On Ri Bhoi’s silver jubilee, crucial decisions needed for more devp
| Ri Bhoi district has come a long way from the time of its formation on June 4, 1992. The district, which has a population of over 2.40 lakh according to the 2011 census, derives its name from one of the sub-tribes of the Khasis — the Bhoi — who are considered as one of the children of U Hynñiewtrep-Hynniewskum, the seven huts, inhabiting the northern part of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills. The term Bhoi is used mainly as a territorial name rather than tribal. |
After remaining a civil sub-division for 16 years, Ri Bhoi became the sixth district of Meghalaya within months of D.D Lapang, one of the prominent Bhoi leaders, becoming the chief minister.
The district’s proximity to Assam (Kamrup district in the north and Karbi Anglong in the east) makes Ri Bhoi an important economic centre. The West Khasi Hills and the Jaintia Hills are on the east and west, respectively.
Looking back
Ri Bhoi Dorbar — which was formed in 1965 by prominent leaders like Rev. Fr Sylvanus Sngi Lyngdog, Lapang and Justly Rynshon, among others — is one of the groups from the region that took the initiative to unite all areas for uniform development.
Meghalaya was formed in 1971 and the next year it went to polls to choose its members of the Legislative Assembly. Ri Bhoi had four Assembly constituencies — Nongpoh, Umroi, Mawhati and Jirang, which were won by Lapang, Dlosing Lyngdoh, Martin Narayan Majaw and Hoover Hynniewta, respectively.
The need to have well-defined boundaries was felt in the Bhoi region even before the seventies when it was under the administrative control of the Assam government.
So immediately after attaining statehood, the Ri Bhoi Dorbar under the leadership of Lapang, met then Chief Minister Captain W.A Sangma. In 1972, the State Government created an administrative unit. After continuing for some years, the administrative unit was upgraded to a civil sub-division in 1976 with P.J Bazely (IAS) as the first sub-divisional officer.
However, the demand for a separate district remained in the back burner for years till Lapang took up the cudgels.
Reflecting on the year of its formation as separate district, Umsning MLA Celestine Lyngdoh said, “It was natural as Ri-Bhoi is a vast area. At that time, people wanted the government to set up a separate administration.”
Administration
The whole Bhoi region, which covers an area of 2,448 sq km, is divided into Hima, Raid and Shnong ruled by the Sirdar (Chief), Syiem (chief), Lyngdoh (priest), Myntri or Maji, Karkun, Damdar, Pator, Kotki, Borka, Laskor (elder participating functionary), Basan (elderly male member in the raid), Sangot (announcer), Doloi (chief) and others who are the keepers and administrators of the whole raid.
Almost all the Bhoi area belongs to the Mylliem and Khyrim Himas.
There are three community and rural development blocks and one administrative unit at Patharkhmah, and the number of villages is 561.
The district headquarters is at Nongpoh located at 53 km away from Shillong and 50 km from Guwahati.
Ri Bhoi has five representatives in the Legislative Assembly — Lapang for Nongpoh constituency, Ngaitlang Dhar for Umroi, Julius Kitbok Dorphang for Mawhati, Lamboklang Mylliemngap for Jirang and Celestine Lyngdoh for Umsning.
The district has also sent representatives to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.
Culture call
The district comprises different sub-groups — Khasis, Bhois, Marngars, Karbis or Mikirs, Tiwas or Lalungs and Jaintias. Geographically and politically, the people in majority who inhabit the region are called the Bhois. Thus all the sub-groups have been identified by the term.
This intermingling of different sub-tribes has led to a colourful social and cultural milieu in the district and that is manifested in the different festivals, like the Ka Sajer, Ka Lukhmi and Ka Lakympong.
Ka Sajer festival is celebrated in February and March after harvesting and before sowing of seeds for the coming year. It is a religious celebration of the whole of Hima Khadar Lyngdoh. Other Raid and villages which participate in this festival are Nonglyngdoh, Nongkhrah, Raid Nongpoh, Pahampdem, Raid Nongkyrlla, Raid Sohkhwai, Pani-Kynti (from Kamrup), Pahambir and Umskun.
Lukhmi is an important religious festival of the Raid Ïapngar and some other places in the Bhoi areas. This festival is held once in three years before the sowing season and after harvesting. The Lukhmi festival is connected with agriculture and cultivation rites of the people.
The Lakympong is one of the cultural dances of the Khasis living in the Bhoi region in the northern part of the Khasi hills. This festive dance is mostly celebrated by Raid Nongtung, Raid Namsha and Raid Iapngar among other Raids of the Bhoi region. In Raid Namsha, it is believed that Lakympong means the fate and fortune of marriage (Lakym means “it is written” and Kpong means “fate” and “fortune”).
Natural resources
In the Bhoi region, there is a popular saying ‘u khaw na lum ka doh na um’ which, when translated, means rice from the hill and meat from the river. This indicates that the staple food of the Bhois is rice and fish.
The nutritious needs of the people here are met by the diversity of their traditional food generated by their bio-diverse environment.
A Bhoi platter is known for its variety of fish. Dried fish preserved in a bamboo container called ktung ktang is a common item. In fact, fishing is a popular sport in the region.
Vegetables like pumpkin, gourds, yam, yew etc are popular. Due to the climatic conditions in the region, wild edibles, vegetables are aplenty. These include jajew of different types, jamahek, latara, yew leaves, mushroom, jatila, sohthang, phyrnap, sohprew and pashor kait, among others.
“Ri Bhoi has the best soil and is known to produce rice, vegetables, corn etc. The Agriculture and the Horticulture Departments also help spread awareness on new techniques,” Lyngdoh told Sunday Shillong.
Despite such natural abundance, a large section of the population in the district still lives in poverty. Lyngdoh said, “The Government gives Rs 5,000 to women to set up business and also distributes power tillers to farmers on subsidy. Poverty alleviation is one of our main objectives.”
Deputy Commissioner C.P Gotmare said, “Ri Bhoi is endowed with rich flora and fauna. The richness of the soil and biodiversity is a unique aspect of Ri Bhoi.”
Tourists’ dayout
As Shillong gets crowded, many tourists as well as locals are now heading to Ri Bhoi for a few days’ retreat. There are options for adventure lovers too.
Tourists can spend time at Lum Nehru Park adoring the beautiful lawns and flowers like orchidarium and aviary. They can also trek the way to Lum Sohpetbneng, the heaven’s navel, to see the footmark of a primitive man on stone. The man-made Umiam Lake offers water sports, including water skiing and water scooter.
Popularly known as ‘Lover’s Paradise’, Dwar Ksuid’s rumbling swift flowing river with numerous slippery boulders attracts visitors and picnickers. One wonders how Dwar Ksuid could mean Devil’s Doorway.
It is at this beautiful setting that the Khasi film U Manik Raitong was shot.
The national highway from Jorabat to Shillong that passes through Ri Bhoi district has been reconstructed by the Government making for smooth transportation of tourists. However, with the delay in the Umsning road project, the road has currently turned into a nightmare.
Undercurrent
On the occasion of the district’s 25th Foundation Day, the organising committee of the Ri Bhoi District Silver Jubilee Celebration will organise a five-day programme beginning on Monday. Lyngdoh is playing a key role in organising the events at NSCA Stadium, Pahamsyiem. Both Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and Lapang are scheduled to attend the programme.
However, the current turmoil in the district over a decades-old railway project has made the celebratory mood sombre and put the administration and police in a spot.
There are reports of violence from different parts of the district as well as the capital city.
The Khasi Students’ Union, after last week’s violent protests, has now appealed to the Bhoi population not to take part in the celebrations.
But Gotmare is optimistic even in the face of crisis. “Ri Bhoi has a lot of potentiality as a district because the road connectivity is good. It should convert its potentiality into opportunities. Ri Bhoi should aim toward sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship and productivity. Hence, local youths must try to be enterprising,” said the DC.
“It is time for celebration for the people of Ri Bhoi and also time to look back at the district’s achievements. People should aim at development,” he concluded.
It is indeed time for the district to look back and brood over the past mistakes and list its achievements so far so that all stakeholders of the district’s development agenda can come to a consensus on how to lay down the best plan for Ri Bhoi on its 25th birth anniversary.
(Photos: Khonin Rabha,
Sawdamut Kharbuki)
Twin delight
| New contours were drawn only 14 days after Ri Bhoi was marked on the map of Meghalaya. South Garo Hills, which was a sub-division since 1976, became the seventh district of the State with population of a little over 1.40 lakh according to the 2011 census. The Simsang, which is the longest river in the region, flows through the district. Though the major tribe in the district is Garo, there are others — like Hajong, Rabha, Bodo — who inhabit South Garo Hills. |
The district, which shares 135-km boundary with Bangladesh, has seen years of insurgency and economic backwardness despite its natural abundance and mineral resources. However, the Mukul Sangma-led Government, which is betting big on tourism, is developing tourist sites and leveraging the key resources to improve the socio-economy of the district. The golden beach in Baghmara, which is the confluence of the Simsang and the Rompa, and Siju Caves are among the popular retreats in the district that also attracts hundreds of locals and outsiders during the Tyisam Winter Festival.