By Janet Moore Hujon
“By celebrating the Cherry Blossom we are celebrating nature”. So said Clement Marak, (Minister of Forests and Environment), when he inaugurated the 2017 Cherry Blossom Festival in Meghalaya. Taken in isolation, who would argue with his statement? After all isn’t the minister telling us that the cherry blossom is but one of the wonders of Nature we must celebrate? But was that what he really meant? Set against the fiasco of the non-appearance of the cherry blossoms,the minister’s words can only be seen as a hastily dreamed up homily to justify the considerable government revenue spent on a single event.
A Meghalaya in physical and moral decline needs tender, loving constant care not a brief dazzle of hype to ‘showcase the cultural and natural resources of the state’ – as that overworked and overused phrase keeps telling us. I despair at this easy adoption of cliché and jargon. If all we ever do is borrow readymade phrases and ideas then it must mean that we cannot think for ourselves or speak with our own voice or,far worse, that we are afraid to believe we can be original. If only we really did seeand feelthe natural wonder laid out for us we would continually revere nature adding a deeper dimension to the ritual of celebration.
Fortunately, there is one person who does just that. His name is Bah So Khongsit– a gentle folk hero if ever there was one. Look no further if you want to know the meaning of the expression ‘Labour of Love’. For years he has celebrated the diverse wonder of our homeland with the help of other like-minded custodians of the environment. He is the author of several books in Khasi on indigenous flowers, trees, birds and the local traditions of weaving, dyeing and beekeeping. As naturalist, ecologist and poet he undoubtedly holds the distinction of being the ideal mentor for our beleaguered times.
From the way he writes it is obvious that his effortsaresolely moved by an intense love for his homelandand the strength of his self-belief – one nourishes the other. Here is someone who closely observes the inter-dependence of life in these hills and is pained by the steady defacement and theft of what supports this relationship.In his foreword to his book on the birds of the Khasi Hills hepens a stark warning against the willful neglect and destruction of the natural world. It is only by safeguarding the forest’s wealth, he says, can we truly claim to love our land.
Needless to say I do not question or doubt Bah So’s integrity as I do the government’s. This is because Bah So is not into mere ‘showcasing’. Unlike those in power he does not just talk about ‘cultural and natural resources’ and ‘biodiversity hotspots’ he chronicles and explains them underscoring the critical significance of preserving this great museum of diversity that is our homeland. He marvels but not with anyintention to exploit but simply to encourage respect, and all his work has been carried out without any fanfare. Work like his is of extreme importance and should be given due and urgent recognition. Itdeeply concerns me that most of the people he acknowledges as sources of information, are no longer alive. So had it not been for Bah So their wisdom would have died with them. What more proof do we need to grasp the tenuous nature of our disappearing world?
As Meghalaya teeters on the brink as she has done for so many years, we need to think clearly about a radical change. It has been patently clear for decades that the old guard does not care and the electorate must learn to live without them. You can only do this by asking yourself the most probing and uncomfortable questions such as why do I elect this person to represent me? Does s/he have a vision for the whole state or does s/he not look beyond the comfort of his or her own zone? The people you elect will not only reflect the answers to your questions but more importantly will tell you a great deal about yourself. Are you willing and happy to then live in peace with the self you see in front of you? Be true to yourself and your representatives will be true to you.
The old nudge-nudge-wink-wink style of functioning has got to be recognized as morally polluting trash and accordingly dealt with. Then maybe grassroots Meghalaya might have a look in. Maybe the Bah Sos of this world will receive the patronage they deserve. Maybe the selfless, inclusive initiative of the Kali Kit Kotproject will receive a boost. Maybe there will be a shift in focus from the money-haloed capital to the quiet corners of villages. Maybe our trees will not be stripped of wild orchids as a desperate means to earn a living. Maybe the majesty of our pines will be evoked and the grace of the utilitarian bamboo cherished. Maybe artists, weavers, cane and wood workers will be recognized as repositories of ancient skills in their own right instead of being trotted out from time to time by an administration keen to show the rest of the world it is so in touch with its own culture.
Forget the clamour
That trademark of festivals
Move away from the din
Making us deaf to the pain
Of a long-suffering land
Pause look listen
Perchance you will stumble
Upon some quiet delight
And like the ancient haiku master
You will catch your breath
To softly wonder
Violets
how precious on
a mountain path
(Basho)