By Albert Thyrniang
On October 1 all roads led to Ummulong, West Jaintia Hills. The episcopal ordination of Bishop Ferdinand Dkhar, new bishop of Jowai diocese took place in the town 15 km from the ecclesiastical seat. Appointed on July 8 last the prelate’s consecration and installation was impressive. At least 15 bishops were present. Priests, religious and thousands of the faithful flocked to the venue by the thousands. Modern technology of live telecasts, giant screens and drones enhanced the ceremony. Had it not been for the heavy showers the day would have been more remarkable.
The 61 year old takes charge of the diocese that had been lying vacant since December 28, 2020. Comprising of the two districts, East and West Jaintia Hills, with an area of 3,819 square km, the Longkaluh born clergy is now head of the 1,20,275 Catholics in 23 parishes. He will oversee the efforts of the church in education, healthcare, social works among others.
While travelling to and from the function this writer passed through Khanduli which is under dispute with Assam. The day after the ordination I had plans to visit Narpuh, the cement plants and Khliehriat, the hub of coal mining. However, the pathetic highway forced the cancellation. This brings us to the issues of Jaintia hills vis-à-vis the church’s response.
First of all, the border dispute! In Jaintia Hills the row is in Block 2. The unresolved differences ever since Meghalaya was carved out from Assam have come up again and again. The most recent incident was in Lapangap. Social media shows the September 26 clash between the Karbi and Pnar villagers using arrows and bows and catapults against each other. Prior to it was the tension in Khanduli where agricultural sheds and huts were torched. This was met with retaliatory trade boycott by the other community. Provocative utterances were also made with one threatening of a ‘Manipur like situation.’ Less than a year ago, in Mukroh, six persons were killed in police firing. People in the border areas see a political hand in the on and off skirmishes. They are clear that the clashes are instigated by politicians who take credit and political gain for ‘solving the border dispute.’ They observe that devoid of political interests different communities live peacefully along the border. A few days ago a video of a person went viral when he said that he hates the two chief ministers of the two states for turning the two communities into enemies.
The Church may not take active part in the efforts to resolve the long pending thorny issue. Its leaders may not express which villages should fall where. But certainly the leadership can stand for the people wherever they are. It is not necessary that all Khasi and Garo settlements should be in Meghalaya. Similarly all Karbis need not be in Karbi Anglong. In fact many Karbi villages are in Ri Bhoi district. This writer has attended functions at Marmain, Ri Bhoi and Mynser, West Karbi Anglong. The inhabitants (Karbis) in Marmain speak impeccable Khasi. The language in Church and in schools is Khasi. On the other hand, the Mynser residents (Pnar) speak the lingua franca of Karbi Anglong. The songs and prayers are in Karbi. The Church should equally work for all ethnic minorities and boldly speak for their rights. In Karbi Anglong the Khasi community has been demanding for nomination of a member of their community to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC). They feel that they are large enough (about 12,000 voters) to be considered but so far there has been a ‘no’ reply. As a result a feeling of neglect and alienation prevails. The Karbis in Meghalaya too should not be made to feel the same.
The coal and limestone mining, the cement and coke factories have damaged Jaintia Hills. The Church has hardly spoken against rat hole mining (legal and illegal) and the grave dangers of rampant mining of coal and limestone and the polluting factories. Coke factories were demolished because of the activism of concerned citizens. So too with rat hole mining! Even when illegal mining continues unabated the Church voiced no concern. Pleasing to the ears of illegal miners, the chief minister, Conrad Sangma has said that illegal activities cannot be completely stopped. If we read between the lines he actually means, ‘we will not make an all-out effort to stop illegal mining.’ The Church will not join issues with the CM because he and all ministers and politicians are friends of the institution. When the CM posts on his media handles with photographs, ‘Pleased to receive blessing from the new bishop,’ we know the limits that Church leaders operate under.
One can clearly see an imbalance between West and East Jaintia Hills. The West is more developed though all the minerals are in the East. The highway in East Jaintia Hills has turned into ‘paddy fields and fish ponds.’ But since the highway is the centre’s responsibility perhaps the blame cannot be attributed to the State Government. However, the state’s roads, schools, colleges, medical facilities, water supply, electricity, etc., are better in the older district. The church has never been outspoken against denial of the basic amenities to ordinary citizens particular in more neglected and remote sectors.
Recently there was (still persisting) the Sanatana Dharma controversy in Tamil Nadu and the whole country. DMK’s Udhayanidhi Stalin called for the abolition of Sanatana Dharma. For Stalin and the ‘vast majority’ in the state Sanatana Dharma merely means ‘a caste hierarchical society’ and hence it is justified to call for its annihilation. The Church too is highly hierarchical. No one is asking for its demolition. Even Pope Francis declared that the Synodal Church (participative Church) should be within the hierarchical structure. So the hierarchy in the Church will be there but at least the mentality can be changed. Bishops can be more simple, more approachable and more ‘one’ with the faithful. The theme for the Synod 2020-24 says that faithful and bishops journey together. The bishops don’t go before the faithful.
The titles given to Church officials are contrary to the above concept. ‘Holiness’, ‘Excellency’, ‘Eminence’, ‘Grace’, ‘Most Reverend’, ‘Lordship’ ‘Very Reverend’, ‘Reverend’ are titles that convey that Church leaders are higher, mightier and better than the ordinary folks. Did Jesus institute these titles? Is He for such honours? Common Christians are holier than the Church leaders.
Bishops also don costumes like the mitre, the skullcap, the slash and hold the staff. The Eastern Orthodox, the Byzantine, the Syro – Malankara and other traditions have even more elaborate vestments for their bishops. These gears and vestments portray the kingly status of bishops. A late archbishop was never fond of these decorative and functional vestments. He used to tell those who liked and disliked his simple lifestyle, “When I am in a cassock people wish me ‘Khublei bishop’, when I am in shirt and pants they greet me ‘Khublei bishop’ and when I am with the mitre on my head and the staff in my hand people also wish me ‘Khublei bishop’. There is no difference. He also explained that the symbols are drawn from other cultures and traditions. “Nothing is ours,” he stated. We may also add that the architecture of churches is mainly from abroad or elsewhere. Inculturation still has a long way to go.
Quite a few parents have expressed to this writer that their sons are denied recommendation letters by the parish priests when they desire to join religious orders. They would endorse only if boys wish to join a diocese. In Ummulong itself a lady informed me that her son had to go to a religious house without the mandatory letter. A religious priest narrated that the maximum number of boys who came for ‘vocation camp’ was from a parish where the parish priest refused to issue recommendation letters. If this is done then the very meaning of ‘vocation’ is not understood.
It is disheartening to hear that the girl and the boy from Marbisu who went missing a fortnight ago have been found dead. Parenting is the most difficult thing. The Church too has to be sensitive to young people. A policy on mobiles has to evolve. Both the boy and girl were students in a Church’s school. Schools have identical rules. Most rules are ‘don’ts’ One of them is ‘no mobile in the school campus’. Rules are needed but the rationale behind the rules should be explained to the students. The authorities, teachers and parents should appeal to reason. Reason is what makes humans different from animals. The blind imposition of rules is not helpful. School authorities and teachers now suddenly command ‘no mobile’ but a few months ago the gadget was a must. Students are confused. Sex education and relationships too have to be given importance. This subject is barely taught at school and rarely talked about at home. So boys and girls learn about them either from peers or elsewhere.
The Church can play a much better role in all spheres.