Meghalaya Together hosts a heart-to-heart talk in Shillong
By Our Special Correspondent
SHILLONG, Oct 22: Meghalaya Together, a one-year-old multicultural organistion embracing all communities in Shillong, organised a heart-to-heart conversation with Michael N Syiem, former president of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in 1979, a time when violence erupted in Meghalaya over the issue of illegal infiltration, influenced by the anti-foreigner movement in Assam.
The event was held at ‘Ka Rynsan,’ an eating joint in Laitumkhrah run by Hammarsing Kharhmar, with political activist Rev. Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh facilitating the discussion.
Affectionately known as “Bah Mike”, Michael Syiem reflected on the events of 1979. He shared how, as a young participant in the Hill State Movement, his sense of patriotism was ignited. At the time, it was instilled in their minds that the ‘dkhar’ (non-tribal) people were responsible for all the problems, and many believed that if the non-tribals left Meghalaya, the issues would be resolved. Syiem recalled his days at NEHU, where he was invited to various universities to speak on anti-migrant issues. He even visited Canberra, Australia, for the World Council of Indigenous Peoples, feeling strongly that the indigenous people of Meghalaya needed protection.
He reflected on the leadership of then-Chief Minister BB Lyngdoh and district administrators like VS Jafa, recalling that he and others spent time in jail. Some non-tribals, including Manik Das, who was later assassinated, and Bhaskar Choudhury, were also imprisoned.
In hindsight, Syiem acknowledged that non-tribals are not the root cause of Meghalaya’s problems.
Instead, he pointed to outdated traditions and systems that the community continues to cling to. He noted, “Less government is the best government, but we have too many institutions, all claiming to protect the jaidbynriew (community), yet we are getting nowhere.”
Syiem is also known for petitioning the High Court of Meghalaya to dissolve the District Councils, arguing that they had become redundant after Meghalaya attained statehood. However, the court ruled that the issue should be taken up with the Supreme Court, a step Syiem could not pursue due to financial constraints.
Syiem also recounted his involvement in advocating for the Right to Information (RTI) Act and the establishment of the Lokayukta. Despite his efforts, he lamented that the Lokayukta is now virtually defunct.
On his leadership of the Mait Shaphrang Movement, Syiem explained that the movement for the compulsory registration of marriages arose from the plight of women abandoned by their partners or husbands. Although the movement succeeded in making registration mandatory, many women remain resistant to the law, he said.
Syiem also commented on issues of reservation and the non-payment of income tax by tribals. “We have been protected for too long,” he remarked, explaining that he chose not to allow his children to avail of scholarships. He emphasised that the community should have set a timeframe for when it would be ready to compete equally with the rest of the world, while still assisting the economically disadvantaged.
The Mait Shaphrang Movement also advocates for the equal distribution of ancestral property among all children, regardless of gender. Syiem argued that economic empowerment strengthens society, but Khasi men face challenges securing bank loans due to the lack of collateral, as land is often in the women’s names. Syiem shared that his father willed him the bulk of his property after distributing shares to his sisters.
Syiem, known for organising street plays to promote the Mait Shaphrang agenda, acknowledged the limited impact of these efforts, which led him to stage performances on Doordarshan and at the Soso Tham Auditorium.
Following the discussion, the audience posed challenging questions, which Syiem answered candidly. When asked why non-tribals, now in their fifth or sixth generation in Meghalaya, continue to be targets of pressure groups, Syiem noted the small tribal population and the need to protect their land.
Another question raised was about the difficulty of expanding businesses in Meghalaya, leading some entrepreneurs to relocate to Guwahati, benefiting Assam’s economy instead. Syiem acknowledged this challenge but reiterated the importance of land protection for the tribal community.