Hamlet Bareh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 May 1931 Jaiaw Lumsyntiew,Meghalaya, India |
| Died | 24 July 2012 |
| Resting place | Church of North India cemetery, Shillong, India 25°33′45″N91°52′13″E / 25.56250°N 91.87028°E /25.56250; 91.87028 |
| Occupation(s) | Historian Writer Filmmaker |
| Spouse | Merlicia Kharshiing |
| Children | Four children |
| Parent(s) | Mondon Bareh Besina Dkhar |
| Awards | Padma Shri Meghalaya Day Award |
Hamlet Bareh Ngapkynta (1931–2012) was an Indian writer, historian and film director from the Northeast Indian state ofMeghalaya.[1] He is known as the first person from theKhasi tribe, an indigenous ethnic group of the state, to secure a doctoral degree (PhD)[2] and as the maker of the first feature film in theKhasi language,Ka Synjuk Ri ki Laiphew Syiem (The Alliance of Thirty Kings).[3] He was the chairman of the executive committee of theRajiv Gandhi University,Arunachal Pradesh, and a recipient of the 2004Meghalaya Day Award.[1] The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of thePadma Shri in 2004.[4]
Hamlet Bareh was born in Jaiaw Lumsyntiew, a village in the Northeast Indian state ofMeghalaya on 3 May 1931 to Besina Dkhar and Mondon Bareh, an educationist, as the youngest of their ten children.[5] He was brought up by his mother as his father died before he turned one and he did his schooling at Jaiaw Practising School, Khasi Jaintia National School and Shillong Boys' Government High School and did his graduate studies atSt. Edmund's College, Shillong.[2] His master's studies were atGuwahati University from where he also secured his doctoral degree (PhD) in 1963 for his thesis,The origin and history of the Khasi people, becoming the firstKhasi person to receive a doctoral degree.[1] The achievement is reported to have earned him a congratulatory letter fromIndira Gandhi, the thenPrime Minister of India.[5]
Bareh had started his career while doing his master's degree studies as a teacher at the local Government High School. Later, he would work as a publicity officer of Union Christian College, before joining his alma mater,St. Edmund's College, Shillong, to teach History andKhasi language.[6] After completing his doctoral studies, he resigned from College and took up the post of the Editor of theDistrict Gazetteers of the present dayArunachal Pradesh, then known asNorth East Frontier Agency (NEFA).[5] He also worked as a visiting fellow of theIndian Institute of Advanced Study,Shimla during 1973–74.[5] WhenNorth Eastern Hill University was established in 1974, Bareh was appointed as the Reader, with the responsibility of itscontinuing education as well as theadult education programmes. He stayed at the university until his retirement in 1996, before which he served the institution as the founder Head and professor of itsCentre for Creative Arts.[1]
Towards the later stages of his life, he was appointed as the Chairman of the executive committee ofRajiv Gandhi University, inArunachal Pradesh.[7] He died at Shillong on 24 July 2012, at the age of 81.[2] His wife, Merlicia Kharshiing, preceded him in death and he was survived by their four children.[2] His body was laid to rest in theChurch of North India Cemetery inShillong.[1]
Bareh is reported to have been active in the educational, literary and cultural fronts of the state of Meghalaya. He served as the secretary of theNorth East India Christian Literature Board and was a member of theNorth East Council.[5] He was one of the founders of the Synod College, Shillong and was involved with spreading education in the remote areas of the state. He was a member of theIndian Council of Historical Research (1984–87), theIndian Institute of Public Administration, Delhi,Kamarupa Anusandhan Samiti (Assam Research Society), North Eastern Economic Association and the Sardar Patel Society, Delhi. He was associated with the Sahitya Akademi (1981–87) and served as a member of its expert committee. He was also a member of the advisory boards of theState Council of Educational Research and Training, Delhi and the State department of Art and Culture.[5]
Bareh was the president of the Khasi Cultural Society and Khasi Jaiñtia Welfare Association and when the Society produced a feature film,Ka Synjuk Ri Ki Laiphew Syiem (The Alliance of Thirty Kings), he was selected to direct the film.[2] A 35-minute-long short feature film, it was the first ever feature film made inKhasi language[3] and featured a couple of songs written by him.[5] During 1998–2000, he was involved in writing two of his books, under theEmeritus fellowship of theUniversity Grants Commission; he had earlier received the National Fellowship of the UGC.[7]
Besides many articles,[8] Bareh published several books,[9] reported to be over 50, which includedThe Art History of Meghalaya,[10]William Carey in a new perspective,[11]A Short History of Khasi Literature,[12]The Language and Literature of Meghalaya,[13]The History and Culture of the Khasi People[14] andThe Church of England.[2] He also wrote two books,Progress of Education in Meghalaya,[15] andThe Distinguished Educationalists of Meghalaya Past and Present,[16] on the education in Meghalaya and an eight-volume encyclopedia,Encyclopaedia of North-east India.[17]Who's who of Men and Women of Achievement (fourth edition-1989) andLearned Asia (volume 1–1992) have listed his name.[1] The Government of Meghalaya honoured him withU Tirot Sing Award on Meghalaya Day on 21 January 2004.[18] Five days later, the Government of India included him in theRepublic Day honours list for the civilian honour of thePadma Shri.[4]
