LT.
SARSING TERON, THE LANGKUNG HABE AND KARBI ADORBAR
Kache Teronpi
Lt. Sarsing Teron was born and brought up in and around Langchingbar in
Rongkhang area of West Karbi Anglong who later shifted to the village of
Hongkram, on the bank of the river Karbi Langpi (Barpani) near Vothatlangso.
His name is closely associated with Karbi Adorbar, the first organization of
the Karbi people, which was instrumental in the creation of the hill district
of united Mikir and N.C Hills, now called Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao
districts respectively.
He was born in the year 1898 at Langprat, Tika. His father’s name was
Sarmen Teron and mother Kache Beypi. He was orphaned at an early age and
brought up by relatives. He was given the duty of grazing the buffaloes of his
family. By that time the Tika missionary had been established (1897) by Rev.
P.E Moore and John Moses Carvell. Thengkursing Ingti helped the missionaries in
setting up a primary school at Tika. The children of that area were fortunate
enough to have an educational foundation in their own village. Semsonsing Ingti
was Thengkursing Ingti’s son, who later became the first Karbi graduate in
1933.
As Sarsing Teron grew up grazing the
buffaloes in the hills, he watched the children of Christian converted Karbi
families going to school and longed to join them. But the non-Christian were
still reluctant to accept school education. So, he could only watch the
teaching in school from far and learn writing with charcoals on the big rocks.
One day he was so engrossed in writing that he forgot about the buffaloes
completely. When evening came and he had to return home without the buffaloes,
he was punished severely. His long hair was tied to a branch of a tree and kept
him hanging for some time. Soon after that he cut his long hair which was
always tied in a bun, the traditional hairstyle of that period. Then he fled to
Golaghat with the missionaries and stayed with an Assamese family. There he met
Thengkursing Ingti who was also in Golaghat by that time and he was very kind
and supportive to Sarsing Teron. Later Sarsing Teron converted to Christianity
and studied from class I to III at Golaghat.
Now being a little literate, he returned to his village and took up his
old traditional Karbi faith again. He married Kare Ingtipi from Langchingbar
and their eldest daughter Ka-et Teronpi was born in the year 1920. In 1934 the
family shifted to Hongkram where life was easier. The fertile land of the Karbi
Langpi improved their lives and made it possible to educate their children,
sending them to Kampur, Nowgong and Guwahati for higher studies. Sarsing Teron
was also ordained the Habe by the Karbi King to represent him in governing the
area around Hongkram known as Umlarong Ronghan. He was often called Ronghan
Habekong but better known as Langkung Habe as he resided by the river. That led
him to visit various places, specially Nowgong which was the center of all
official works as well as shopping. It was there that the educated people from
the Karbi community gathered and had many discussions pertaining to their
society.
In 1937 the election to the Provincial Assembly was held in the hill
tracts. Khorsing Terang as Congress candidate was elected to represent the
Mikir Hills tract defeating Thengkursing Ingti and Mohansing Teron. A political
awakening was in the rise. A mention may be made here that West Karbi Anglong
was lagging behind in many fields in comparison with East Karbi Anglong in the
past as well as in the present time today. There was an urgent need for change
and by then Semsonsing Ingti too was
begining to take interest in social change.
So in the year 1940, in a meeting at Kathalguri in Nowgong some people
from the community assembled to discuss various issues and there Karbi Adorbar
was formed wherein Sarsing Teron, the Habe was selected the president and Semsonsing
Ingti, the secretary. They met Sir Robert Neil Reid, the Governor at Mohongdijua
and submitted a memorandum praying for special protection and measures of
development for the Karbi people. Sarsing Teron
being a Habe, a representative of the King, worked side by side with
Semsonsing Ingti in discarding social ills. They met the Lindokpo, the King,
for the reformation of age old traditions and uplift of social status of women.
At that time women were not allowed to use umbrellas and walk in front of their
men. That rule changed giving dignity to women. In 1945 Semsonsing Ingti fought
the Provincial Assembly election as Independent candidate though he was
defeated by Khorsing Terang.
From 1945 onwards there was a massive drive to form All Assam District
committees of Karbi Adorbar. Barelong Terang as a member took active part in
organizing meetings at Golaghat, Bokaghat, Dimapur, Haflong etc. In 1946, the
annual meeting of Karbi Adorbar was arranged in an extensive way at Habaipur
where around 2,000 people attended. There the organization was reconstructed as
political organization. Sarsing Teron was retained as president and Semsonsing
Ingti as secretary.
On 18th May 1947 Karbi Adorbar met Bordoloi committee and
submitted a memorandum placing the demand for a district comprising the areas
occupied by the Karbi people. In the Border Determination Committee,
Semsonsingh Ingti, Song Bey, Sarsing Teron and Khorsing Terang were selected as
members for the formation of a district.
But
unfortunately in 1948 Semsonsing Ingti died before the fulfillment of his
cherished dream. At last in 1951 the district of United Mikir and North Kachar
Hills was formed. An Interim committee was formed by special officer C.S Booth
for the new district, in presence of Kabon Neli Timungpi, MP, Shillong. The
members in the Interim committee were Khorsing Terang, Nihang Rongphar, Sarsing
Teron, Moniram Langneh, Birenlong Terang, Harsing Ingti, Davidlong Enghee,
Birendra Teron, Longsing Tisso, John Kathar and Dharmeshwar Engleng. The
committee was in office till the election in 1952.
Sarsing Teron fought and won the election to the District Council from
Rongkhang constituency, the voting center being only at Vothatlangso. He was
elected to be a member of the first District Council body of Karbi Anglong.
After serving for five years he retired from active political life.
In 1960 Hongkram was taken up as Adarsha village and various incentives
introduced by the government for the hill people who were asked to come down to
the plains for better life.Sarsing Teron felt great satisfaction and pride at
this fulfillment of one of his many dreams.
His eldest son Chandrasing Teron went on to become the C.E.M., his
younger son Mohansing Teron, E.M and the youngest son Khorsing Teron an M.D.C.
His son-in-law Dhoniram Rongpi was C.E.M and Minister in Assam Cabinet. His
grandsons Samsing Hanse was minister in Assam Cabinet and a great writer, and
Dr. Mansing Rongpi the sitting M.L.A from Vothatlangso constituency.
Sarsing Teron, Langkung Habe was a
traditionalist but a modernist at heart. His life was a blend of both. His love
to know the ABC paved way for the change in his life and took him to the road
of Karbi Anglong politics to work with the people. As hobbies, he loved to
maintain register with dates of every event, enjoyed cooking for himself and
lived independently at his hongpharla, receiving people traditionally there and
serving as the Habe till his death in the year 1979 on 5th December
at the age of 81. He nurtured Karbi traditional rites and rituals in spite of
his close proximity with Christianity and being exposed to modern lifestyle.
The life Sarsing Teron
is an insight to the lives of so many children in the remote hills who are
eager to go to school and learn new things, which might bring a change in their
lives as well as those around them. What they need is the help and guidance of
their teachers. This great and noble responsibility of spreading light and hope
lies upon all the teachers. Let’s pray to God to help and guide all the
teachers in this immensely glorious and humane endeavor.
SOURCES:
·
Kabon Teronpi and Lt. Monsing
Teron
·
Smriti Probah- Barelong Terang
·
Karbi Anglongor rajnoitik
itihas- Borsing Rongphar
