Tura, Jan 25: Residents of Bonepa A’tilla in Tura under the aegis of the Bonepa Vigilance and Development Committee have clarified on the mural, depicting a Garo warrior beheading his victim, which was among many others, put up by the locality as beautification, as part of the recent Meghalaya Day celebration, a captioned photo of which was published in this paper.
The residents argued that the captioned photo, depicting the ancient headhunting practice of the Garos, was merely a portion of the artwork and unfair. According to the residents, the series of wall art depicted, traces the history of the Garos from ancient times to the attainment of Statehood.
“The Garos were a ferocious tribe who practiced headhunting during ancient times. It was only much later with gradual contact with other communities and settlement in villages, including their conversion to Christianity that the practice came to an end,” the residents said with special reference to the mural in question.
The beatification art works also included murals of Late Mody K Marak, Captain Williamson A Sangma and Sandford K Marak-who were all part of the Hill State Movement.
According to the residents the beautification artwork was made not with intent to hurt anybody’s sentiment but with the desire to share with others the historical relevance of the locality.
Giving the significance of the locality name-Bonepa A’tilla, the residents said that it was named after the grand Council held on the grounds of a powerful Chief, Bonepa. The residents basing on Garo Mythology pointed out that it was in this grand council that a resolution was taken to follow the matrilineal system, which continues to this day.