Editor,
Like any other ‘patriarchal society’, Meghalaya also is very much ‘ingrained’ to such ‘unwarranted practices’ which have done more harm to the lives of children and women. ‘Sexploitation’ is a cancer which seems to be impossible to cure and a lot of questions have to be answered about the jeopardy on which the matrilineal tradition of Meghalaya rests because it has eroded to a point where women are living in anguish and insecurity. The responsibility of addressing the issue lies with every member of the community regardless of any ethnic group. The mindset of people has to change because most rape cases happen not because women and girls wear indecent dresses but because of the arrogant and barbaric nature and misogynistic attitude of men. Instead of sympathy and solidarity the victims of sexual assaults be it at home, work places, public places are instead being blamed for being the reason why such heinous crimes happen.
This is a slur on our society where women on the one hand are considered to be enjoying special status and are celebrated over the years but on the other hand, girls notwithstanding their age, are considered as instruments to be violated. This is appalling for us as a society. We should stop romanticizing the matrilineal convention because with such sugar coated traditions we have become so snobbish and have used it as an imagery of a society that respects women. With a deep sense of guilt we should not shy away from answering and letting the world know that we also practice patriarchy. Consistent sexual assaults and rape cases are being reported and this might top the chart if all the cases are reported without hesitation. The question is who is responsible for the heinous crimes every day? Should the Government and the Judiciary be blamed? Or should the mentality and arrogance of the male chauvinists be held responsible? Possibly it is the society we live in today which is to blame. It is difficult to find answers but not impossible if our attitudes change. Stringent punishment must be served to the perpetrators.
Yours etc.,
Banshanlang Marwein,
Mairang
Of culture and religion
Editor,
Apropos the letter, “Significance of Letters to the Editor must have the full name, address and contact number of the writer, even if they are sent by email. Only letters with the requisite details will be published. Sohpetbneng for Khasi Christians” by Barnes Mawrie, sdb, (ST Feb 10, 2017) I both agree and disagree with the author. Yes, none can be deprived of one’s culture irrespective of whatever religion one has subscribed to. I am a Christian but I have certain reservations regarding the stand of Niam Tynrai – which I believe have every right to air their concerns regarding certain factions aping their practices. The issue gets bigger here perhaps with the building of a Chapel at the holy peak of Lum Sohpetbneng meant for a pilgrimage for Khasi Christians. My own feeling here as Barnes Mawrie says is that Khasi culture and tradition belongs to every Khasi irrespective of the religion that he/she professes. If at all the Khasi Christians wanted to have a hilltop pilgrimage then they could have participated in the Lum Sohpetbneng peak itself instead of having a separate chapel and running a parallel pilgrimage designated for the Khasi Christians. This very practice and presence, to me is a divisive tactic and an encroachment into the space of our indigenous religious practitioners. I feel that if the Khasi Christians wanted to have a pilgrimage then we could have chosen another hill instead of targeting the peak of Lum Sohpetbneng. I have come across several pilgrim sites in the country where people from different religious faith visits on holy occasions hence I fail to understand why we can’t have a similar cross-faith participation in Lum Sohpetbneng. If we are all really one, then such participation will be real Oneness that we can send as a message to this region and country at large. Yes I agree with the author that Jesus Christ was not a European and just because Christian faith came through European missionaries, we are not bound to take their culture. But in reality westernization has been imposed in our tradition and culture through religion and which we regularly witness even in our churches. So is religion and culture connected? The growing menace that we encounter in our tribal society today is perhaps due to the deviation from our roots, culture and tradition and replacing them with westernization. It is high time for us to exhibit collective responsibility to preserve our culture and tradition from penetrating westernization irrespective of whatever religion we subscribe to.
Yours etc.,
Bellbora Wankhar,
Shillong-5