By Albert Thyrniang
On April 16, this writer attended the episcopal ordination of Bishop Wilbert Marwein at Pyndengrei, Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills. It was a grand celebration graced by the Nuncio to India and Nepal, most bishops of North East India, hundreds of priests, nuns and joined by thousands of faithful, many of whom couldn’t reach as roads were blocked for several kilometres to the venue. The next day’s reception and thanksgiving Mass at Rangblang village (parish), his birth place was equally impressive. Nongstoin diocese finally has a shepherd after 7 years.
Much was spoken and written about the humble background of the newly installed prelate. This author is a neighbour, was a classmate and we grew up together in Rangblang – a village of Rangblang Sohsyniang in the 1970s and late 1980s. Separated by Dombithot hillock on which we used to play to our hearts’ content, the young Wilbert unfortunately lost his mother at the tender age of 8 so he and his seven brothers and a sister were brought up by their father. The future looked bleak. Along with other young boys of the village, tending to cows and goats was natural. After attending morning classes in Rangblang LP skul we would hurriedly walk to have our meal of maize (ja ‘riewhadem), millet (ja krai) and potato (ja phan), as per seasons. To provide taste was dry fish and local vegetables like ‘jatra’. All ‘cowboys’ would then take the herds to the favourite grazing spot Jerham. The valley created by Wah Jerhap (River Jerhap) was the most-loved because the cows and goats would be left practically free the whole day while the herders would engage in fishing, shooting birds and playing football. One of them was ‘Bahnah Bet’ who we could never imagine would one day become a bishop. Other pastures were Sohtyllang, Mawmit and Kseh i Meinah Hila. However, in these meadows we had to be constantly alert lest the cattle descended into paddy fields.
In LP school (1978-1983) our teachers were late Raphael Iawphniaw. an excellent Mathematics teacher and Christina Iawphniaw (now retired), a dedicated lady affectionately called ‘Meiduh Rit’ by one and all. She was there during the ordination and thanksgiving Mass, overjoyed at seeing her student now in charge of Nongstoin diocese. From these first two teachers, bishop Wilbert and the rest of us picked up lasting values of life.
After primary school, fortunately the Rangblang High School, then administered from Nongstoin was handed over to the Salesian priests and nuns in the early 1980s. The two storeyed St. Mary’s High school was built in record time. I entered high school (adjacent to the LP Skul) in 1983. ‘Bahnah Bet’ followed suit the next year. Our first Headmistress was Sr. Odilia Kharlukhi. Her successor Sr. Linda Hume, a person with unlimited energy, gave a double promotion to Wilbert in class V along with two others. Wilbert and his friends, like me learned to value education from the pioneering nuns and teachers like Elius Iawphniaw (Babu Elius), Jilius Thongni (Babu Jilius), Protasius (Babu Pro), Christopher Syiemlieh (Babu Kris) and others.
After school we would quickly get home to put away our uniform (sans shoes, tie and belt), take our tools and work in the farm (puh kper, puh ktieh, lang pali, puh phan, thung riew hadem, thew kynbat). Young Wilbert was one of the capable farmers. He had to do household chores too as his youngest and only sister was too little.
Like other boys in the village Wilbert loved football. His height and strong physique made him a formidable centre back. The attraction of football was at times irresistible. Every evening we would play the game at a temporary abandoned patch called ‘Kper Panah Lo’. We would take our pots to fetch water but stay on to play football well after dark. Our parents and elder siblings would shout and beckon us home. Wilbert’s house overlooks the playground. His father, ‘Nah Oswar; would often call his son in a deep voice, “Ho bet, ho bet ma eiwan noh” (Wilbert come back home). In school during breaks Wilbert was always one of the first to reach the playground with the ball. Every Sunday, after church service, he was in Madan Sohtyllang (Sohtyllang playground) along with his friends.
In Rangblang on April 17, I requested my old pal for a short interview of 10 minutes. My questions were (1) What are the strengths of the diocese (2) what are the weaknesses (challenges) in the diocese. Unfortunately, the jam packed programme made it impossible to squeeze in even the few minutes. Unable to hear from the newly installed bishop let me venture to answer the queries.
As referred earlier many a faithful could not witness the ordination and installation due to traffic jams. Nongstoin diocese consists of the three districts of West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and Eastern West Khasi Hills. Before the birth of South West Khasi Hills in 2012 and Eastern West Khasi Hills in 2021, West Khasi Hills was the largest of all the seven districts in Meghalaya. With the territory, there is also a large population of Christians. This is a positive for the new bishop. He has a huge following. He is in a respected position. It is expected that the ‘minister’ would provide good leadership in the western part of Khasi Hills.
The diocese is blessed with natural beauty. All those who drive through the Shillong-Tura route via Nongstoin are enthralled by the enchanting grassy hillocks. There are some well-known spots like the Ranikor bridge, Jakrem Hot Spring, Kynshi River island and Ri Lang View Point. Known towns are basically the district headquarters, Nongstoin, Mawkyrwat and Mairang.
The traffic snarl on that D-Day meant that many more people today are car owners. We can see that the thousands of vehicles are largely family vehicles. There were hardly any buses. The chief minister, the MP, the local MLAs were first hand witnesses. Earlier for religious assemblies only buses were used. Now with the ever growing number of car buyers long traffic jams have become a regular occurrence. We see these whenever and wherever there is a ‘Jingiaseng Synod’. The reason for traffic jams in Shillong city is precisely this. Too many families drop their children to school in private cars and too many individuals drive their own vehicles bidding goodbye to public transport services. The roads have remained the same for ages while the number of vehicles has multiplied multiple times over.
Speaking of Nongstoin diocese the number of vehicles might have grown but the condition of the roads have worsened. Long stretches of the Shillong-Tura highway pass through the area but other than this two-lane road, nothing is worth mentioning. The construction of the Maweit-Nongstoin, Nongstoin-Wahkaji, Nongstoin-Kyrshai and Sonaparhar-Boko roads are going on but other than these there is hardly any significant development. There are still many villages in the three districts unconnected by road. Many villages are cut off because there is no bridge across rivers. Also, vehicles might have come into many homes but houses in Lyngngam, Langrin and in areas bordering Assam still have thatched roofs. Poverty persists in the midst of apparent economic improvement.
Tourism is still at a nascent stage due to poor connectivity and non-existent infrastructure. Other than the aforementioned tourist spots, the rest are obscure to the outside world. Recently a film-maker urged the government to convert the proposed intermediate road to Mawkyrwat into a national high way for the sake of tourism in the area. People like him said nothing when the two-lane Nongstoin-Ranikor road was cancelled. Film-makers and pressure groups know very well the enchanting beauty of Myriom, Umdohlun, Wahkaji and Phlangdiloin through which the highway would pass. Kyllalongskun, Langpuin, Kubah and Kubuit hills are equally breath-taking as any other fascinating tourist attraction. It could be a film-makers paradise but no one wants development to go beyond Mawkyrwat merely because uranium deposits are located in some of the above areas.
On the day of the ordination, after the solemn function, I tried to upload a video but undue heavy traffic ensured that the internet service crashed. It took five hours to finally be restored. That day might have been an exception but otherwise also the network in Pyndengrei and Nongstoin town is not great. Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma who was there from the previous evening might have noticed the sluggish internet link. If in a district capital the internet connection is so poor what avenues is the government offering to the youth?
Politicians and church officials felt the heat on that day. Yes, global climate change has affected the once cool Khasi Hills but the reason is also because the forest cover is fast depleting. Nongstoin diocese is the worst victim due to the unchecked and rampant deforestation for timber and charcoal.
There are many more challenges. Hope the relatively young bishop provides all-round, dynamic leadership.