Burdened by myths and legends
During the Citizens’ Conclave to discuss the pernicious effects of superstitions, myths and legends apropos the recent killings in Smit and other cases, an agitated lady shared her own fears with the audience.
She is from the Swer clan (kur Swer) and shared how her eight year old grand-daughter who was admitted to a certain school in Jaiaw area was told by her other friends that her clan (Swer) is known to be “nongshohnoh.’
The little girl came back home very disturbed, not knowing what it was all about. She shared this sad story with her parents and grand-parents at home. They too have no answer.
How do they convince a society with such hideous hang-ups is their predicament? This is not the only kur (clan) that is alleged to be nongshohnoh (worshippers of the python for the purpose of gaining wealth).
Many clans and families have been ostracised by their villages based on these unfounded allegations. Some have paid with their lives. It seems like a burden to be a Khasi-Pnar and to battle the demons within.
Different shades of beliefs
A leading lawyer of the city with a penchant for gold rings (He wears a gold ring embellished with coloured stones on each of his ten fingers) stated at a the public meeting on superstitions on Saturday that he had once taken off all the rings after a doctor told him that his arms were aching because they are overloaded with the weight of the gold rings.
But his ailments refused to leave him until one night he had an apparition of his late mother who made a sign to him that he should restore the rings to all ten fingers.
The next morning he said he did exactly that and felt better. Someone has rightly said that 99% of our ailments are psychosomatic.
In a meeting to dispel myths and superstitions the learned lawyer cautioned that women should not wear ‘red’ because he said it is proven that the colour red actually attracts lightning.
He of course did not quote the source of his wisdom. Talk about urban legends and their learned proponents and you begin to wonder why we stereotype people in the villages only as being superstitious.
Underneath the veneer of city sophistication resides an insecure human being who is willing to invest in anything that promises health, wealth and the good life.
Over-bridges with no passers-by
In Meghalaya nothing is built after taking a public survey. The PWD believes it knows it all. Hence the city’s two prominent over-bridges seem a different purpose other than for crossing busy intersections.
The one at Motphran junction which connects to Iewduh is now a full fledged flea market selling second hand goods at a premium. The bridge is now covered with tents in order to protect the vendors from the elements.
The second over-bridge at Dhankheti junction to assist pedestrians, especially school children to cross the road is also abandoned. This bridge has become a paradise for dogs and wayfarers to litter and make merry. Many pedestrians say it is cumbersome to take the over-bridge to cross the double lane road. Many prefer to cross at the tri-junction assisted by the traffic police. Another showmanship by the PWD are the railings put up by the side of the lanes. Half of those railings have been stolen and sold as scrap.
Other are not serving the purpose because they are already bent and half broken. Wonder how much this idea of railings has cost the public exchequer.