M.P Mawkon, Nongjri
Ngam lah khlem da shim ïa u khulom ban thoh eiei khyndiat ïa une u riewkhraw uba U Blei u la sei na Ri Wales ban wan thaba shane sha Ri Khasi Jaiñtia kum u khlur uba thaba hapdeng ka jingdum kaba sdang ban kah syrngiew ïa ka ri Khasi Jaiñtia baieid jong ngi. Bluit U Blei u la sei ïa u Thomas Jones-I ban wan sha Ri Khasi ban ai ïa ka jingithuh ïa ka Jaitbynriew kaba U Blei u da ieid kyrpang da kaba un long u nongai ïa ki dak thoh ABKD jong ki Alphabed Khasi jong ngi u khun Khasi Khara. Ha ka jingshisha ngi lah dei ban pule da ki dak thoh Bengali kumba la ong da kiba bun ki nongthoh histori.
Ka 22 tarik, Jylliew 1841 ka dei ka sngi kaba khraw tam ha ka sla histori jong ngi kum ka jaitbynriew Khasi. Namar dei ha kane ka sngi ba la wan iuh kjat uwei u Missionary uba nyngkong bad uba khraw nga lah ban ong ban wan poi tiap ha Sohra hapdeng jong u slap bajur ka Shnong Sohra. Naduh na Ri Wales u don ka jingieid ban wan khnang sha kane ka rilum Khasi jong ngi. Ka dei ka jingieid Blei kaba la pynlong ïa ki Missionary na Ri Wales ban wan ïalap ïa ka Gospel hapdeng jong ki Khasi ha kato ka por. La don u samla uba la thrang ban wan kum u Missionary hapdeng kita ki jaitbynriew Khasi. Kaei kaba pynlong ïa u ban sngewieid ïa ka jaitbynriew Khasi khlem da ithuh khlem da don ka jingïadei. Imat ka dei ka maïan Blei ba la phah khnang ba un long ka jingkyrkhu ym tang ha ka jingim mynsiem hynrei ha ka jingim doh ba man ka sngi ruh. Ha ka jingdum jong ka bneng bad ka jingjur jong u slap, la wan ïuh kjat da u Sahep Thomas Jones ha Sohra. Ka dei ka sngi sah kynmaw kaba ngi la ïoh ban rakhe ïa ka naduh ka snem 2018 lyngba ka jingithuh ka Sorkar Meghalaya ban ithuh noh ïa kane ka sngi kaba u Sahep Thomas Jones u wan poi ha Ri Khasi kum ‘KA THOMAS JONES DAY.” Bad ba ïa kane ka sngi yn rakhe hapoh rilum Khasi-Jaiñtia bad ha Ri Bhoi ruh. Kum ka dak ka jingburom ïa une u riewkhraw uba la ai ïa ngi ïa ka jingithuh lyngba kaba u ai syndon ïa ngi da ki dak ABKD ba ngin don la ki jong ki dak thoh. Bad ka jingrakhe ka dei kyllum lang da baroh kum ka jaitbynriew kum ka jingsngewieid ïa u Thomas Jones ba u la ai ïa ki dak thoh bad pule ABKD ïa ngi.
U Thomas Jones u la ong kumne ha ka Sorkar ha kato ka por, “Lada ngan shu sngap jar noh khlem kren, ngan kit lem ruh ïa ka pop ka sang ryngkat bad ki nonglehbor jong ki Khasi bad ngan ym long uba dei hok hi ruh ban ïoh ïa ka nam kum uta u nongïarap (Benefactor) ban pyllait ïa ka jingjynjar jong ki bad kumjuh ruh kum u Missionary ha ka Gospel U Trai.”
Haba ngi phai ban peit ïa kitei ki kyntien jong u ngi ïohi ïa i Khristan uba wan khnang ban ai ïa ka Gospel ha kita kiba donkam ha ka jingim kaba kynja mynsiem bad kumjuh ruh ban ïa im lem bad ki ruh ha ka jingim ba kynja doh. Ym tang ban ïalap ïa ka Gospel ha ki Khasi ha kato ka por hynrei kumno ruh ban ïarap ïa ki na ka jingjynjar bad jingshah lehbein namar ka jingduk bad ka jingshida ka jong ki namar kim nang ban thoh ban pule. La shah shim kabu ha kata ka jinglong ba duna jong ki namar kim dei kiba la nang la stad ne kiba la don la ki dak thoh. Kiwei ki jaitbynriew ki ïoh shim kabu haba ïa die ïa thied bad ha ka jingïadei ha ka kam sain hima sima.
U Thomas Jones kum u Missionary ba pura u la hikai ïa ka Ktien U Blei bad ïa ki jinghikai bakordor jong ka. U la ïalap ïa ka jingshisha ka Ktien U Blei hynrei u sngewthuh ba kine ki Khasi kiba u ieid ïa ki kim nang re ban thoh ban pule ruh. Hapdeng ka jingïalap u la hikai ruh ïa lade kumno ban nang ban kren ïa ka ktien Khasi. Ym tang ban nang hynrei kumno ki kren ki kynnoh ïa ki kyntien. Lyngba kata ka jingsngap bha bad ka jingtrei shitom. U la lah ban wanrah ïa Ki Khasi ha kato ka por ïa ka jingai sngewbha ba kin nang ban thoh ban pule.
La ïathuh ba ki la don teng kiba pyrshang ban hikai ïa ki Khasi ha ki snem 1813 hapoh u K.C Pal bad ha u snem 1832-37 hapoh jong u AB Lish. Te la don uwei u Missionary jong ka London Missionary Society uba kyrteng Jacob Tomlin uba la poi ha ri Khasi ha ki snem 1837 bad une u sahep u la ïoh ban sah ha Sohra kumba 9 bnai eiei ha ka por ba u sahep Alexander B. Lish u dang don ha Sohra. Bad dei ka jingïalam ba phylla jong U Blei lyngba une u Missionary uba la kyntu ban phah Missionary sha ri Khasi. Bad da kane ka jingkyntu jong une u Missionary jong ka London Missionary Society la urlong ka jingwan jong u Thomas Jones I sha Ri Khasi.
Kum ban shu pynkynmaw la kha ïa une u Missionary uba nyngkong na Wales sha Ri Khasi ha ka 24 tarik, Kyllalyngkot 1810 ha Tanyffrid ha ka Parish Llanggyniew, Montgomeryshire. La ïathuh naduh ba u dang khynnah u long uba tbit bha ha ki kynja jingtrei kti. Ha ka snem 1840, ka Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Missionary Society ka la pyndkut noh ïa ka jingïadei bad ka London Missionary Society. U Rev. Thomas Jones I ha ka por ba u dang don 30 snem ka rta bad ka kurim jong u kata ka Mrs. Anne Jones kaba dang armet ha kata ka por ki la mih na Liverpool ha ka 25 tarik, Naiwieng 1840. Ha shuwa ba u Sahep Thomas Jones un mih nangtei ka la don ka jingïaseng duwai ha ka 24 tarik Naiwieng 1840. Hadien jong ka jingleit lynti duriaw kaba jlan na Wales ha kaba khatduh ki la poi iuh kjat ha Sohra ha ka 22 tarik u Jylliew 1841. Kumba ngi tip ba ka Sohra ka dei ka thaiñ kaba jur slap bha, bad ba u Myllung ka ri u Soso Tham u la ai nam da u lapbah Sohra. U Sahep Thomas Jones bad ka mem jong u ki la iuh kjat ha Sohra hapdeng u Slap uba jur bha. La pdiang sngewbha ïa u Thomas Jones da uwei u rangbah shipai ba riewblei uba la ai jaka sah ïa ki, une u dei u Captain Lewin. Hadien ba u la sah katto katne sngi u Thomas Jones u la sngewthuh shai ba lada ki briew kim nang ban thoh ban pule ka eh than ïa ki ban sngewthuh ïa ka jinghikai (Message) kaba un sam ha ki. Kumta une u riewkhraw u la pyrshang ban nang ban kren ïa ka ktien Sohra (Sohra Dialect) da ka jingïarap ki katto katne ki Khasi ba la kham nang kham tip (Literate Khasis) kum u Duwan Rai, Jungkha bad u Laitthat, bad hadien hynñiew ne phra bnai ula nang bad sngewthuh ïa ka rukom kren Sohra.
Ha kito ka por la ïathuh ba ym don ba shlan ban pule kot namar ki briew ki ñiew sang ban pule, tang na Mawmluh khyndiat bad na Mawsmai de. Kiba nud ban leit pule ki sahep ki da ai da ka tulop.
U Nigel Jenkins ha ka kot jong u ‘Gwalia in Khasia’, u ïathuh ïa kawei ka jingjia kumne, “From the military and government officials, Thomas Jones received little more and undisguised criticism, “GO HOME JONES” advised a British Official, “you may as well try to instruct the monkeys on that tree, as attempt to teach these people”. U Sahep Thomas Jones u ïoh tang ka jingtheh umpjah ka jingshah krenbeiñ bad jingkren pynduh jingkyrmen na ki sahep Sorkar Dohlieh ha kato ka por. Uwei na ki leilei u da ai jingmut syndon da kaba ong, “Ko Mr. Jones khie leit phai noh sha la iing, wat pynlut por ban hikai ïa kine ki briew, lehse kan ym da ïapher eh ha kaba phin pyrshang ban hikai ïa kitai ki shrieh halor dieng”.
U W.R Laiflang ha kawei ka jingthoh ha ka Pateng Khristan u la thoh kumne, ba watla ki Khasi kim da khuid da suba, kim don la ki dak thoh pynban kim dei ki riewkhlaw. Ki Khasi hi ki la don la ka jingshai (Civilisation), ka akor ka burom. Ïa ka rukom synshar-paitbah jong ki (Democratic Principle) bad ïa ka rukom ba ki ïa said-thma said-dorbar la ïaroh bad pyrto da ki Phareng ha ka por jong u David Scott. Ki Khasi ki long ruh kiba khih kiba ksar bad naduh hyndai ki ju ïaleit ïawan sha ri thor Brama.
Ha ka kot kaba la pynmih da ka Khasi Author’ Society kaba la ai kyrteng ‘Haba im ka ktien im ka jaitbynriew’, ka thoh kumne, “Ngi sngewnguh eh ïa u Thomas Jones uba la wanrah bad pynskhem syndon ïa ki dak thoh Roman na ka bynta ban pyndonkam ha ka thoh ka tar Khasi naduh ka snem 1842 bad u la plie ruh ïa ki lai tylli ki skul ha Mawsmai, Mawmluh bad Sohra. Naduh kata ka por kam shym don shuh ka jingkyrtiang dien. Ha ki snem kiba hadien, ki riew shemphang trai ri kum u Jeebon Roy Mairom bad u Radhon Sing Berry ki la nang pyndap dong ïa ki dak-thoh Khasi da kaba wanrah shuh shuh ïa ki dak kiba ïahab sur bad ka kren Khasi. Kane ka sakhi shai kdar ba ka jaitbynriew ka don ki riew shemphang kiba trei minot ban kyntiew ïa ka ktien sha ka kyrdan kaba la ih bha kumba ka long mynta.” Bad mynta ka Ktien Khasi kum ka ktien thoh ka la dap bad kynjoh pura sha ka 182 snem.
U Sahep Thomas Jones I da kaba u la tip ïa ka jingpyrshang jong u Sahep A.B Lish ban pyndonkam da ki dak thoh Bengali ka la pulom bad kam ïahap (Failed), kumta u Thomas Jones u la sdang beit da kaba pyndonkam da ki dak thoh Roman. Baroh arngut shi kurim (u Thomas Jones bad ka Anne) ki la trei shitom ban thoh ïa ki kot da kaba ki lap ba kata ka rukom thoh da ki dak roman ki long kham ïahap ha ka ktien sohra. Hapdeng shibun ki jingshah kren wohdaw ïa ka jingpyrshang jong u, ha kaba khatduh kine ki shi kurim ki la lah ban pynmih nyngkong ïa ka kot kaba u ai kyrteng “Ka Kot Pule Khasi A-B (The first Khasi Primer entitled, Ca Citab ban Hicai Ca Citien Cassia). Bad ïa kane ka kot u la pynbha shuh ïa ka rukom thoh ha u snem 1846, ïa kaba la kham pynbha shuh shuh ha ka snem 1852 kaba la ai kyrteng, “Ka kitap nyngkong ban pule ka ktin Khasi” la ïathuh da U William Pryse. Bad u la pynmih ruh ïa ki ar tylli ki kot niam.
U Rai Bahadur D Ropmay u la thoh kumne shaphang u Thomas Jones, “One of them is the First Primer, an excellent textbook read in schools for 60 long years”. Ka dei ka jingtrei shitom met bad mynsiem jong une u riewkhraw ba la ai nam ai burom bad ïai kynmaw bad pyrto ïa u kum u Kpa ki dak thoh Khasi, u nonglap ïa ka thoh ka tar bad ka pule Khasi (The Founder of Primary Education and the pioneer of Khasi Literature).
U Thomas Jones u la pynkylla khasi ïa ki jingrwai na ka Welsh bad English sha ka jingrwai Khasi (Khasi Hymn Book) kaba u la ai kyrteng, Ki Jingrwai Niam ban ïa rwai ha skul bad ha ki jingïaseng mane Blei ha ka snem 1845. Bad kane ka jinglumlang ïa ki jingthoh ha ka ktien khasi ki la kylla long ka jingsdang jong ka jingthoh Poetry ha ka Ktien Khasi. Bad lah ban ong ba u Thomas Jones u dei u nongthoh jingrwai Poetry uba nyngkong ha ka Ktien Khasi. Lah ban lap ïa ki jingrwai kiba u Thomas Jones I u la thoh ha ka Kot Jingrwai (Khasi Hymn Book) jong ka ba lang Presbyterian jong ngi. Kine ki kynthup, “Ha khmih U wan ha u lyoh” (KHB 101), “Ka jingduwai U Trai” (KHB 255), “Ka Jingïap ki riewblei” (KHB 462). Nalor u Thomas Jones kiwei ki missionary ruh ki la noh synniang ha ka jingthoh ïa ki jingrwai (Poem).
U Babu B.R Kharlukhi u la thoh kumne, “Ym lah ban don ‘literature’ khlem ki dak thoh”. U la ïathuh ruh ba don ka jingïathuhkhana pateng ba haba ka Mem u Thomas Jones I ka hikai ïa ki khynnah Nongsawlia ban spel ïa ki dak, kim nud ban ong A lane B na ka daw ba la hikai ki kmie ki kpa ba tang shu ong A un mih u khla bad tang shu ong B un mih u hati. Ïa ka jingpyrshang jong U Thomas Jones I ban pyndonkam da ki Roman Script ïa ka ktien khasi, ka Ba lang Kmie ha Ri Wales kim da ïa hap jingmut. Hynrei U Thomas Jones-I um shah rem noh ha ka jingpyrshang jong u kaba la pynlong pat ka jingkyrkhu kaba khraw ïa ngi kum ka jaidbynriew Khasi. Nga sngewnguh eh ïa U Blei ba U la phah ïa une u Shakri jong U ban wan ban tbeh lem ïa u Prew ka jingtip ha ngi kum ka jaitbynriew. Ka jingkynmaw ieid ïa une u riewkhraw kan ïai sah junom la junom ha nga bad ha baroh ki parari jong ka Bri u Hynñiewtrep.
U Thomas Jones I ym wan tang ban wanrah ïa ka jingshai ka Gospel hynrei u la wan rah ruh ïa ka jingshai ha ka thoh ka tar bad ka pule dangle ruh. Nalor ka thong ban ai ïa ka jingshai ka Gospel bad ka thoh ka tar ka pule dangle, u la shim ruh ïa ka sien jam ban ïarap ïa Ki Khasi ha ka ïoh ka kot (Economic Empowerment) bad ban ïakhun lem ruh na bynta jong ka hok jong ki (Fighting for Justice on behalf of the exploited Khasi people against The British Rulers). Haba u la ïohi ïa ka jingshah ñion beiñ jong ki Khasi ha kato ka por um hun ban shu peit kai ïa kata ka jingshah lehbeiñ jong ki ha u Harry Inglish uba bat ïa ka kyrdan Assistant Political Agent ha ka British Court. Kum u briew jong U Blei u Thomas Jones uba don ka jingmut babha ban wan shane sha Ri Khasi bad ïa ki briew jong ka. Haba u ïohi ïa kane ka jingleh donbor jong uta u Ophisar Dohlieh um lah shah ban shu sngap ban ïohi ïa ki trai ri ki shah lehbeiñ. Kumta u la shim ïa ka rai rangbah ban ïeng na bynta ki Khasi ha kato ka por bad u pyrshah ïa ka jinglehdonbor bad jingbamsap jong u Harry Inglish bad kiwei pat ki Dohlieh kiba leh donbor. Da kane ka jingïarap jong u Thomas Jones ïa ki Khasi, u la kylla long u sohpdung bad u nongshah thwet ha ka buit sianti ba sniew jong u Harry Inglish. U Harry Inglish u la shun thlong mluh thlong sying ïa une u Thomas Jones tang na ka bynta ka jingmyntoi shimet jong u. Bad u la leh kiei kiei ki ban pynshitom ïa ka jingtrei jong u Thomas Jones kum u Missionary ha Ri Khasi ha kato ka por. Bad tang ha ki 8 snem ba u la trei ha Sohra ha ka kam mission u Thomas Jones u hap ban iehnoh ïa ka kam mission bad u la hap ban phet rieh noh na Sohra. Ha kaba khatduh u Thomas u la khlad noh ha Kolkatta ha ka 16 tarik u September 1849 hadien ki jingeh ha ka met bad ka jingmut jingpyrkhat (Physical & Mental hardships). Ngi ïohi hangne ba ki kam sniew kam smeh ki kham leh donbor ban ïa KA JINGIEID, KA JINGLONGHOK bad KA JINGBISHARHOK.
Bad haba ngi la ïoh ban pule ïa ki jingthoh haneng ngi sngewthuh ba u Thomas Jones ym tang ba u dei u Nonghikai ïa ka jingshisha ïa ka Ktien U Blei kum u Missionary, hynrei u la ai ruh ïa ki dak thoh dak pule ïa ngi ki Khasi. Kaba kham sngewieid ban pyrkhat ka long ym tang ba u la lehbha ha ka kam kum u Missionary bad ba u la ai sngewbha ïa ki dak thoh dak pule hynrei u ïaleh ruh na ka bynta ka hok (Civil Rights) ki Khasi na ka jingshah ban beiñ la ka long ha ka khaïi ka pateng, ha ki jingtrei ki jingktah ba ki Khasi ki don namar ka Ri Khasi ka dei kaba riewspah da kiba bun ki jingkyrkhu U Blei. La ïathuh da u Andrew May ba u Thomas Jones u hikai ruh ïa ki Khasi ban lait na ka jingdih Kyiad pathar namar ka long ka jingma.
Imat kaei kaba la jia ha ki sngi ba u don ha la ri lajong ha ka por ba ki shah lehbeiñ ha ki jingsynshar donbor ki Victoria. Bad namar ka jingieng jong u na ka bynta ka hok ki Khasi, u la kylla long kum u mawjynthut ha ka kam mission. Bad la hap ban ïeng marwei ha ka jingïaleh khamtam hadien ba la weng ïa u na ka kam kum u Missionary. Hynrei u dang ïai ïaleh na ka bynta ka hok jong ki Khasi wat hapdeng shibun ki jingshah pyntyrha da ki jingtynjuh ba bun. Ka jingïakhun kaba u ieng rangbah hakhmat ka sorkar dohlieh ha kato ka por na ka bynta ka jingshah ïuhroit ha ki kam ki jam, ka khaïi pateng bad kiwei ki jingthombor ïa ki Khasi u la hap ban duh shibun kiei kiei ha la ka jingim bad u sah marwei. Kam dei kaba suk haba phi ïeng na ka bynta ka jingshisha kaba phi ngeit kam pher wat la phi stad bad phi shlur ruh.
Ka jinglong u Thomas Jones ka phalang ïa ki jinghikai kiba u don ban hikai ïa ngi kum ka jaitbynriew ha kane ka por. Ba ngi dei ban ïeng beit triang ha ka nongrim ka jingshisha kaba ngi ngeit ha la ka jingim. Ym tang katta hynrei kumno ban nang, kumno ban san, kumno ban ïaishah bad kumno ban pynkylla haba ngi ïeng ïa ka jingbha ka imlang ka sahlang kaba phi ïohi ha khmat jong ngi.
Ka mot dur statue jong u Thomas Jones bad ka Bible ha kti kaba don ha Ïingmane English Service ha Khyndailad, nangta ka mot dur u Thomas Jones uba don ha Sohra ryngkat bad ka knup bad u kurat bad ka kot ba don ki dak ABKD ha ka kti ki don shibun ki jinghikai ïa ngi kum ka jaitbynriew khamtam ïa ngi ki bangeit Khristan.
Ngim dei ban klet ban shakri ïa U Blei uba la kyrkhu ïa ngi da kaba ïasam lem ruh ïa ka jingieid ka jong u ïa ngi ki para briew baroh ha kane ka pyrthei. Khlem da klet pat ban ïa tynrong lem ha ka khia ka shon, ka duk ka suk bad kiba tlot bor ban khyllie ïa ki na ka jingshah leh donbor ha kita kiba khraw bor. Bad ruh ban ym klet noh ba ka Pule ka dangle ka thoh ka tar ka dei kawei kaba donkam ban ai ïa ka dur jong ka lawei ka Jaitbynriew.
Wat tang u Thomas Jones u bym dei na ka Jaitbynriew Khasi u dang ïa khun dohïap ïa ka hok ki jaitbynriew Khasi jong ngi ha kato ka por.
Hato kaei kaba ngi kum ki Samla ka Ri Khasi ngi don ban pyrkhat ïa la ka Ri bad ïa la ka Jaitbynriew?
