieh” (2011:114). Nangta, ka Helen Giri ka pynshai shuh shuh, “Ki Khasi ki dei ban pynlut shibun ka spah haba ki don kino kino ki mukotduma ha ka ïingshari ha Sohra. Ki nongmudui bad ki nongshah mudui ki dei ban wanrah baroh kat kaba ki don khnang ban jop ha ka mukotduma. Kiba long tymmen shnong ki ïoh bor ne ki shah pynkheiñ noh kat kum ka jinglah bor jong ki ban siew sha ki nongbishar” (Giri:57). Na kine ki jingsot, lah ban sngewthuh ba kane ka kashari ba la khlieh da ki dohlieh kam don shuh ka bishar hok kumba ka dei ban long bad bunsien la ai ïa ka rai da ka jingbymhok katkum ka jinglah ban pynkbum tyngka.
Ha ka snem 1847, ka la don ka mukotduma hapdeng u Hajar Sing bad U Harry Inglis pyrshah ïa u Thomas Jones. Ha kane ka mukotduma, u Hajar Sing ka Hima Mylliem u la kynnoh ba u Thomas Jones u wan shna ïing beaiñ ha Mylliem khlem kano kano ka jingïoh jingbit; watla ïa kane ka jaka la ïoh ka jingmynjur ktien na u Bor Manik bad u Hajar Sing, kiba long ki nongsynshar ka Hima Mylliem. Ha lyndet kane ka mukotduma, u Thomas Jones u sngewthuh biang biang ba kane ka dei ka kam buit poh lane ka jingkynshoit u Harry Inglis (uba dei u nongshun jong u), khnang ban ïoh tan bad pynngat ha ka kut bishar. Ïa kane ka mukotduma la mudui ha u Political Agent, u Colonel F. G. Lister, uba dei ruh u kthaw kurim jong u Harry Inglis. Na ka jingïadei ba ha ïing, ka tarajur ka Kashari ka kylla noh shiliang. Wat u Inglis uba dei ban shah tian bishar u shong pynban kum u nongbishar. Ha kane ka jingbishar, ka Helen Giri ka ïathuh shuh shuh kumne, “La dawa na u Thomas Jones ba u dei ban siew pisa sha u Inglis bad ki nongtrei ha Kashari bad lada um lah ban siew la rkhie beiñ shuh shuh ïa u bad kren pynpoh ïa u” (Giri:58). Kane ka jingtreikam ka kashari ka paw shai ba u sbai u kyang khamjam ban ïa ka jingbishar hok bad khatduh ka kashari u Lister ka rai pynrem ïa u Thomas Jones.
Hadien ba u Thomas Jones um sngew lah shuh ban shah ïa ka jingleh donbor ki English, u la pyntip ïa ka kam bymman jong ki sha ki bor ba halor. Kumta ha ka 31tarik Naitung, 1848 u la thoh ïa ka shithi sha u Sahep F. I. Halliday, Secretary to the Government of Bengal, Judicial Department, Calcutta. Nangta u pynbud sa lai tylli ki shithi kiba la thoh ha ka 18 tarik, 23tarik bad 27tarik jong u bnai Risaw snem 1848 (2016:43). Ha kine ki shithi, u Thomas Jones u la batai lut ïa ka jingleh bymman u Inglis, khamtam eh ïa ka jingjyrsih ka bamsap bad ka jingknieh jubor ïa ka hok jong ki Khasi lyngba ka khaïi pateng. Kine ki shithi ki la long shisha ka atiar ban ïaleh pyrshah ïa ki kam bamsap bad ki kam bymman u Inglis. Kumta ha ka 21tarik Naiwieng, 1848 u Sahep I. P. Grant, Officiating Secretary to the Government of Bengal, Calcutta u la soi ïa ka shithi kaba u la phah sha u Colonel F. G. Lister. Ha kane ka shithi la ïathuh ban pynlong ka jingtohkit ïa ki kam bad ki jingleh u Lieutenant Harry Inglis. Ïa ka jingtohkit la shaniah ha u Sahep I. Dunbar, Commissioner of Dacca uba la wan poi ha Sohra ha kaba kut jong u snem 1848. Hadien ka jingjurip, ka kaiphod u Dunbar ka ai jingmut ba dei ban pynkynriah kam shisyndon ïa u Harry Inglis sha kiwei pat ki ophis ka Sorkar kiba hab shabar na ka ri Khasi. Namar la lap sabut ba kum u shakri sorkar u la leh trai khlieh, u la thombor bad kamtrai de ïa ki jaka ki puta, ki kper bad ki bri sohñiamtra jong ki briew ka thaiñ Riwar; nalor ki kam thombor bad ñiewbeiñ ïa ki Khasi ha kiwei ki jait jingtrei de (2011:168). Nangta, halor ka mukotduma u Thomas Jones, u Donbar u kdew katkum ka Act IV jong ka snem 1837; ba u Jones kum u trai shnong ka ri Bilat u don hok ban shong ban sah ha kano kano ka jaka kaba hab hapoh u pud u sam jong ka East India Company (1998:120).
Ka jingpyntip u Thomas Jones sha ki bor bahalor, ka la pynbitar lep ïa u Harry Inglis haduh ba u la ap khui ban ïoh pynhiar kput. U la phah ïa ki briew jong u ban thew pynïap ïa u Thomas Jones bad da ka said u la lait phet sha Calcutta. Ha Calcutta ka jingshitom jur ka lap ïa u bad ha ka 16 tarik Nailur, 1849 u khlad noh na kane ka pyrthei katba ka mynsiem jong u ka dang kyndeh ban ïada ïa ka hok ki Khasi. Kane ka long kaba kut jong u Thomas Jones, hynrei watla u la leit noh, ka hok jong u ban ïaleh pyrshah ïa ka bamsap bad ban ïada ïa ka jingshah ban beiñ ka jaitbynriew Khasi ka ïeng. Kane ka paw shai mynba u Harry Inglis u thoh ïa ka shithi ieh noh kam ha kaba kut jong u snem 1849. U Thomas Jones um don shuh bad ngi, hynrei ki matti jong u ki dang ïai sah ha ki sla jong ka jingkynmaw pateng la pateng. Kyrpang eh, halor ka jingïaleh pyrshah ïa ka bamsap bad ka jingshah ban beiñ ki Khasi ha ki English. Kane ka la long ka nongmuna ba kordor eh ïa ki longdien mandien, khamtam ïa ka jaitbynriew.
Ka jingpynkut: Ïa ka jaitbynriew Khasi la tip kum ka ri tip-briew tip-blei. Hooid, ka long shisha kaba sngew sarong ha khmat ka pynthei haba ngi kup ïa kane ka nam. Pynban ha kine ki juk ïakhleh khawlang bad ha kiba bun ki khep ka lyer kam beh shuh kum ki por kiba la leit. La ïohi tyngkreiñ bad ïohsngew kyndiang ba ka bamsap, ka thok ka shukor bad ka jingbanbeiñ ïa ki rit ki ria ka la shong lyngngeit ha ka imlang sahlang, naduh kiba bat ïa ka kyrdan kaba halor wat haduh ki riew paidbah. Na sla I kumba ki kup ïa ka dur kaba shongblei, hynrei napoh napoh ki deng ïa ka dur bula u Harry Inglis. Kane ka la long kum ka jingpang bampong kaba la pur stet ha baroh ki kyndong kynshrot, naduh ki kam hima sima, ka synshar ka bishar, ka saiñ pyrthei, ka khaïi pateng, ka ïohkam ïohjam, ka treikam lajong, wat haduh ki seng bhalang lane ki seng niam. Baroh ka jia namar ba ka mynsiem ïatiplem ka la sdang ïap stai noh bad ka tip-briew tip-blei ka la shong synjor. Lah ban ong ruh, haba la myllen ha ki jingpynmlien kim sngew shuh ba kata kan dei ka lynti bymhok. Hato kane kan shu kut tang hangta? lane Ngin shu long tang ki nongkhñuim lane ki nongpeitkai???. EM, ka por ka dang biang ban khalah noh sha kharai, ha shuwa ba kane ka sarang kan bam duh ïa ka jaitbynriew. Da kaba ïai pynmlien ruh ban kup ïa ka jymphong jong ka jingshisha bad ban kyntur pyrshah ïa kaba sniew, kumba ka paw ha u Thomas Jones.
Ka Par Jingtip: (i)Rev. I. Kharkongor: Ka lawei u Khasi. 1998 (ii) Ram Ahuja: Social problems in India. 1997 (iii) Helen Giri: The Khasis under British rule (1824-1947). 1998. (iv) Helen Giri: U Khasi ha ka por u Phareng, Shillong. (v) S. S. Majaw: U Thomas Jones bad ka pyrthei Saitsohpen. 2011. (vi) John Hughes Morris: History of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists Foreign Mission. 1910. (vii) Iaithrang Nongbri: The travails and death of Thomas Jones, Father of the Khasi Alphabet, Missionary of the Gospel and Freedom fighter of the Khasis. 2016.
