Editor,
Of late, the Shillong Times has published a number of thought provoking articles and letters to the editor, following the High Court ruling on the powers, roles and responsibilities of the Rangbah Shnong. Many of the articles and letters have been written by intellectuals and experts on Khasi customs and tradition, particularly pertaining to our Traditional Governance Institution or the Dorbar. The article entitled ‘KHADC and the recent High Court Order’ written by E S Jyrwa (ST Thursday, February 12, 2015) and the letter to the Editor captioned ‘Need for a change’ penned by A Synrem (ST Thursday, February 12, 2015) made interesting reading. My attention was drawn particularly to the first paragraph of the article wherein E S Jyrwa re-iterated the fact that, as per our age old Khasi custom, strengthened by the U.K. & J Autonomous District Council, Appointment of Chief and Headmen Act 1959, the village Dorbar is a complete ‘no go’ area for womenfolk. Accordingly, this has been in practice all through the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, except in some villages and localities of Shillong, where ‘certain highly educated and knowledgeable individuals have made an attempt to run down and dilute the age old customs’ as E S Jyrwa puts it.
In this regard, I would like to opine that, by involving women and giving them equal rights to participate and deliberate in their Dorbar, these ‘highly educated and knowledgeable individuals’ have NOT run down and diluted the age old customs but have made a commendable attempt to evolve with time, for the better, as far as the constitution and functions of the Dorbar Shnong is concerned. It may not be too farfetched to say that in every village and locality of Khasi and Jaintia Hills, there are intelligent, dedicated, experienced and well-meaning women who can contribute their valuable ideas, effort and expertise towards the betterment of their villages and community. Many of them are doing even better than some of our men folk in this regard!
However, since I am a lay person with little knowledge of our tradition and custom, I would be grateful if somebody can enlighten me on the negative impact that women’s participation in the Dorbar would have on our Khasi society. Besides going against the customs and traditional practice, is there anything else detrimental to our society if women participate in the deliberations of the Dorbar or become members of the Executive Committee of the Dorbar? Perhaps the best of the lot can even head the Dorbar (of course with a different designation)!
I fully endorse A Synrem’s view. We cannot cling to our traditional Dorbar system only for the sake of adhering to our age old customs; we certainly need to change and improve with the times. Can we have a Dorbar system that will withstand all scrutiny? Yes, we can! I think the members of the KHADC and other stalwarts of our ‘Jaidbynriew’ are intelligent enough to sort out all outstanding issues in this regard. For, as the oft repeated saying goes, either we change
Yours, etc,.
Gregory Kharumnuid,
Umram, Ri Bhoi Dist
Once bitten, twice shy
Editor,
Meghalaya CM, Dr. Mukul Sangma is a top-priority Congress politician and is famous for his air-dashes to New Delhi having ensured he has his party High Command’s complete confidence in his ability to canvass for electoral victory, read “hope”. Prior to last year’s Lok Sabha elections, Dr. Sangma criss-crossed the country to canvass for the Congress, and most recently, he did a repeat; rushing to the Capital to do honours for his party’s struggling and sagging political image, none the wiser with the ground realities of what the capital’s electorate would care about a CM from a North-Eastern state. The Delhi Assembly election results must be a hard slap on the Congress’s face with the party being literally white-washed and snowballing into oblivion, while our CM is back to his own comfort zone without a murmur on why his party has lost so shamelessly. The AAP’s performance is astounding as their party leader, Arvind Kejriwal has decidedly proved a David having felled two Goliaths in two consecutive Assembly elections….. first, defeating the 15-year reign of 3-time Congress CM Sheila Dixit, and now obliterating the Congress and stunning the over-confident BJP with an overwhelming majority. This upstart politician whom the nation wrote off as an anarchist (courtesy his detractors) is back on center stage and the Capital has blessed him with yet another electoral success. Will our own CM, Dr. Mukul learn any lessons from the Delhi Assembly elections, or is the Meghalaya Congress shamefully surviving on the people’s vote to persist with a worthless political party? God Bless Meghalaya with its majority Christian population who believes that only God can save this state.
Yours etc.,
Lewis Sooting,
Via email
Why treat criminals with kid gloves?
Editor,
Poverty and employment are major concerns in our state and the entire country. There is dearth of jobs for our youths especially the educated lot. Many of our young educated people lack the means to even start a small business of their own. I therefore cannot comprehend why there should be rehabilitation packages offered to any militant group. An amount of Rs. 2.5 lakhs each proposed to be given to the 300 surrendered cadres of ANVC is preposterous. If anybody commits a crime, he/she is supposed to be punished accordingly to the law. A petty thief who is caught may remain behind bars for many years if there is no one to appeal on his behalf. Well, that should be so and that is the course of action as per the law. Ironically, a militant that has created fear psychosis in the minds of the people through extortion, kidnapping and murder is absolved of all crime. Rather when he surrenders he is provided for handsomely. Granted that these are young people who may have gone astray, yet such lucrative package is just not fair for other young people who are striving to find employment without adopting the path of violence. In an interaction with few young minds they were saddened and enraged. They found it more feasible and tempting to join or form a new outfit with the hope that after committing any sort of crime (extortion, kidnapping, murder etc) they will be embraced and given a rehabilitation packages. Isn’t this an unhealthy trend?
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email