Dr. Dondor Giri Nongkhlaw
Kawei pa kawei ka jaidbynriew bad kawei pa kawei ka shaibynriew ha kane ka sla khyndew ka don la ki jong ki khana shaphang ka thymmei, ka jingroi jingïar, ki jingleh bad jingjop thma pynïar hima basahnam bad, haoid, ïa ka jinghap bad jingpra noh jong ki. Ka don ka jingong ba ‘katba nangkiew shalor katta nang sator’. Kum ka nuksa, ha ka jingim jongngi ha kane ka juk ba mynta, ngi la ïohsngew bad ïohi ïa ka jingïar jingkhraw ka Ri Russia bad ruh ïa ka jingpra noh jong ka ha u snem 1991, kumjuh ruh ka la long ïa ka Ri Bilat kaba la long ka Ri ba don ka hima baïar bah ha kaba ka sngi kam ju sep.
Kumno bad mynno ki Phareng ki la ïashuiñ la ïakynduh nyngkong bad ki patymmen matymmen jongngi ym don jingtip kaba shai, hynrei katba lah ban tip na ki jynthoh ‘Report on the Eastern Part of India’ ba la thoh da u Capt. R. B. Pemberton, ka paw ba ki Phareng ki la ïakynduh nyngkong bad ki riewtymmen jongngi ha ki spah snem ba khadphra hadien ka jingïohkynti ki Phareng ïa ka Ri Bengal baroh kawei ha u snem 1765. Kine ki buit pynïar hima ki Phareng ki la nang kham pynjan shuh shuh ïa ka jingïatyngkhuh bad ki patymmen jongngi ynda ki Phareng ki la jop sa ïa ka Ri Burma bad da ka jingpynïasnoh noh ïa ka Assam lyngba ka soskular ba ki ong ka Treaty of Yandaboo ba la soi ha ka 24th February, 1826 hapdeng ki Phareng bad ki Burmese. Hadien ba ki Phareng ki la pynskhem ïa ka jingdon bad jinglong kynrad jong ki ha Assam ki sa phai khmat pat sa sha kine ki lum jongngi.
Haba ki Officer Phareng ki la ai jingtip nyngkong sha kiba halor jong ki shaphang kane ka Ri jongngi ki khot ïa ka kum ki Cossyah Mountains lane ki Khasia Mountains. Hadien pat, ynda ki la ïoh leh trai ki pynrit noh ïa ka kyrteng Cossyah Mountains lane Khasia Mountains sha ka Khasi Hills bad khadduh sha ka Khasi bad Jaiñtia Hills kaba pyni shai ïa ka buit phiah buit synshar jong ki. Nalor kane, ki da dkhat noh bun ka khyndew na ka Ri jongngi bad la pynsnoh sha Garo, sha Assam bad ka Radcliffe Boundary Award Commission ka la pruid dak ïa u pud u sam bad ka East Pakistan na thmit jong ki kjat lum ka Ri War bad ngi la duh shibun ki pynthor bah bad ki jaka kum ka Angajur bad Fatehpur.
To ngin ïapeit mynta balei ba ki Phareng ki peit khmat sha kane ka Ri jongngi? Ka daw, katkum ki jynthoh, ka long ba ki kwah ban shna surok lyngba ka Ri Khasi ba kin ïoh pynïasoh ïa ka Assam bad Bengal. Ha ka shang lum shang wah jongnga bad haba nga buddien ïa kane ka surok, kaba la khot kum ka David Scott’s Route nga shem ba ka buit shna surok ka long kaba biang bha namar ka jingpynïaid ïa kane ka surok naduh Pandu, Gauhati haduh Majai ka long beit nangtei shathie hapdeng u 91˚35̎ bad 91˚45̎ longitude, kaba mut ba ka jingpynïaid ïa ka surok la ai lad ban thngian bad ngiam tang hapoh 10 minute jong u longitude da kaba kheiñ ïa jingwit ki at ki them ha kaba ki hap ot bad pom khongwaiñ namar ba ki hap pynïoh ïa ka ranab jong ka surok kaba 35˚ eiei jaka jaka khnang ban suk ka ïaid briew bad kulai. Ïa kane ka buit jong ki nga la lap hadien ba nga shna ïa ka map jong kane ka surok.
Ki Phareng, namar ba ki la long ki nongjop pyrthei bad ruh ki nongsynshar ïa ka hima baïar, ha kaba sdang ki la pyndonkam da ka buit leh paralok haba ki la pan jingbit na u Tirot Sing ban shna surok lyngba ka hima jong u. Kumta, hadien ka jingïatainia kaba shit bad ba khluit bha ha ka Durbar ka Hima Nongkhlaw (Nongkhlaw Parliament, Major White’s account) kaba la neh ar sngi kynthih la shah bad la ai jingbit ïa u David Scott ban shna surok lyngba ka Hima Nongkhlaw da kaba soi soskular ha ka 30th November 1826.
Kiei kiei baroh ki ïaid beit ha ba la sdang ïa kam tih bad shna surok. La mait ïa ki jaka khlaw ban ïoh sieh ïingjaiñ ban shong ban thiah ban shet bad ïoh jaka treikam babiang ha ki jaka ba la jied. Babun bah ki nongtrei, ki nongtih bad nongshna surok dei hi ki Dkhar ba na Assam bad Bangla bad ruh ki koidi (Ray, B. Datta-An account of Shillong). Ïa kine ki nongtrei la phiah ha ki kynhun, kawei ka kynhun ka nang mait khlaw, kawei ka kynhun ka nang tih, kawei ka kynhun ka nang pynpoi maw bad kawei pat ka kynhun ka nang siang maw bad shna ïa ki muri maw (arch stone bridges and culverts).
Ka jingtreikam man la ka sngi ka sdang naduh mynstep mar ïatied baje (sound of the gong) por 9 baje bad la ai lad shi kynta por mynsngi ïa ki nongtrei ba kin bam. Ïa ka bam ka dih mynsngi jong ki nongtrei la pynpoi beit ha ki jaka trei, katba ki Officer Phareng ki leit phai ban bam sngi da ki kulai sha ki ïingjaiñ jong ki. Janmiet da la tied 5 baje ki nongtrei ki leit phai pat sha ki ïingjaiñ katba ki Officer ki nangpeit ïa ka jingtrei ba la dep trei ha kata ka sngi. Haba ki nongtrei ki la poi sha ki jaka sah jong ki, ki leit sait, ki pynkhuid bad sum ha ki wahduid ba don hajan bad por miet pat ki bam ja kynhun kynhun. Ka bam jong ki kham bunsien ka kynthup tang ka ja bad ki jhur, tengteng ki ïoh ban bam doh bad ruh dohkha ba ki pynap ha ki wah. Ha ki por mynsngi bad mynmiet la buh nongpahara ban ïada bad pahara ïa ki ïingjaiñ bad la bthah ïa ki nongpahara ban peitngor bha. Ha ki por rang mynsngi la ju ïohi ïa ki lama Bilat ba la sieh hajan ïingjaiñ ba ki shah kaweh ha ka lyer. Ynda la dep bam dep dih por miet, man ka miet shwa ba ki nongtrei kin thiah, ju don ka jingkhot kyrteng (roll calls were made) bad ban ïohsngew bad sngap ïoh don kino kino ki jingujor ne jingdonkam kaba ki nongtrei ki donkam. Hadien kata baroh ki officer bad nongtrei ki rwai ïa ka jingrwai ieit ri jong ki Phareng ‘God save the Queen’ bad sa pyllait ïa ki nongtrei ban leit thiah.
Ynda ki nongtrei ki la leit thiah sha la ki ïingjaiñ, ki officer pat ki nang shong pyrkhat kam ban ïatai bad kren ïa ki jingeh ba ki ïakynduh. Ki hap kheiñ katno sngi ïoh ban trei, ki hap kheiñ katno sngi hap shong hapoh ïingjaiñ na ka daw ka jingjur slap, katno ngut kiba khlaiñ bad katno ngut kiba pang bad ki hap kheiñ ruh la dep katno mer ka jingtrei jingsiang surok. Ïa kine ki jingkheiñ baroh la hap ban leh dei namar ba ki hap phah jingtip sha ka Sorkar ha Calcutta, Bengal. Ha kum kine ki miet ki officer ki bam bad thiah miet, katba shabar ki ïingjaiñ pat ha ki por shai bnai ne por dum bnai ba bun khlur ha suiñ ki nongpahara ki ïohsngew ïa ka jingpah jingkynjik kynjak jong shibun ki jait khñiang bad jingpah ki mrad heh kum ki hati bad kiwei ki mrad namar ba kane ka jaka ha kito ki por ka dei ka jaka ba bun palat ki mrad khlaw. Namarkata, pajih na ïingjaiñ ki ju sliew ding da ki dienglymbong ki baheh khnang ban pynma ïa ki bseiñ bad ki mrad.
Katba nang ïaid ki sngi ka jingsiang maw ïa ka surok ka nang ïaid bad ju don ruh ki nongtrei kiba ïoh pang na ka daw ba khia bad shitom ka kam namar ba hap khyllie, hap pyntyllun bad bom ïa ki mawheh, nalorkata ju don ka jingshah dait khñiang, shah puh bseiñ bad jingshah ban ha ki maw bad ki dieng ba ki pynkhyllem. Ha ki jaka jaka ba ka surok ka hap ïaid nalor ki wahduid bad wahheh donkam ban pynpait bad shniah ïa ki maw ban shna muri bad jingkieng namar ha kito ki por ym pat don kita ki dynamite ban pynbthei maw, baroh la shu leh da ka bor met. Kum kane ka jait jingtrei ka long ka bakhia bathait ba bam bor bha, ka long ka kam ba ktah bha ïa ki Dkhar ba tlot bor met. Nalorkata, sa ki khohruh khohram bad ka suiñbneng ba kylla man ka por man ka sngi bad ka jingbun pyrjong kiba dait ka pynlong ïa ki nongtrei thait bad shoh tlot. Hynrei wat hapdeng jong kine ki jingtlot bad jingpang bad ki jingeh kiba ïakynduh ka surok ka nang wandur bad nang dep suki pa suki bad ki officer ki buh dak ha ki map inshi pa inshi mer pa mer ban tip katno mer la dep ka surok.
Ka surok na Pandu, Gauhati ka ïaid sha Mirza bad Ranigudam, ha Ranigudam dang lah ban ïohi ïa ki mawbynna. Kane ka bynta jong ka surok ha kito ki por ka long kaba dap da ki bir bad ki ahor ba jyrsieh bha, kumta donkam ban pyndap khyndew bad ban shna ki ban khyndew (earth embankments). Sharum ka Ranigudam ka surok ka par na ka wahrit kaba ki khot ka Umtyrphi nangta ka ïaid na liang sepngi jong u Lum Marok. Ha ka bynta ba sharum jong une u Lum Marok la ïathuh ba la don ka umshit. Nangne pat ka surok ka ïaid lyngba ka jaka them ba madan bad sa klan ïa ka khlieh um jong ka Umsak. Nangne na Umsak, ka surok ka phai bad ïaid khongwaiñ bad kyllaiñ sha mihngi kumba haduh ar kilometer. Ynda la tap ïa kane ka jingjngai ba ar kilometer ka surok ka phai kyllaiñ suki ha ka rukom u ‘S’ na ka liang sepngi jong uwei u lumpylloit bad kiar suki sa ïa kawei ka khlieh um jong kawei ka shnat ba tuid sha Umsak. Nangne ka surok ka bteng na u syntai ba madan jong Lum Domstar haduh ban da ïakynduh ïa ka Umshaid. Une u Lum Domstar, haduh dang shen, u la long u lum uba ki hati ki sngewtynnad bha ban shong. Kane ka Umshaid ka long ruh kaba pynïakhlad pud hapdeng ka Hima Nongkhlaw bad Hima Mynnar ne ka Hima Jirang kumba la tip mynta. Na ki khlieh um ka Umshaid, ka surok ka bud beit ïa rudwah kamon jong ka Umshaid bad ïaid haduh kumba 10 kilometre haduh ban da poi ha I nongrit ba khot ka Umsaw. Ka ranab (gradient) jong ka surok naduh na Pandu haduh hangne kam ju palat ne tam ïa ka 30 degree bad ïa kane ka ranab la ïoh da kaba pynïaid ïa ka surok na ki jaka ba long padun bad ba madan. Ha ki thaiñ ka shnong Umsaw ka jaka ka long madan bad nangne ka surok ka phai sha kadiang bad sdang pynkiew suki jai shaphang shathie mihngi haduh kumba 5 kilometre na ki sharing jong uwei u lumpylloit haduh ban da kynduh sa ïa kawei ka wah kaba ki khot ka Umtaru. Na Umtaru ka surok ka ïaid beit sak shaphang shathie ynda la klan sa ïa kawei ka wahrit ba ki khot ka Umrit haduh ka shnong Donmati bad Umshohphria. Ka kynjang jong ki jaka marjan bad ka Umshohphria ka long kumba hapdeng 1000 phut bad1500 phut eiei na sla duriaw. Na Umshohphria, ka surok ka kiew suki sha ka ranab ba 32 degree haduh ban da poi ha uwei u lumrit bad na une u lumrit ngi lah ban ïohi ïa ka wah Umlur phang shathie. Nangne ka surok ka noh sharum haduh kumba 2 kilometre ha ki jaka ranab ba malu mala bad bteng ban kam ïa iwei I wahduid bad sa kiew biang suki haduh ban da poi ha u syntai ba don 2 tylli ki khlieh lum. Na kine ki khlieh lum ka surok ka noh sharum bad kam ïa ka Wah Umlur bad nangne ka ïaid khongwaiñ lyngba ki sharing jong ki lum rit kiba phai khmat nangtei shathie haduh ban da ïakynduh bad kam sa ïa kawei ka wahrit, ka Umdumai. Ka surok nangne pat ka bud ïa ki sharing jong uwei u budlum jong u lumrit ba jlan haduh ha Lad Pnar, hangne ha Lad Pnar ka jaka sawdong ka I long madan bad ka kynjang ha kine ki thaiñ ka la tam ïa ka 2000 phut na sla duriaw.
Ka at ka them ha kine ki bynta ka kynthup ïa ki lum ba ka mariang ka la pyntyllun bad pynlong ha kata ka rukom bym lah ban ithuh ïa ka dong ka dah bad rukom phai khmat jong ki bad kane ka dei na ka daw ba kane ka bynta jong ka surok ka la shah khñiot bunsien ha ki bor khyllie napoh Ñiamra bad ka pynpait lyngkhot ïa ki maw ba don shapoh jong kine ki lum. Ki sabut ïa kine ki jingtreikam ka Ñiamra lah ban ïohi kumba 2 kilometre sharum ka shnong Umsaw bad sha mihngi na Lad Pnar ha kaba ngi lah ban ïohi ïa ka jingkdiah ki maw (faults).
Ki jait maw ba ngi ïohi ha kine ki bynta dei ki maw ba la rim tam, ki maw ba la khot ki Archaeans ïa kiba ngi lah ban ïohi ba ki paw shalor ha bun jaka. Kine ki maw ki saphriang shaduh sharum haduh da ïakynduh ïa ki lum kiba ha ki thaiñ Nongkhlaw, ïa kine ki maw Archaeans la tep ne tap shapoh da ki mawshyiap (sandstones) bad mawstap eh (phyllites) kiba long ki juh ki maw kiba ngi lah ban ïohi ha kiwei ki bynta jong ka Nongkhlaw. Ka khyndew ba la ïohi ha kine ki thaiñ la shem ba ki ïakhleh lang bad ki kynja mawria barit bad long rong duma. Ha bun ki jaka hi ka khyndew ka long shroiñ bad pra suk ha ki por rang bad dei na kane ka daw ba baroh ki um ba tuid ha ki por lyïur ki long ktieh bad jaboh ba shah khrud ka khyndew ha ka umslap bad bym don jingshngiam. Ki mrad ba dang lah ban ïohi haduh mynta dei ki khla, ki skei bad ki dohkha ha ki wah.
Kane ka bynta jong ka surok naduh Umshohphria haduh ki bynta ba shaneng jong ka Nongkhlaw ka long ka bynta ba shitom bha ban trei namar ka long khohruh khohram bha namar ïa kane ka thaiñ la satah da ki umrit ki wah ba bun bad ki them. Ha kito ki por lei ba dang khah bad rben khlaw, bun bha ki khñiang ki thliem, ki mrad khlaw bad bseiñ bun jait, nangta sa ki mawlong mawteh ba I khohruh khohram ha shilynter ka pynsuki ïa ka kam shna surok. Namar ba ki Phareng ki ñiew ba ka jingshna ïa kane ka surok ka long kaba donkam tam kumta ki Officer ki ñiom bad ngiat ïa ki nongtrei ban trei khlem sangeh. Kane ka jingleh donbor khlem kheiñ briew ïa la ki nongtrei ka la pynlong ban don ka jingkhñium, ka jingbymhun bym sngewtynnad hapdeng ki nongtrei hynrei ki bapli kim nud ban ïeng ïaleh pyrshah ïa ki Phareng.
Kumta ha ki pormiet, hapoh ki ïingjaiñ jong ki, ki nongtrei ki la sdang pyrkhat kumno ban lait na kane ka jingshah pyntrei than ba khlem sangeh. Man la ka miet, la mih shibun ki buit bad jingai jingmut hapdeng jong ki hynrei khlem poi shano shano ruh, hynrei ha kaba khadduh kumno re kumno don uwei ar ngut napdeng jong ki kiba la ai jingmut ban shu pynphriang khana lamler noh da ka hamsaïa. Baroh ki nongtrei ki la mynjur ïa kane ka jingaibuit namar ka kham shngaiñ ban ïa kaba ïaleh pyrshah ïa la ki kynrad. Ka jingbymhun bad jingbymsngewtynnad ki nongtrei la nang pynshrai shuh shuh da ka jingïajan ba sngewtynnad ki traishnong bad ki Phareng, putet, ka jingsawa ki bom ki nakra na ki por sha ki por bad ka jingwanpaw ryngkhat (sudden appearances) ki rangïapom ka Nongkhlaw ryngkat ki waitlam ha ki jaka trei ka nang pyntieng pynsmiej shuh shuh ïa kine ki dkhar riewthor. Bad naduh hyndai bah, kaba la long ka jingtieng, ki dkhar na rithor kim ju shlan ban ïuhkjat sha kine ki jaka lum jongngi namar ba ïa ki riewhyndai la ñiew ba ki long ‘ki nongkyrñiom nongpynïap bad ki nonglute’. Dei ryngkat bad kum kine ki jingpyrkhat ba don ha jabieng jong ki nongtrei ba ka surok ka nang wandur suki suki haduh Lad Pnar bad sha shiliang ka WahUmñiangriang, Umlangdi bad ka Wah Khri haduh ban da poi ha ki sharing lum jong ka Mawïong ynda la lait ïa ka Dongki ingding. Bad ynda haba ka surok ka la sdang ban kiew shalor lum ha ka rukom kyllaiñ ba la pynkynriah ïa ki ïingjaiñ baroh shalor lum palat ka Mawïong bad dei artad ha kane ka por ba ki Phareng ki la shna ïa ki bangla ban long ki jaka treikam (headquarters) jong ki ha Nongkhlaw.
Ka lad ban pynphriang ïa ka hamsaïa ïa ka khubor lamler ba ki nongtrei ki la ïoh dei ha ki por sngi ïew ba ki ïoh por ban leit thied jingthied kum ha ki Ïew ha Umshohphria, ha Nongkhlaw bad ha Umsaw. Ka hamsaïa kaba ki nongtrei ki pynphriang ka long ba ‘ynda la dep ka surok, ki traishnong kin hap siew khajna’. Ha kaba sdang jong kane ka jingpynphriang ki traishnong kim da shim khia ïa kane ka hamsaïa, hynrei katba nangïaid ki por ki sngi kane ka hamsaïa sngew kumba kan long kaba shisha, kumta ki traishnong ki la ïakylli paramaki ‘sha kane ka dohlieh kan phah siew khajna ïangi?’ kane ka la long shisha kaba palat ïa ki traishnong ban pyrkhat, ki traishnong kiba ieid ïa la ka jinglaitluid, ki traishnong ki bym shym la shah jop hano hano bad mynno mynno ruh ki la bitar shla. Te ha kum kane ka por ba la ih bha ka hamsaïa, kito ki riewrangbah ki riewpyrkhat kiba la pyrshah naduh nyngkong ki la ïoh lad ban kynteit ïa kito kiba ïashah ai jingbit ban shna surok. Mar kumta hi ki pynlong ki jingïalang ban pyrkhat bad ka rai kaba mih ka long ban pynïap lut ïa ki nongwei baroh bad Phareng bad Dkhar. Ki Phareng, ki shipai bad ki nongtrei kim bna eiei shaphang kane ka rai, ki trei ki ktah bad leh la ki jong ki kam ba ki ju leh man la ka sngi, bad ha ka ïa ba la ïakut, ki rangïapom Nongkhlaw, u Tirot Sing bad u khlawait nongbud, u Mon Bhut ki la mih bad mait naphang.
Ha kane ka khyllipmat ngan kyllaktien (translate) na ka jynthoh “Up the Burrumpooter: the opening of the Upper Assam Valley” ba la thoh da u Charles Allen ‘ha ka step jong ka 4th tarik April 1829 ki nongshong nongsah ha ki ïingbangla ha Nongkhlaw ki la kyndit ban shem ba ïa ki la kerkut da palat ki 500 ngut ki rangïapom Khasi. Ka long kaba donbok shibun ba u David Scott u la mih na Nongkhlaw bad leit sha Sohra shisngi shwa ban jia kane ka jingjia, kumta ka la ngat ha u Richard Bedingfield, uwei na ki 2 ngut ki officer ba don ha ïingbangla, ban ïakren bad kine ki rangïapom. Katkum ka jynthoh ba la pynmih ha ka Bengal Observer, ym shym la ailad ïa u Richard Bedingfield ban kylli eiei.
Marmar hi ki kem bad teh ïa ki kti jong u shadien bad ki la ot ïa u thied snam bah na ki kjat jong u bad ki da siat ruh ïa u da ki khnam. La ïathuh ba u la ong ïa ki rangïapom ba lada ki kwah ban pynkut ïa ka jingim jong u ki dei ban shu pynïap beit ïa u mardor bad kita ki rangïapom ki la leh kumta hi bad ki mait ïa ka khlieh jong u bad buh ïa ka halor u maw.
Ka jingshah pynïap jong u Richard Bedingfield ka long stet haduh ba u Philip Burlton, uwei pat u Officer um lah ïada ne leh eiei hynrei u la lum katto katne ki shipai kiba don ha phyllaw ki ïingbangla bad shiphang ki la lah ban pynkrad ïa ka jinghiarthma kynsan ki rangïapom Khasi. Kata ka kynhun shipai Phareng ka la ïakhun pyrshah ïa ki rangïapom Khasi ha kata ka sngi bad baroh shimiet. Hynrei ha ka kynjat shai jong ka step ba bud ki rangïapom ki la thang ïa ki ïingbangla da ki dongmusa bad kita ki shipai ki la hap ban phet krad na kita ki ïingbangla. U Philip Burlton bad ki shipai jong u ki la ïoh krad dei ba ki siat bad ïai siat da ki suloi bad la lah shipor ban jngai na ki rangïapom. U Philip Burlton bad ki shipai kumta ki la ïoh lad ba ki mut ban phet sha Sohra na ka lynti khlaw da kaba mareh bad pynjngai ban nym kot ki khnam ba siat ki rangïapom, hynrei sniewbok ba la hap slap kynsan kynsan bad ka umslap ka la pynsngem bad pynjhieh ïa ki bakhor bad ïa ki kuli suloi jong u Philip Burlton bad ki shipai haduh ba ki suloi kim lerkam shuh. U Philip Burlton u la long uba nyngkong ban shah mait ha ka por ba u mut ban sei ïa u khnam ba la sneh ha ryndangkti jong u.
Ïa kane ka jingjia la tip ïa ka ha ka History kum KA NONGKHLAW MASSACARE ne KA ÏA UMSNAM HA NONGKHLAW jong u snem 1829. U David Scott u long uba donbok ba u lait na kane ka jingjia namar u la mih na Nongkhlawbad leit sha Sohra shisngi shwa ban jia ka jingïaumsnam. U David Scott u la ïoh jingtip shaphang kata ka jingjia hadien bun sngi. (Pemberton, Capt. R.B., – Report of the Eastern Frontier of British India). Na kane ka ïa umsnam ha Nongkhlaw la saphriang ki jingïalehthma sha kiwei ki Hima Khasi. Khadduh, da ka jingaiti bad jingshahshet kylla u Tirot Sing ha u snem 1833 kane ka Ri Lum ka kynjah syndon jar bad ka jingshna ïa ka surok la bteng ban trei biang hadien ka jingshah pynryngkangpar u Tirot Sing
Kumta ka surok la bteng biang naduh Nongkhlaw sharum sha Mawlyngtriang lyngba ka Umkhowai, Umshorshor, Nongrmai, Madan Sohphoh, Mawshut narud ka Wah Urksew, sha Langstiehrim, Lum Marlong, Mairangthem sha Umsohkhlur ba la tip ruh kum ka Umsaittympew sha Mawlong bad Wahlakhaw sha Nongbri, Wah Lulu, Manai, Mawmeri, Kynringumdishit, Mawmaram, Umsohphreit bad bteng sha Sohïong, Mawdngung, Mawkohtep, Rangshken sha Umtyrñiut da la klan ïa ka Wah Umrina, Them Kubin, Phud ka Briew sha Mawphlang. Ka ranab (gradient) jong ka surok naduh Nongkhlaw haduh Mawphlang kam ju palat ïa ka 35 degree bad ïa kane ka bynta jong ka surok naduh Mairang haduh Mawphlang la pyntrei bad shna pat da u Shan Manik Syiem, u Syiem ka Hima Mylliem.
Sngewsih pat ban ong, ba kane ka surok bapawnam hyndai na Gauhati lyngba ka Mirza, Ranigudam, Patharkhmah, Umshohphria ter haduh Nongkhlaw mynta kam don shuh hynrei hajan shilynter la siang pat mynta da ka surok rong. Kumba long mynta tharai dang lah ban ïohi hangne hangtai lyngkhot lyngkhai ïa ki bynta jong kane ka surok kum ha Lum Marlong, Umkhowai, Wahlakhaw, Nongbri, Manai, Sohïong bad Mawphlang. Bad lajan baroh ki jingkieng doidoi ki jingkieng khilon na Ranigudam haduh Sohïong la pynjot pynduh lut.
Ka at ka them (topography) na Nongkhlaw haduh Mawphlang ka long padun (undulating) bad phyllung (wavy) syrïiem kumba la ïohi ha Markham. Ki wahduid bad ki wahrit bad ki them ba ïathaiñ (interspersed) ki pynlong ban don shibun ki lum lyndiang ba madan ha khlieh lum kiba ïapher uwei u lum na uwei pat ha ka jingheh bad lynter. Ha ka jingshisha, kane ka bynta ka kham long ikylluid bad sawang bha. Ki Kshaid ba ïohi ha ki wahrit jong kane ka thaiñ ki kham long tang kum ki latlat. Ki maw ba la ïohi ha bun jaka jong kane ka surok ki long mawsleit jaka jaka (slaty rocks) bad kita ki kynja maw ba la khot ki gneiss ba la shah btep shapoh da ki mawshyiap nalor. Ki mawsohriew la ïohi naduh Nongkhlaw sha Mairang bad palat Wahlakhaw. Ki mawshyiap ki mpaw hajan Wahlakhaw haduh Sohïong. Ïa ki Mawïong Khasi (Khasi greenstones) la ïohi ha sepngi khyndiat na Sohïong bad na Mawphlang bad ha u Lum Ryngkew Mawlong uba long u Lum bakynjang tam jong ka Hima Mawphlang.
Ka bynta jong kane ka surok ba dang neh dang bha haduh mynta dei kaba sdang na phang shathie sepngi ka shnong Mawphlang haduh Rangïar ne Lad Mawphlang ba ki khot mynta. (Rangïar dei ka kyrteng hyndai bad bun ki bym tip shuh ïa kane ka kyrteng tynrai). Na Mawphlang ka surok ka hiar phang shathie ha ka ranab ba jaijai (gentle gradient) haduh kumba 2 kilometre. Hamar shiteng kane ka jingjngai shaphang kamon don ka jyntei kynroh ba da ki maw ba ki khot ka Kor Shongthait Ka Shon Mai ba la shna ban shong jah thait. Nangne ka surok ka hiar suki jai shathie bad ha marjan ka khongdong surok ha liang kamon don ka jyntep jong iwei I khyllung ha kaba la sieh da 3 tylli ki mawbynna bad ha u mawbynna ba hapdeng la thoh ïa kine ki kyntien ‘TO A CHILD FONDLY CALL’D CAMILLA, “SOFT SILKEN PRIMROSE FADING TIMELESSLY” 1843′ ka jyntep ryngkat bad ki mawbynna ki pynpaw ba I khyllung dei I khyllung ba la kha na ka kmie Khasi bad u kpa pat dei u Phareng . Haba pule na ki jynthoh barim ka jingtharai ka long ba u kpa ine I khyllung dei u Mr. Jones uba la long u surveyor uba ai lain ïa ka surok. Ïa kane ka jaka ba don kine ki mawbynna bad ka jyntep I Camilla ki briew kiba long ki trai shnong jong kato ka thaiñ kiba ju ïaid ïeng na kane ka surok ki khot ka Mawsahep.
Ka surok nangne ka hiar suki bad khongwaiñ bun jaka, ka jingpynkhongwaiñ ïa ka surok ka long ban pynneh ïa ka ranab (gradient) jong ka surok tang hapoh ka 35 degree bad da poi sharum ha rudwah kamon jong ka Umïam Mawphlang ka klan ïa ka wahduid, ba ki khot Wahlyngkienwar kaba mih na Lawkyntang Mawphlang bad dang lah ban ïohi ïa ki lyngkhot nar jong ka jingkieng nar ba la pra. Nangne ka surok ka bud ïa ka rud wah kamon ka Umïam Mawphlang ba long lynti khim bad ba madan haduh ban da klan pat ïa ka Umïam Mawphlang da ka jingkieng doidoi.
Ynda la klan ïa kane ka jingkieng doidoi ka surok ka bud pat ïa ka rudwah kadiang jong ka Umïam Mawpghlang. Ha ka liang kadiang bad kumba 36 phut eiei na ka tduh liang kadiang jong ka jingkieng doidoi don ki maw kiba thiah ha ka angle kaba 76 degree eiei bad baheh kumba 10 phut sawdong eiei, kine ki maw dei ki maw sah dak ba jliah ka um kiba ki khot ripples marked rocks kiba pynpaw ba kane ka thaiñ jong kane ka surok ka la long ka jaka ba la shah lynsher ha ki bor Ñiamra na shapoh. Ym ju don ba kynmaw peit da ki nongïaid kjat ïa kine ki maw hynrei na ka liang ka geology te ki long donkam bha ba batai ïa ka jingtreikam ki bor Ñiamra.
Nangne ka surok ka ïaid jai na jaka madan bad khongwaiñ haduh ban da poi bad klan ïa ka Wah Tham ïa kaba la tip kum ka Wah Umsaw ha ki bynta tyllong ba shaneng bad hangne ha WahTham la ïohi ïa ki lynkhot nar jong ka jingkieng nar ba la pra ka bym don shuh mynta. Lada ïa kane ka surok la lah ban pyndep shwa u snem 1829 te kan dei ka jaka ba biang tam ban leh klep siat klep bad pynïap klep (ambush) ïa ki shipai Phareng. Na Wah Tham ka surok ka sdang kiew pat ïa u syntai lum baheh ha ka rukom khongwaiñ (zigzag) bad ha ka angle ba 32 degree eiei haduh ban da poi ha kliar ki lumrit. Napdeng kine ki lumrit, ka surok ka ïaid lyngba ki lumpadun ha kaba don 2 tylli ki shnong, ka Mawbeh bad Laitsohma bad long madan bha ka surok haduh ban dakynduh ïa kawei ka wahrit, ka Umjaut bad bud ïa ka rudwah kamon jong ka haduh kumba 3 kilometre. Ka jingitynnad jingithiang ka mariang ha kine ki thaiñ ym don kyntien ba lah ban batai. Ki jynthung ki dieng ki siej kadiang kamon ka surok ha kine ki thaiñ dei kita ki dieng tropical bad ym ju ïohi diengkseh Khasi ha kine ki thaiñ. Ïa ki khlaw barben da ki dieng la ïohi ha ki lum ba kham kynjang. Ka Wah Umjaut ka dei ka wah ba mih na sha ka thaiñ Steplakrai bad ka surok ka ïai bud madan madan suki jai ïa ka Wah Umjaut haduh kumba 3 kilometre tam. Hamar shiteng jong kane ka 3 kilometre ha liang kamon dang lah ban ïohi ka kynroh (retaining wall) ba dang neh bad skhem bha ba pyni ïka jingtbit ki riewhyndai ban trei kam maw bad ruh ngi dang lah ban ïohi ïa ka shyngoid ba da ki maw ba pyntuid um ban dih um ki kulai.
Kane ka bynta jong ka surok hangne ka long kaba bit tam ban pynlong jaka bamkhana sngewbha namar ba ka madan bha, ka umbam ruh biang bad ba la ker da ki jynthung bad ki lum lyndiang baitynnad bad ka long ruh ka jaka ba ki nongleit jingleit kim lah ban khlem demkai thiahkai ne shongkai shipor arpor, tang kumba shikyntien kwai nangne don ka jingkieng khilonmaw (arch stone bridge) ba dang neh dang skhem kaba lah ban bah ïa ka jingkhia haduh kumba 20 ton eiei.
Ka jingkieng khilonmaw ha Umjaut
Na kane ka jingkieng khilonmaw, ka lum ka wah (landscape) la phriang da ki them bajyndong bad sha ka liang kamon jong ka surok don u lum ba ki khot u Lum Mawklang. Na khlieh une u lum lah ban ïohi ïa 2 tylli ki shnong kiba itynnad, ki shnong Pyrda bad Kukon. Ynda la klan ïa ka Umjaut bad ynda la ïaid la ïaid kumba shi kilometer shiteng don u Mawnguidbriew. Ka surok ka bteng ban ïaid na ki jaka bamadan haduh ban da poi ha ki bynta jong ki jaka ba syrïiem ïa ka Ri Shyiap. Hangne, ha kane ka jaka la ïohi ïa ki taphah maw (rocky bluff) bad ki riat maw (overhanging cliff) ba tap ïa ka jaka baïar ryngkat ki kshaid rit ba noh rymphai nalor kine ki riat. Ka surok ha kane ka bynta kam long ranab (no gradient) hynrei ka long madan beit. Kawei ka wahrit ba la pynlong da kine ki kshaid rit ka tuid sha sepngi bad ïasoh bad ka Umjaut ha ka bynta ba don bun ki mawsaphriang (scattered boulders).
Ka surok ka ïaid pat lyngba ka khap (pass) bad hiar suki shaphang shathie haduh da ïakynduh sa kawei ka kor shongthait shwa ban kynduh ïa ka Wah Umïong. Halor ka Wah Umïong don ka jingkieng khilon barit ba dang neh haduh mynta. Da ïeng ha kane ka jingkieng lah ban peit ïa ka jingitynnad sharum bad shaneng jong ka wah. Kane ka wah ka mih na ki thaiñ Dympep bad ka tuid nalor ka lywah Mawïong Khasi (Khasi greenstones bed). Na kane ka jingkieng, ka surok ka ïaid na liang kadiang jong ka wah ha ka rukom khongwaiñ bad kiew suki jai haduh Rangïar ne Lad Mawphlang kumba la tip mynta.
Na Rangïar (Lad Mawphlang) ka surok ka ïaid shathie phang sepngi lyngba ki jaka ba beit bad ba khongwaiñ jaka jaka lyngba ka Sohrarim, Maw Ka Bor, Madan Sohum, Siatkwah, Laitryngew, Lum Lyndet Jingieit, Umstew ter shaneng khlieh Riat Mawïew, Nongrim, Pomsohmen, Nongsawlia, Dukan, Saitsohpen sha Mawsmai. Ka at ka them naduh na Rangïar haduh neng Umstew ka long madan bad padun. Na Umstew sharum ka surok ka hiar kynjang suki suki haduh da poi ha Mawsmai bad ki maw ba ïohi bun ha kine ki jaka dei ki mawshyiap, ki mawstap-eh, ki mawroro, dewbyrtha bad mawsapnar jaka jaka (sandstones, phyllites, conglomerates, clay and ferrous sandstones). Na Lad Dukan ka surok ka ïaibteng sha Saitsohpen, Mawpun Ka Rtiang, Nongthymmai bad Mawsmai bad ka jaka ka long lwang bad kylluid (spacious and open) bad madan bad da peit sha kadiang lah ban ïohi ïa ka Kshaid Noh Sngithiang kaba noh rymphai por pyrem bad noh rymphum ha ki por lyïur. Na Mawsmai ka surok ka la sdang hiar kynjang suki suki sharum haduh Laittyra ha kaba na kine ki thaiñ ngi lap biang pat ïa ki mawlyntisiang (stone pavements) ba poi haduh Sohbar.
Namarba ka jinglong jingman ka jaka ha kine ki thaiñ ka la long riat bad sharing bha kumta naduh Mawsmai sha Sohbar ka surok ka ïaid khongwaiñ bun jaka bad la pom ïa ka surok ha kata ka rukom ban pynneh ïa ka ranab jong ka surok hapoh ka 35˚ (to maintain the gradient of the route within 35˚). Na Sohbar ka surok ka khun shaphang sepngi lyngba ka shnong Tharia bad bteng sha Bairong Bazar sha Majai haduh Pandua. Narum Sohbar sha Pandua ka jaka ka kynjang tang tang kumba 220 phut eiei na sla duriaw.
Ki shnong Tharia, Majai bad Pandua ki shong lyngngeit ha trai ki riat ka Ri War. Lah ban shong da ki lieng na Tharia haduh Pandua. Na Majai ka surok ka bud ïa ka rudwah kamon jong ka Umsohryngkew kaba ki Kharbangla ki khot ka Dhalaigang shaduh Pandua haduh ka shnong Companyganj kaba don ha ka tyrpa ne sdad jong ka Umsohryngkew bad Rupa Tylli. Ka jaka sha kadiang kamon bad sharum ka long madan bha bad bun bha ki bir bad ki ahor. Dei na kane ka daw ba la hap shna ki ban khyndew (earthen embankments) naduh Pandua sha Angajur haduh Sylhet (Shilot). Ka Angajur ka dei ka khyndew u Syiem Sohra ba la aiei da u Syiem Sutnga bad ka jngai kumba 14 kilometre shatei sepngi ka Sylhet.
Kane, namarkata ka dei ka jynthoh shaphang ka surok ba la tip kum ka surok u David Scott. Dei kane ka surok kaba la ktah bad pynkylla dur ïa ka khana lajialong, ka saiñhima, ka imlang, ka ïoh ka kot, bad niam (history, political, social and religious structure) jong ka jaidbynriew.Kumba long mynta, ka bynta jong kane ka surok ka dang bha na Mawphlang haduh Rangïar bad jngai kumba 15 kilometre eiei bad ruh ha ki bynta ka Laittyra haduh Sohbar ba dang neh kumba 7 kilometre eiei bad ki dang bha kumba la long 165 snem mynshwa.
Kito kiba don jingieit ïa la ka history haba ki ïaidkjat lyngba kine ki bynta ba dang neh kane ka surok, kin sngew kumba ki dang ïoh dih ïa ka um, ring bad pynhiar mynsiem ïa ka lyer ba beh ïa kiba ki longshwa jongngi ki la mad ha kito ki por. Ryngkat bad kine ki rukom pyrkhat ba don ha nga nga peit liep sha suiñ sepngi nga ïohi ïa ki lyoh ïong kiba wan kah dum ïa ka lyntiïaid. Bad katba nga dang ïaid ha lynti khyndew bahyndai ban leit phai pat sha la ïing, ka jingpyrkhat jongnga ka phai sha kito ki 165 snem mynshwa bad nga pyrkhat kumno ka rukom im jong ki ka la long bad ïa ki jingjia ba ki la mad. Ka jingkynmaw ïa kane ka ïaidkjat kan ïaineh hanga junom bad nga la hun ba nga ïoh buddien bad buh jynthoh shaphang kane ka surok namar ba la thaw la shna ïa ka da ka syep, ka snam bad ummat jong ki riewhyndai jongngi. Bad ka burom kaba khraw tam, ba ngi lah ban ai ïa ki rangïapom kiba ïalehthma pyrshah ïa ki Phareng bad ban burom ïa kito kiba la don bynta ha kaba shna ïa kane ka surok, ka long ba ngin rakhe ïa ka 4 tarik April man u snem kum ka Khasi National Awakening Day bad ruh da kaba ïaleh ban pynneh ïa ka surok bad ki sawdong sawkun na Mawphlang shaduh Rangïar bad na Laittyra haduh Sohbar kum ki dak jingkynmaw ba biang tam na bynta jong ki.
IMPORTANT DATA OF THE ROUTE
- Total length – 105 miles
- Alignment – north to south
- Number of suspension bridges constructed – 20, only one or two now remained.
- Number of stone arch bridges constructed – 16, at present about only 6 remained.
- Present status of the route – only about 6 % remain intact from Lad Mawphlang to Mawphlang and Laittyra to Sohbar.
- Width of the route 8 to 10 feet.
(This paper is based primarily on fieldwork and specially written to commemorate the 176th dead anniversary of U Tirot Sing, Syiem of Hima Nongkhlaw and to commemorate the 50th year of India’s Independence.)
Stop Press: on page 8 of the Khasi Weekly U Dongmusa, dated 1st Thursday 1999, it is reported that the P.W.D., Govt. of Meghalaya will construct a road connecting Lad Mawphlang and Mawphlang.
(La pynmih nyngkong ha ka Phareng, ka David’s Scott Route-The Unwritten Story that sparked the Nongkhlaw massacre of 1829 bad la shon ha ka Apphira Daily News, April 4, 1999 bad mynta la pynkylla sha ka Khasi kum ka dak kynmaw ba dap 50 snem ka jylla)
Phi don ban ong eiei?