Strong objection to tribal surnames being taken by outsiders

TURA: A strong objection has been raised by the Garoland State Movement Committee over the manner in which non-tribals are taking Garo tribal titles to take advantage of the benefits and also violating a Supreme Court of India ruling that bars other castes and communities from taking up tribal surnames.

The Garoland committee has stated that there are several instances in which non-tribals have changed their surnames to Sangma, Arengh, Shira, Marak and Momin despite being aware of its illegality.

The committee pointed out one such instance in South West Garo Hills district wherein one Hori Das, a resident of Betasing changed his name and surname to Horidas D Sangma through an affidavit sworn before a 1^st class magistrate in the year 2014.

The Garoland committee has termed the decision of the magistrate to allow a non-tribal to get bestowed with a tribal surname as nothing short of court contempt.

“This is against the customary law and practices of our tribe and Supreme Court Judgment which states that ‘caste decided by birth, can’t be changed by marriage’. This is crystal clear and there cannot be any dispute that the caste is determined by birth and cannot be alterable by any means,” stated the Garoland movement committee.

It added that the affidavit was executed with the deliberate connivance of an “incompetent” 1^st Class Magistrate that clearly attracted the Contempt of Court.

“Such sinful and deliberate acts of irresponsible officers are threatening the survival and the future existence of the indigenous tribes of the region. We seek the immediate revocation of the order and to book the magistrate, advocate and other officers involved under the appropriate sections of law,” demanded the organization.

It may be mentioned that there are dozens of such instances of tribal names being taken by non-tribals in the plains belt region of West Garo Hills and even as far and remote as Baghmara in South Garo Hills.

In many cases local tribals have also been found conniving with outsiders in getting their names changed. This mostly takes place in areas with a mixed tribal and non-tribal population as well as in inter-community marriages.