U SoSo Tham 83rd Death Anniversary: 10 Facts About the Khasi Poet

U SOSO THAM DEATH ANNIVERSARY 2023: As we remember U SoSo Tham, the Khasi poet from Meghalaya’s Sohra, on his 83rd death anniversary today, December 18, it is an appropriate time to reflect on his life and contributions to literature. Celebrated for his profound influence on Khasi literature, U SoSo Tham’s death anniversary has been observed as a state holiday since the late 1970s.

Who Was U SoSo Tham? 10 Facts

1. U SoSo Tham holds the distinction of being the first poet to introduce secular literature with a unique and authentic diction.
2. He was a trailblazer in incorporating Khasi idioms into his work, drawing inspiration from English poetry.
3. Despite facing acute poverty following his father’s demise, Tham, with only an eighth-grade education, ascended to become a high school teacher, excelling in his teaching career.
4. U SoSo Tham strongly opposed the adoption of English living styles and culture, challenging the prevailing notion that considered them as status symbols among the Khasi community.
5. To publish his first work, Ki Phawar U Aesop (Aesop’s Fables, 1920), Tham had to navigate the challenges of going from house to house, selling his creation like a determined peddler. The book, however, is now widely read in Khasi society.
6. Facing criticism from intellectuals who considered him a half-learned mad teacher, Tham received little assistance in bringing his creations to light. Only an illiterate fan provided financial support for his first book of poetry, Ka Duitara Ksiar.
7. In the book Studies in the Literature of Assam (1956), Dr S. K. Bhuyan, a prominent historian, likened U SoSo Tham to the Robert Burns of the Khasi Highlands, acknowledging his significant role in modern Khasi literature.
8. Tham’s legacy is embodied in his two volumes of poetry, particularly Ka Duitara Ksiar, comprising 46 short poems, including lyrics, ballads and nursery rhymes. Another notable work, Ki Sngi Barim U Hynniew Trep (The Olden Days of U HynniewTrep) (1936), is considered a masterpiece of Indian literature.
9. U SoSo Tham’s tireless efforts played a pivotal role in elevating the Khasi language, making him the greatest literary icon in the history of Meghalayan literature.
10. Despite his significant contributions, Tham did not receive due recognition during his lifetime. It wasn’t until 1975 that a statue was erected in his honour, commemorating his invaluable contributions to Khasi literature.

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