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Fingers to remember
Mr. Webster Davies Jyrwa and his immeasurable contributions to Meghalaya
Out of the many vital parts of our body, we cannot rule out the importance of our fingers. Have we ever written a letter and wished we could take it back? Albert Einstein wrote a letter like that to F. D. Roosevelt, President of the United States in 1939 which he lived to regret. This can be found in the book, Reader’s Digest Special Edition, The History Channel, The Greatest Stories Never Told, 230 Tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder and Stupefy by Rick Beyer, Page 290-291:caption Einstein’s Error. We will also find the following words: ‘A single piece of correspondence may have changed the course of History’. Having read this book, the necessity to reflect on the contribution of any person through his own fingers, prompted the writer to pen down this article. It reminds the writer of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who said, ‘The ultimate test of moral society is a kind of world that it leaves to its children.’
Out of the many things which one can hand down to the generations to come is also a book of this nature. A man with thirteen Khasi books to his credit, excluding ‘Ki Sienjam ban sah Kynmaw (Memoirs)’, Mr. Webster Davies Jyrwa’s better known as ‘Daddy’ is more interested in music, even at the age of 90. On the 6th of July 2013, Daddy’s 90th birthday, the book ‘Ki Sienjam ban sah Kynmaw (Memoirs)’, written by Daddy, was released by Mr. Laborious Manik S. Syiem, Ex-Syiem (King) of Mylliem, with Mr. Maurice G. Lyngdoh, Advocate and Ex-President Khasi Authors’ Society, as chairman, in the presence of Mr. W. R. Laitflang I.A.S, Ex-President Khasi Authors’ Society, Professor S. S. Majaw, Ex-President Khasi Authors’ Society and many other social workers, writers, authors, including the writer of this article, at the Dinam Hall which is located in the Jaiaw locality of Shillong. Many who were present on this day, expressed their happiness to see him in good health, and wished him a long life.
There is a saying that, ‘History is filled with unpredictable people and unbelievable stories’. Daddy’s enthusiastic effort and infinite labour to contribute in any capacity towards the society, has been reflected in the book which was just released. The innovative thoughts and creative nature of Mr. Jyrwa, by putting all details of his personal 90 year journey, is what one learnt from ‘Ki Sienjam ban sah Kynmaw (Memoirs)’. The book has a variety of information, and many factual historical events, suitable for keen researchers of the region.
“For more than 20 years, we have heard about Daddy and his beautiful orchestra. We are eager to see Daddy and his precious fingers, be it on the string of his violin, as a musician, a conductor, a leader, writer etc. in the real world,” echoed young students and scholars, who were present on the day when his book was released. Music lovers of Shillong, his friends, colleagues, playing members and their relatives, the Jaiaw Orchestra in particular, fondly remember him and his humourous character, while he was on stage. On the back cover of the book ‘Ki Sienjam ban sah Kynmaw (Memoirs)’, one finds these words ‘Music is my World’. While talking to many people of his time, and listening to those who have seen him play the violin, the author of this article believed that one day, ‘Ki Sienjam ban sah Kynmaw (Memoirs)’, with the photo clip of the Jaiaw Orchestra will definitely be treasured by the coming generations.
| Daddy’s enthusiastic effort and infinite labour to contribute in any capacity towards the society, has been reflected in the book which was just released. |
The writer of this article who is a researcher, in his personal capacity, feels fortunate, to have met and shared moments of the past experienced by Daddy on his 90th birthday. He narrated beautiful stories and events of the past. Interestingly, Daddy was the leader of the Jaiaw Orchestra for more than 60 years. It is worth listening to him as a student, when he talks of music and his favourite song, while he showed the photo of Jaiaw Orchestra in 1948, with himself as its leader. His personal involvement with many organisations be it government or social, speaks volumes of his personal character. Many of his friends and well wishers commended the musical evenings of the past during which he enthralled the audience and music lovers of Shillong at that time, all of which will fondly be remembered. At the peak of his illustrious career, the Jaiaw Orchestra, with Daddy as its leader had played at many venues to the elation of the audiences there.
While listening to the stories of The Signing of the Instrument of accession by the Syiem of Nongstoin, Daddy recalled his time on tour with English Political Officers, Dominion and Union Agents, and Mr. G. P. Jarman in particular. In his own words, Daddy wrote this: ‘I have been convinced that Mr. Jarman, on many occasion, had to carry out orders against his conscience. He was not, I had observed, a happy man and he seldom laughed. I remember, we used to sing together at leisure, some of the old favourites but his (Jarman) most favourite song was…
And when the letters come,
They bring a smile a tear,
each one a sweet souvenir;
Only one in a million will never
complain,
For she knows for the sunshine
will follow the rain,
Every beat of her heart will
always be,
Somewhere in France with you.
Although Daddy receives recognition in the form of Awards, they pale in comparison to the amount of effort put in by him for the uplift and recognition of the creative talents of Meghalaya, as reflected in ‘Ki Sienjam ban sah Kynmaw (Memoirs)’. For what Daddy have contributed through his precious fingers, I salute and believe that God will grant Daddy good health, strength and wisdom throughout the rest of Daddy’s life, with an expectancy that his fingers will pen many more books. I conclude:
Happy belated Birthday
Daddy
and May God in whose
hands,
your trust/foundations has been
laid,
Bless and honour you
unseen always.
