SISTER IDA MARY KHARBHOI
Hailing from Laitsohma, the remote village of East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya, Sister Ida Mary Kharbhoi was attracted to the religious way of life when Mother Mary Brian Taylor RNDM visited her village in 1967. Mother Brian, though hailing from Ireland has admirably identified herself with the Khasis. She was on and off being missioned to St. John Bosco’s, Sohra. In those days, when Sisters toured distant villages, it was a practice to allow senior House Girls accompany them. Fascinated by the alertness of the St. John Bosco’s girls, Ida persuaded her parents, Bah Petrus Lyngdoh and Kong Cecilia Kharbhoi to seek admission to St. John Bosco’s Primary School. Her dream came true in 1968.
By nature and grace, Ida was a studious and focused student. Steadily and progressively she completed her matriculation in 1975. By then young Ida confided to the Sisters that she wanted to join the Congregation. As soon as the result was declared, she was admitted to the Aspirantate at St. Mary’s, in the same year. By dint of her diligence, she cleared the PU Arts in the early months of 1977. This qualified Ida to proceed to Bengaluru for the Postulancy Programme of the same year and began her Novitiate in August 1978. Subsequently, the three months’ apostolic and community experience at St. Michael’s Umsning, paved the way for her first mission as Assistant Headmistress (1980-1984). According to Ida’s testimony, she belonged to the group that made a Promise in lieu of the temporary vows. The Promise was for six years at a stretch.
Being a talented young woman, Ida graduated as a Private candidate in 1983 and was deputed from the school for the B.Ed course in 1984. She was given permission to pronounce the Perpetual Vows in 1986.
Influenced by Mother Mary Brian Taylor RNDM was a vivid and voracious reader evidently, Ida had cultivated the reading and writing habit from this contact. Books became her inspiring friends. No wonder her vocabulary and command of the English language was quite evident. She also had very good eligible handwriting. By nature, Ida was gentle, reserved and accommodating but many times her personal perspective of things prevented her from accepting alternative options. In spite of this her nonthreatening personality remains an asset which gives elbow room for her companions/ contemporaries to pull her legs.
After her perpetual vows in 1986, Ida was appointed Headmistress of her ALMA Mater, St. John Bosco’s, Secondary School (1986-1988). A docile rolling stone no doubt, Ida bloomed from the appointment as Assistant Headmistress twice in St. Mary’s Secondary School then as Headmistress of St. Paul’s, Marbisu and Tluh Secondary schools. Sister served as Superior of St. Joseph’s, Shillong cum Sister In charge of the St. Joseph’s Lower Primary between 2011-2015. Sister was a focused administrator. Her thoroughness and sense of honesty speak volume of her life. Wherever she had been she generated ease. She was never a treat to the staff or students. Gardening and conversing with plants was also a discovery that energized her mind.
A passionate teacher, the three decades plus of her RNDM life gave Ida many exposures. At Umsning she actively involved to upgrade Saint Michael’s to the Higher Secondary level and to withstand the storm of opening the Board Vocational Course. At Marbisu, Sister mastered the skill of conducting BOARD Secondary Examinations and to teach at the Lum Jingshai Teachers’ Training Centre (LJTTC). Life at Tluh mission was challenging and adventurous. There were times when she was alone. Challenged and ruffled by problems attached to new missions, No’ and ‘I cannot’ did not exist in Ida’s vocabulary. It is with this sentiment that she shouldered responsibilities entrusted to her – be it as Headmistress of Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary, and children’s Mistress or name it. Sister received virile graces to weather storms. If one were to measure a person’s stamina through the yardstick of co-education among uncouth children, Ida would be among the top winners.
Health-wise, Ida did not sail very well. She however, went on giving meaning to the cross and learnt to depend more on God’s ways. She enjoys company. Her passion to pray for the sick and the ability to read and write kept pace with her multifaceted ministries. Sister’s gentle winning ways imprinted love in the hearts of children, orphans and the people she visited and counseled. Sister used to recall and relived the years spent among the YCSers (Young Christians) in Saint Mary’s, Shillong and Marbisu.
Abandoning herself to God has been second nature to Ida. This is why when God’s final purification through the prolonged illness, Sister endured the complicated malady silently without complaint. She endeared herself to the doctors and nurses and appreciated the tender care rendered by the Sisters of St. Joseph’s community. Sensitive to the needs of Sister Ida gave extraordinary energy to Sister Regina Rajee, the commendable animator. Ïoanna, her sister, the four brothers Patrick, Primus, Markus and Raphael comforted their beloved Thei, (family pet name) by their regular visit. When sister could no longer communicate with them, a sparkle from her eyes boosted their sigh.
God called his child, Ida Mary Kharbhoi to himself on the 27th February, 2017. Priests, religious and many came to pay their last respect to her mortal remains. Condolences and prayers from across the Congregation kept pouring to the Province.
Sister was laid to rest at the Laitumkhrah Catholic cemetery on Ash Wednesday, 1st March, 2017. She is now empowered to pray for us. May her soul rest in peace.