By Toki Blah
Lately a lot has been written about the dismantling of Sein Jaintia Hall, Qualapatty. People have been highly critical of the decision to replace the old Sein Jaintia Hall with a new building. Some have even proclaimed the old structure as a heritage building. By what stretch of the imagination, God only knows, as Meghalaya is yet to come out with its own official list of heritage structures. Jenniefer Dkhar’s article “Culture and Commerce don’t mix” (ST Apr 19, 2016) is the latest in a series of critics who are questioning the wisdom and logic behind the current dismantling of the hall. Jennifer has directly accused the Executive Committee of the Sein Jaintia of converting a cultural centre of the Jaintias into a commercial complex. We have been accused of shying away from the views and opinions of other members. We have been accused of abandoning the cultural values, social concerns and commitment of our forefathers. The Executive Committee is so obliged to this young lady for her eloquent reprimand on our lack of humility, piety, ethics, moral values, love and respect for one another. Yet, lest we forget there is always the other side of the coin and it’s never fair to make judgmental statements without hearing the other side of the story.
Historically the Sein Jaintia was conceived of by Pnars who had migrated to Shillong in the 19th century from Jaintia Hills and who had chosen to settle down and make their livelihoods in and around the commercial hub of Iewduh. The Jaintias are always known for their entrepreneurial spirit but together with their trading acumen they also brought along with them the cultural ethos of their erstwhile homeland and one of these cultural traits was the Jaintia concept of “ I yung wa lieh”. It was in these ‘Yung wa lieh’ that social and cultural activities of the community were conceived, and showcased. Dramas were staged; plays conducted; social events held and social interaction encouraged. In a nut shell community bonding and “I iatylli”, hallmarks of ethnic unity that Pnars are so proud of, gelled and matured in such community activities. The Pnars of Shillong substituted the ‘yung wa lieh’ into the Sein Jaintia in 1947. The need for unity and social service was the watchword of the Sein Jaintia and was amply reflected in its Constitution. In essence the Sein jaintia is an idea, a concept, an ideology and the philosophy of the Pnars of Shillong on the need for unity in participatory action. Principles and values valid for 1947 are still valid in 2016. Period! The same however cannot be said about the Sein Jaintia Hall, the physical manifestation of this philosophy.
Sentiment and rhetoric apart the Sein Jaintia Hall in the past 60 odd years had steadily degenerated into an old, decrepit and increasingly unsafe wooden building. With each passing year and with every monsoon the leaks from its rusted tin roof increased. Its wooden floors had begun to rot. Beams and pillars that once supported a proud building had started to sag, crack and fall apart. Annual maintenance of the building was a huge financial burden for the organization. This old hall also served as the main recreational hall for the students of Sein Jaintia School. Safety of the students was becoming an ever increasing concern. In 2004 Mr PR Kyndiah, former President Sein jaintia, became Union Minister Tribal Affairs and DONER and in the reception given in his honour at Sein jaihtia Hall, recognizing an urgent need of the hour, he had called for the immediate reconstruction of the Sein Jaintia hall. Based on this a DPR was prepared together with detailed drawings; permission obtained from MUDA and the proposal sent to DONER. Unfortunately this dream of Mr PR Kyndiah for a new Sein Jaintia Hall failed to materialise. It was not until 10 years later, in 2014 that hope again was revived with State Govt assistance of 1.50 crores towards a multipurpose complex. By then however a lot of water had flowed under the bridge.
MUDA Byelaws had changed making the design of 2004 obsolete. New Building Byelaws were in force; fresh architectural drawings were required and fresh building permission sought for. In anticipation of permission, dismantling was started and it was only by March 2016 that permission was accorded and the first pillar for the new structure was erected. Before this however, some members of the Sein Jaintia had approached the Executive Committee with a demand for a General Meeting to discuss the dismantling of the Hall. An emergency General Meeting of the Sein Jaintia was called and held on the 29th August 2015 to discuss the issue. It is therefore factually wrong to state that no general meeting was ever held and that the views and opinion of other members never considered. In the meet the design for approval as submitted to MUDA was projected on Power Point. The design consisted of a basement parking lot (mandatory); shopping complexes and office space for the ground and 1st floor and a 2nd floor to house two badminton courts of international dimensions with a stage for theatrical purposes. It was agreed upon by all. Also agreed was the need to call for tenders in relation to the proposed construction. It was further agreed that top priority be accorded to the speedy reconstruction of the Sein Jaintia. The executive committee was actually commended for its work and authorized to expedite the work as fast as possible.
In the proposed reconstruction of the Sein Jaintia and the new design of a multipurpose Hall, the cultural ethos of the Sein Jaintia was never sacrificed for commercial purposes as charged. However, while keeping the cultural profile of the Sein Jaintia intact, recognition was also given to two practical issues. Sein Jaintia was in dire need of steady source of income to sustain its social and cultural commitments. Time and again shortage of funds had curtailed ambitious schemes of the organization in educational, social and recreational activities. The hall was incidentally located in a prime commercial area. Only the naïve would ignore such potentials. So while keeping the principles and values of the Sein Jaintia intact, the commercial potential of the proposed reconstructed building, as a source for sustainable income for the organization was not ignored. Is that a crime? Has the concept, the idea and the philosophy of the Sein Jaintia been compromised? I leave it to the reader to decide.
Based on the above, notices calling for tenders from interested registered parties were called for through ads in the print media. After a thoroughly open and transparent tendering process, the firm of M/s R. Rapsang was chosen based purely on merit. Today the same persons who had called for the General Meeting in Aug 2015 are once again demanding a General Meeting to discuss the whole process of reconstruction all over again. Canards and malicious gossip are being spread that the Executive Committee has bartered away the interest of the Sein Jaintia. If every step of the reconstructing process is to be decided through General Meetings then the building will never be completed. It might take another 50 years before a new Hall can be built. The disgruntled members were invited for a face to face discussion with the Executive Committee. They declined. Why is it so hard for members of the Sein Jaintia to meet as stakeholders interested in the same objective and to sort out their differences, if any, across the table?
In conclusion the appeal to all members of the Sein Jaintia is not to let suspicion based solely on heresay and rumours get the better of your common sense. Let’s not wash our dirty linen out in the open. If members have issues lets deal with them in-house, not outside. In the ongoing controversy some people seem to have lost sight of the wood because of the trees. The Sein Jaintia Hall is just part of the Sein Jaintia concept. As long as the concept is alive and healthy; as long as the cultural and recreational aspects are kept in mind, the shape, structure and composition of the Hall hardly matters. Let’s not forget one of the basic principles of the Sein Jaintia philosophy – to keep our ethnic unity intact. While accepting the fact that doubts, suspicion and apprehensions will always exist in any public dealing (kam paidbah), are Letters to the Editor and false canards the only way to deal with such issues? The founder members of the Sein Jaintia in their wisdom had provided it with a Trust headed by a Chairman, to intervene whenever the organization encounters a crisis. Perhaps this is the most appropriate time for the Trust to use its good offices to bring about an end to the current misunderstanding and impasse that seems to have enveloped both the mind and the activities of the Sein Jaintia and its members.
(The author is President of the Sein Jaintia Shillong)