By HH Mohrmen
It is a proud moment for Meghalaya when the Lakadong turmeric, the pride of the State, received the Geographical Indication tag. As a concerned citizen of the Jaintia region of the State, this scribe has been following and raising questions about Lakadong’s legal entity for many decades. In March 2021, in this same column, the issue was raised again. At that time, the challenges cited by the concerned officials were related to the name of the plant. They mentioned the difficulty of tracing the origin of the crop due to two villages in the West Jaintia hills sharing the same name. In a recent meeting, Comingone Ymbon, Cabinet Minister, and MLA of Shangpung, stated that Lakadong in Shangpung means male earring. Despite the controversy, this long-overdue news comes as a pleasant surprise. It is also heartening that along with Lakadong turmeric, Garo Dakmanda (traditional dress), Larnai pottery, and Garo Chubitchi (alcoholic beverage) were also awarded the GI tag.
Our strength is what we have, and it is ours too
Lately, the Government and its people have shown a penchant for things from outside; things foreign or belonging to others. We have festivals named after plants brought from outside the State or even the country. However, plants like ‘Tiew rakot/Syntu tymmoh phare’ – the pitcher plant, different varieties of orchids, Latuthing/Latuthiñ rhododendron arboreum, and others, which are exotic and endemic to the region, have not been considered by the Government. These flowers are not only special to the area, but they are also very beautiful and much more attractive than other flowers, with a close connection to the people of the area.
Forgetting our Local Ale
Our fascination with foreign things is also evident when the Government enthusiastically promotes winemaking from local fruits, which is praiseworthy. Unfortunately, rice beer “Sadhiar and Yndem,” a traditional beverage made from the fermentation of rice, is forgotten by the Government. Despite its significance in certain religious rites, which people still perform today, and its use in indigenous religious rituals, the making of this ale is considered illegal except during festivals. If winemaking is promoted, it is high time that the Government also promotes the production of local rice beer and helps improve its production.
Ignoring Local
Mushrooms
The Government should also be commended for promoting the growing of shiitake mushrooms, which has been practiced in Japan since time immemorial. However, it is not yet known how many farmers have benefited from this initiative. There are more than 20 varieties of wild mushrooms in the State, and farmers also cultivate button and oyster mushrooms. However, the government has not done much to promote these mushrooms. It is surprising that, although button mushrooms are more profitable, only the cultivation of oyster mushrooms, and not button mushrooms, is popular in the region. The question is, why is the Government ignoring these important delicacies that grow abundantly in the State? There is one variety of mushroom in the region similar to Shiitake. In fact, the same process can be used with Tit tung, which grows on tree trunks. Any farmer will know that Tit-tung grows on the trunk of ‘dien sniñ,’ and in some places, if they find a tree trunk with mushrooms still growing on it, they will bring it home and keep it in the bathroom where it is wet and damp – conditions favorable for the mushroom to grow thereby enabling them to have a regular supply of mushrooms. Copying from the process of growing Shiitake mushrooms, the Government through the horticulture department only needs to do a simple study and then promote the same process among farmers. It is time for the Government to look into this process, which is already a tradition in some areas of Meghalaya and make it available for the farmers.
NCERT books and
children’s disconnection from their roots
One crucial news item that appeared in the media last week was regarding the issue of prescribing NCERT books for schools in the state. Former Chief Minister of the State Dr. Mukul Sangma raised this pertinent question about adopting NCERT-prescribed textbooks in their entirety without considering the local context. It is easy to copy-paste from available sources than to take the trouble to come up with what is relevant for the kids. However, in the process, we are denying the future the opportunity to know about their roots. When one does not want to scratch one’s head and work hard to make indigenous knowledge available for the children to learn from, learning becomes less interesting for the kids because they will not be able to connect with the lessons offered in the textbook.
The Planning Department of the District Administration of West Jaintia Hills District recently organized a winter camp for students in the district. The camp was aptly called “Spectrum of Life: The Future is yours to Decide.” In one of the many sessions that this scribe shared with the youth, when asked during the interaction how many students in the hall knew the names of the different birds endemic to the forests in their neighbourhood, none of the kids raised their hands. Meghalaya, along with the other seven sisters of Northeast India, is considered part of the Biodiversity hotspot. Unfortunately, we don’t even know the names of the birds present in our own localities. In one of the interactions we had with the teachers of a few schools in the Sohra region, we found that one reason our kids do not connect with what they were taught in schools is because of the kind of teaching materials provided to the schools. It was found that there is a knowledge gap among the children regarding their understanding of local knowledge. The students are now distancing themselves from their roots, and it is all because of the kind of textbooks used in their schools. In the NCERT-prescribed textbook, in the lesson about the trees, the kids were taught about trees found in the plains areas and not those popular in their neighbourhood. Similarly, because the books were designed for use in the entire country, there is no scope for incorporating the learning of local knowledge.
Textbooks should help bridge the knowledge gap
The prescribed textbooks may follow the NCERT pattern, but it is mandatory that local knowledge is incorporated into the text. If we use only NCERT books for schools from class 1 to 10, then the gap of knowing local knowledge will continue to widen. Besides, the NEP 2020 also provides ample scope for incorporating indigenous or local knowledge into the syllabus. Considering the importance of inculcating love for indigenous knowledge and culture among the future citizens of the State, it is crucial that the state education department ensures the inclusion of lessons on indigenous knowledge in the syllabus especially in the lower classes.
Showcasing indigenous knowledge and food systems
A friend once told me that when he asked his son the question, “Where do we get rice from?” he was shocked to hear the answer from his son, who said, “From the shop.” Obviously, the answer is not only wrong, but it also exposes the lack of knowledge about our food system among our young people. The different food systems depending on where they are grown are in the region are paddy, bun, jhum field, home garden, plantations, and forests. The indigenous people get their food not only from the paddy fields but also from the other systems, including the forest. Our food system has stood by us since time immemorial, and it is essential that we protect and promote the system.
The MDA Government now has the opportunity to host a mega event where indigenous people from across the globe will meet at Shillong. The event, planned to be held by the end of next year, is expecting favourable consideration and support from the State Government. The event also aims to showcase the strength of the indigenous food system, which has not only survived the test of time but can also show to the world how indigenous food systems can be a game changer and help solve the food problems of the world. The event will no doubt also help show to the world the unique culture and identity of the people of Meghalaya. The question is who are we, if it is not for our unique identity? We are what we are because of our culture and identity.