Editor,
The defeat of the NPP candidate in the recent election in Sohiong constituency is unprecedented because it not often than the candidate of the ruling party in a majority loses in a deferred or by-election. The NPP has used all its might and tricks-comedy, intimidation, etc. but failed. The message is clear. NPP combined with poor quality of its candidates does not enjoy the confidence of the majority of people, certainty not in Khasi Hills. Their leaders have displayed over-confidence and used the tone of intimidation during their election campaign in the entire constituency and people taught them a befitting lesson. Public wisdom cannot be taken for granted and when public decides, all calculations of the political parties will fail. It is indeed a warning sign for MDA-2 government led by NPP not to take the public for a ride. A case in point is also the inordinate delay in the discussion on roster system and the review of the State Reservation Policy as demanded by Voice of the People Party (VPP) and others. Although the Cabinet has discussed the Roster System on the May 17 and will be discussing it again in the All-Party Meeting slated for the May 19, the crisis is far from over. The movement against the retrospective implementation of the Roster System and for the review of the State Reservation Policy of 1972, led by VPP is gaining momentum. I do hope that the government will take timely and appropriate decision and not wait for the movement to take on epic proportions and blow into a full scale public anger, particularly in Khasi and Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi areas as it is going to be detrimental to the peace and tranquility in the State.
The Roster System is not rocket science and can be made comprehensible in tabular form. Starting from May 26, 2022, the day the Roster System was notified in the Gazette of Meghalaya, a brand new and fresh model roster of 100/200/500/etc. points (each point representing a post) showing the points to be reserved for different categories to be appointed by direct recruitment to posts and services in the State of Meghalaya for all future posts and not retrospectively. Point 1 (1st vacant post) can start with the reserved or unreserved category followed by point 2 (2nd vacant post) and so on based on the Reservation Policy under implementation. Similarly, it can be done for promotions. I wish and pray that our elected representatives are well-prepared so that no one can take them for a ride.
While the demand of VPP and others to stop all appointments pending the correction in the date of implementation of the new Roster System is justified, it is equally important that any loss of posts under Khasi-Jaintia quota owing to faulty implementation of the Roster System retrospectively ‘starting May 10 (Date of Office Memorandum) or 26 (Date of notification in the Gazette of Meghalaya) 2022 till date’ have to be proportionately compensated in all future recruitments as per the roster to be made prospectively.
Dear elected representatives, particularly of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi areas, the future of majority of the youths of Meghalaya is in your hands. Beware, this is not 1972 and we are watching!
Yours etc.
Prof. Lakhon Kma
Shillong-4
On using the clan name
Editor,
It is disheartening to be in this current situation of despotism (jem rngiew) when the people who claim to be the “redeemers of the jait bynriew” are abusing and pushing the very same jait bynriew to the brink of chaos. Human these days give utmost value to vintage stuff while flushing down the drain the traditional values which forms our collective identity as a “race”.
“The Hynñiew Trep People” are a privileged race that still thrives in spite of the challenges that it had to endure from without and from within. Our matrilineal tradition is an inherent part of our existence and a Khasi is considered a Khasi because he/she adheres by the matrilineal system; or we may simply say KHASI=MATRILINEAL; else we will not be different from the other tribals in the North East etc., who follow the Patrilineal/Patriarchal System.
When one steers away from the above it only signifies one’s disrespect and disregard for his own clan and tradition. It further indicates the wilful desire of such a person to jump out of the ambit of the matrilineal tradition on the pretext of free choice or modernity or discarding tradition for religious reasons which is unacceptable. There are those who shun traditions because of religion and this is a matter of concern.
A race is identified by the food habit, the attire, the language, the culture, the unique system of kinship and the geographical location etc. Devoid of these characteristics a person morally disqualifies himself/herself of his/her ethnicity. We must not deviate from our roots; as the famous saying goes “Think globally act locally”.
Fortunately now we have an act of law that bars any action that overturns these traditions. Certain individuals in our jaitbynriew behave as divine messengers and feebly justify such acts as though they were inspired by the divine and their ancestors (u Thawlang & ka Ïawbei).
It is doubtful if those individuals were permitted by the concerned Dorbar Kur to impose their clan’s name on their offsprings. If consent were given by any member of the Kur it might have been done individually and not by the agreement of the Dorbar Kur(s).
No Khasi man has the mandate nor the moral right to impose the clan’s name on their offsprings. The clan’s name belong to the clan and it is not transferable to anyone outside of the clan at any cost.
We must salute the champions the Lineage Act 1997. Had they not been far-sighted by now we would have been trampled upon by the empty vessels that make much noise.c
Lately we rarely hear of the religious practices of interring the bones of the deceased at designated “Mawshyieng(s)” of the specific clans which is now followed only by a few from the indigenous faiths. Had these happened in the past the mortal remains (bones) of the ones who violate any of the above might even be denied a place at such Mawshyieng(s).
I earnestly urge upon the “Kur(s)” of the Bri u Hynñiew Trep not to condone such acts that will adulterate the entire ethos of our Matrilineal System.
On the side lines, I further urge upon the Kur(s) to shoulder upon themselves the responsibility to correct the wrongs done in the past with regards to the proper spelling of their Clan names and other similar things for such fancy endeavours might mislead the future generation.
Yours etc.,
Pyngrope,
Shillong -6