Editor,
I’m not sure if Michael Syiem read the article I wrote nearly two weeks ago. My intention was not to demoralize him and throw mud at him but rather to give constructive criticisms to his noble intentions. I’m on the same page with him on many burning issues crippling a microscopic community like ours but I differ with him on the means and methods to attain those goals. I don’t have anything against the khun khatduh (youngest daughter); in fact I can’t help falling in love with them. Almost all the girls I’ve fallen in love in the past have been khun khatduhs and I might even end up marrying one; who knows what the future holds. But it is completely outrageous in this day and age if some parents who possess wealth stick to the status quo and give all the wealth to one person – the youngest daughter! Such parents should hang their heads in shame and take a hard look at themselves in the mirror! But it is equally outrageous if a law on equitable distribution of income is implemented. Suspicious minds will rule our hearts and disgruntlement will tear the family structure to shreds and the family as the basic building block of society will crumble and our society will be completely shattered.
And this takes me back almost 2000 years ago to a parable about the prodigal son that Jesus Christ told to demonstrate the love that the father has for his children. When Jesus told this story, he would have definitely taken into account the prevailing social norms and customs in the promised land at that time. The father as the head of the family has the final word on a family’s decision making. It was a double whammy for the elder son when firstly the father yielded to the unreasonable demand of the younger son and gave him his share of the inheritance and secondly when he returned home empty handed without a single penny in his pocket, the father accepted him again to the family fold with open arms. This initially incensed the elder brother who felt that he was unfairly treated but he later saw reason and accepted the father’s decision to hand his younger brother a second chance at redemption. Who knows what would have happened had a law on inheritance existed back then! The elder son might have taken offence at the decision of the father and he might have challenged his decision in a court of law since accepting the younger son to the family again after he squandered his share of inheritance would have meant that he would partake of the fruits of his labour and receive his share of inheritance again and the parable of the prodigal son will not hold water in such a in such a scenario.
Family decision making is all about mutual understanding and love should be the cornerstone stone of the family. As far as Khasi society is concerned, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the law of inheritance. I remember a wealthy college friend from Mairang telling me that his mother had already allocated a share of the family wealth to him. It was a pleasant surprise to hear of the changing mindsets even in rural areas. Khasi society is changing gradually and the walls of resistance to change are slowly tumbling down. Let the winds of change blowing and touching our hearts be the agent of change rather than letting a forceful storm rip our society.
Yours etc.,
Gary Marbaniang,
Via email
Delay in issuing Domicile Certificate
Editor,
I was selected to join the Army in the just concluded Recruitment Rally held in Tura and had applied for Domicile Certificate as it is required by the Army for joining the said job. It is now more than three months from the date of application (via online mode as I was told it would take just two weeks) in the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Nongpoh but I am yet to get the Certificate. When I enquired from the staff about it, their answers were ambiguous and they made me come to the office repeatedly. I have to submit all my documents before September 11, 2018 but I am yet to get my Domicile Certificate. I request the Deputy Commissioner to please issue the said Certificate at the earliest. Besides, I am not the only one as there are many youths from Ri Bhoi who are suffering the same plight as I am. This concerns our future so please don’t play with it. I also request the pressure groups, NGOs and intellectuals who fight and write about saving the Jaitbynriew to take up such issues too.
Yours etc.,
Euegene Wilfred Syngkli,
Umsning Ribhoi District