Semsonsing Ingti (1910–1948) was an Indian social and economic reformer and author. He has been called the Father of the

Karbi people The Karbis or Mikir are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group in Northeast India. They are mostly concentrated in the hill districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong of Assam. Etymology The origin of the word Karbi is unknown. Historicall ...

, for his work in uniting the Karbi, an indigenous ethnic group in Northeast India concentrated in the state of Assam. He was also called ''Lametpo'' during his heyday."A Tribute to Semsonsing Ingti : Father of Karbi Nationalism"
''Dharamsing Teron'', March 13, 2009

Early life

Semsonsing Ingti was the second child of the late Thengkursing Ingti and Madhobi Ruth Barua. Semsonsing Ingti was educated at Golaghat Mission High School. He matriculated at Bezbaruah High School, where he returned after completing his degree and becoming a teacher. He then studied at Cotton College, Guwahati (now Cotton University) and graduated from Murari Chand College,

Sylhet Sylhet (; ) is a Metropolis, metropolitan city in the north eastern region of Bangladesh. It serves as the administrative center for both the Sylhet District and the Sylhet Division. The city is situated on the banks of the Surma River and, as o ...

in 1933.

Career

He was called ''Lametpo'' for being the first to write a book in Karbi.

Social and economic reformer

Semsonsing Ingti began by visiting inaccessible areas. Others would have chafed at going to such places, but he was determined to reach out and educate everyone in the world. He believed that only education would bring people from backwardness. He battled social taboos common superstitions. For example, women were not allowed to walk beside or in front of their husbands and were forbidden to carry umbrellas, because it was considered disrespectful to their husbands. Although the Karbi people did not believe in the mistreatment of women, the social status of women remains unequal. He spread knowledge on improving Jhum cultivation and asked farmers to live together rather than in small groups, so they could produce higher quantities of their produce. Drinking beer is traditional in Karbi culture, but this was misinterpreted to him. Beer drinking was only for social occasions, but it had become a daily life habit for people at that time. He gave up drinking beer as an example for others.

Works

*Kalakha (table book) *Tomopuru *Bituso *Vopi

Death

The cause of the death of Semsonsing Ingti is not settled. His health had been deteriorating since he began working. His long travel from chilly

Meghalaya Meghalaya (; "the abode of clouds") is a states and union territories of India, state in northeast India. Its capital is Shillong. Meghalaya was formed on 21 January 1972 by carving out two districts from the Assam: the United Khasi Hills an ...

to scorching

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...

. Walking mostly on foot and through jungle, he was already in financial trouble and could not afford medical care, which ultimately led to his demise. According to his eldest sister, Junaki Sailabala Ingtipi, he had sunstroke while in

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ingti, Semsonsing 1910 births 1948 deaths People from West Karbi Anglong district