Editor,
Since the High Court ruling on the role of Rangbah Shnong there have been debates galore at tea stalls, taxis, funeral services and birthday parties etc. All are gossiping about the issue. Others shot off letters to the editor which appear in these columns every now and again. These letters point to the defects of that old age institution, the ‘Dorbar Shnong’. Only a few people talked about the positive side of the role that the Rangbah Shnong plays when it comes to maintaining law and order and ensuring peace and tranquility in the localities. Indeed being a Rangbah Shnong is a thankless job. At least that’s what we learn from all the write ups. Some have even accused the Rangbah Shnong of taking bribes. However, what surprises me most is that not even a single write-up has appeared to express anger on the scams which are rampant in the state. The traffic lights don’t function. Everyone pays municipal taxes but my guess is that those living in the municipal areas put up with this nonsense. Almost all the roads in the localities of Shillong are pot-holed. The sanitation scenario is abysmal but worse is that most of the drains of Shillong stink because there is direct discharge of toilet waste into our drains streams. The Government of India is only now promoting Swacch Bharat campaign but the Dorbar Shnong have always had pynkhuid Shnong (locality cleaning drive) since many decades. We see in reality how the judicial system works but the Dorbars too had a system of adjudication since time immemorial (ban bishar iaka hok). We pay taxes to the Government so that in turn we get services. Similarly u synniang u bynhei is collected by the Dorbar to carry out civic services. The difference between the two is that we call the Government democratically elected while the Dorbar Shnong is seen as exclusive and gender biased.
Now the role of the Rangbah Shnong, until well defined under law is only to look into the social welfare of the locality which in fact is in practice by the Dorbar Shnong, the seng kynthei and the seng samla. The greatest onus now lies in our democratically elected government. Now where do I start? The PHE water we get at home leaves iron-coloured stains in buckets. Truck loads of medicines were thrown out from Shillong Civil hospital; Wah Umkhrah gets flooded when it rains heavily because the size of the Umkhrah River is reduced due to human occupation. There is even a private bridge built on this river. I am sure the authorities are aware of the situation. When will MUDA act on the High Court order to bring down the illegal structures? Through newspaper we read that FIRs were lodged against many govt. officials involved in scams but no arrest has been made so far. There is a pending case against holding of dual constitutional posts. There are many more scams but enough is enough. Right thinking citizens should share more on what governance should look like rather than pointing fingers at an age-old tradition that needs to be preserved. How and in what form it ought to be preserved is where citizens can share their views. Our culture is what defines us; it’s an integral part of our lives. No society can exist without culture. Our culture is what binds us together. Our attitudes, values, goals, food, art, literature, music and social beliefs are all the offshoots of our culture. Though the world is changing in terms of trends, technology and modern discoveries, we are all strongly rooted to our tradition. Tradition includes beliefs and customs which we strongly adhere to or respect. Every government or society or country or state has their own practices which they ought to preserve and pass on in hopes of keeping tradition alive. The word ‘tradition’ comes from the Latin word traditionem which means “handing over, passing on”. The institution of the Dorbars is what we will be passing on.
Yours etc.,
Wankitbok Pohshna
Shillong-11
Is Sixth Schedule above the Constitution?
Editor,
The Movement for Indigenous People’s Rights and Livelihood (MIPRL) has once again cited a section of the Constitution under Para 12 A(b) stating that no laws of Parliament shall be applicable to this State where certain areas deemed necessary to protect the unique tribal system , traditions, customs etc. Perhaps Mr Erwin Sutnga could clarify to our readers as to what is so unique about this tribal way of life? Unfortunately the organisation he represents does not seem to understand that the Sixth Schedule is just an identity given to the tribal community’s right over land, culture, customs etc.,but it does cannot surpass all laws of the Constitution or else we would be witnessing pandemonium in governance. Has any member of MIPRL ever visited or read about ‘sacred groves’ that continue to exist in many places of the state reminding that our ancestors always dwelt upon preservation and conservation of the environment? To seek exemption on everything by citing the Sixth Schedule is akin to saying that all rules made are not applicable to us due to our so called ‘ uniqueness’ or more appropriately ‘ Ka Jaidbynriew ba Kyrpang ‘ (a unique race). How does destruction of water, agricultural land, forests make the State so unique or its tribal community so special from being bound by the laws of the land? Surprisingly none of us actually know as to what has been the contribution of the coal business to the lives of the rural poor who till today live in poverty and economic discrimination. Let’s not even talk about their social empowerment which is dismal and getting worse.
Yours etc…
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong-3