Left: Flag of the Seng Khasi. Right: National flag of Wales.

      A new book authored by  Welshman Basil Griffiths, a regular visitor to the Ri Khasi, details the motivation and background of the self educated peasant Welsh missionaries who felt impelled to leave their rural Wales to bring their particular brand of Christianity to the Khasi people; embarking on what was a journey which took them thousands of miles from their remote homeland.
             The book deals with the attitude adopted by the missionaries to Khasi customs, religion and culture, relating it directly to similar influences which had occurred earlier in Wales which gave rise to their uncompromising stance. The role of the mission and their attitude towards British imperialism is also considered with a conclusion that all was not as simple as is often portrayed.
              A further complication came to the equation with the coming of the evangelising Catholic Church to the hills in the latter part of the 19th. Century leading to a dogfight for the souls of the Khasi population which spawned a rivalry involving a mutually distrustful hatred and occasional violent  confrontation. Added to this was the haughty disdain of the establishment Anglican Church and the emergence of organised Khasi cultural resistance to the attacks upon Khasi traditions which in turn led to the formation of the 'Seng Khasi' movement.
 

                                  Khasis in warrior dress.                                  Thomas Jones the first missionary.

             The second half of the book describes the development of the townships of Mawphlang, Sohra, Laitlyngkot, Lynkerdem and Nongshken in the light of 19C. reports and letters of Rev. Dr. Griffith Griffiths, grandfather of the author, who was the first Medical Missionary to serve in the Ri Khasi in 1879.
 

Professor David R. Syiemlieh of the North Eastern Hills University, launched 'Khasis and the Welsh Legacy' in Shillong on 16th. March 2007; standing to his right is Dr. Desmond Leslie  Karmawphlang, also of the University, who acted as Chairman for the occasion. (Right) The author presented a copy of 'Khasis and the Welsh Legacy' to Fr. Professor Sylvanus Sngi, Sacred Heart College, Mawlai, Shillong who honoured the launch with his presence.

                   ENQUIRIES AND COMMENTS WELCOME BY E-MAIL : cymro@basilgriffiths.co.uk
              Associated web-page " IMAGES OF THE RI KHASI" at http://www.basilgriffiths.co.uk

---

                              SOLE DISTRIBUTOR OF 'KHASIS AND THE WELSH LEGACY' :
 

AKASHI BOOK DEPOT   Publisher, Book Seller and Library Suppliers.   ---------------------BIMAL BAWRI----------------------                                Proprietor    DON BOSCO ROAD, SHILLONG - 793 003    MEGHALAYA, INDIA.                    Tel: (0364) 2228449 Office.                            2222891 Showroom.                           2221199  Residence                                         Mobile: 94361 02308

                                       Also available at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, Cards.