By Rudi Warjri
Lately, there has been a stimulating discourse in this newspaper about the institution of Rangbah Shnong (RS) and Dorbar Shnong(DS). Scholarly articles and commentaries have been written by Fabian Lyngdoh , Aristotle Lyngdoh , Toki Blah, Erwin Sutnga and the numerous editorials in this newspaper itself . I have also listened to a good number of serving as well as past serving enlightened RS’s like P D Nongrum , Bruce Sawkmie and others. I now have a better understanding about the subject; its origin; its evolution and more importantly its current validity and utility as an institution. It has become even more compelling for me to write because of my own harrowing experience regarding the RS and DS .
I had just returned from abroad and I was staying in my own house which is located on a slope (downhill). Every day the residents on the uphill would release their septic tank and we would be bombarded with all the feotid. Another neighbour also suffered the same. We submitted a written complaint to the RS. Nothing happened. We then decided to construct a house on the uphill where we are residing now. I enquired about the necessary permissions. I was told that for non-municipal, urban areas one could get it from the RS . I met the RS . He advised and said “no problem, just do it.” I thought what a wonderful idea! This is so unlike the rest of the world where prescribed regulations had to be adhered to.
On completion, I shifted to the new house. And lo and behold, every morning , I would get the foetid from all directions of the residences around. I realized that the “no problem to construct,” means among other things a free for all sub-standard construction of septic tanks without a filter or soak pit. While walking I would come across several stretches that would emit the foetid from septic tanks around. Helplessly, I thought it was better to follow the dictum, “what cannot be cured must be endured.” I hope the new building regulations under KHADC would streamline the construction quality and is not just another layer of authority and red tapism for the public to endure.
Few years back a massive road repair work was going on near my house. The workers inadvertently damaged the big water pipe of the Shnong which had been in place decades ago. Water was flooding everywhere on the road while residents around were without water. It went on for 2-3 days and the Shnong didn’t have the wherewithal to act on it. I decided to approach the then Principal Secretary , PHE , Meghalaya Government. His reply was that the water pipe belonged to the Shnong. I said, “correct,” but the Shnong couldn’t do anything and we the residents were suffering. Finally , he sent the Executive Engineer who fixed the problem.
Next comes my experience in rural areas. We bought some land in Ri Bhoi district while we were abroad. On our return back to base – in this case, home, I decided to do some farming. I started by planting some fruit saplings and naturally to plant something, anything one has to dig the earth. Suddenly the neighbouring farmers landed at the place and told us that that, that part of the land belonged to them. Natrally we took the only route open to us which is to take the matter to the RS since our land documents were issued by him. A joint meeting was held. Documents were presented. The documents produced by the other claimants were issued by the Sirdar on the same portion of land. The RS admitted his helplessness and advised us to take the matter to the Syiem or the District Council. We were told later that the practice of selling the same land to different people was quite prevalent. In short, cheating was tolerated by the Dorbar Shnong! My family contemplated the misfortune for a while including the option of going for litigation. Then I realized that litigation would also mean not having access to our land at all and God only knows when the litigation would end. So I decided to approach the other claimants . I requested them to show me the part of the land which belonged to them. We did a tour and there were markers which gave some authenticity about their claim. I calculated roughly the loss to us which was minimal compared to the entire land owned by us. I offered a compromise that they would give us access to our land through their property in lieu of their claims. They agreed. Where on earth can two authorities issue documents on the same piece of land? I am of the firm view that no cadastral survey means no development in the modern sense will ever happen in Meghalaya .
These empirical stories illustrate the limitations of the capacity of the RS and the DS as well as the systemic institutional ambiguity open to abuse. I also profusely acknowledge the voluntary services rendered by them with regard to day to day requirements like proof of residence certificate , assistance during deaths and natural calamities, their exemplary role during the Covid pandemic, etc .
Amazingly, one industry which flourishes abundantly in Meghalaya, is the pressure group industry. Related to the RS and DS is the Synjuk Ki Nonsynshar Shnong Ka Bri Hynniewtrep (SNSBH). Over half a century ago my late grandfather was a RS. All I heard was that he was a Nongtrei Shnong (Worker) of the Shnong. Now I read about Nongsynshar. To my limited knowledge of Khasi and English, Nongsynshar means a Ruler. My understanding has always been that even the Syiem is considered as the Traditional Chief or the Custodian and not a Ruler or even worse a ‘King’ as some people tend to now equate the Syiem to.
Respected SNSBH, agreed you want to assume the role of a ruler. Fine, but also do not assert your only authority for authority’s sake bordering on being authoritarian but also allow yourselves to be held accountable. That implies transforming the RS and DS into dynamic grassroots institutions and truly community driven ones. Its time to break away from discriminatory anachronisms such as allowing only male members to be RS or only some clan (Jait) to be RS or excluding non-tribals born and bred for generations to be part of the Dorbar. It’s time to be ready for democratization and constitutional changes modelled on the Panchayats. The benefits include regular funding and budgeting including remuneration. State Government and ADCs should also stop being disingenuous and treating the RS and DS like a football. Do your part about clear cut responsibilities, roles, accountability mechanisms, governance structure of the RS and DS etc. This will enable them to be more effective on issues like waste management and environment conservation, revenue generating issues like tourism and later even stretch that to deeper issues like health and education. The target should be to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) enunciated by the United Nations and the Government of India.
About the paramount importance of institutions, three academic luminaries received the 2024 Nobel Prize for Economics. They were awarded for their work on the theme “ How institutions are formed and affect prosperity.” The importance of societal institutions for a country’s prosperity cannot be over-emphasized. The academics have cogently argued that inclusive institutions drive prosperity and also how extractive institutions lead to poverty. They have also analyzed that the persistence of institutions – in this case their continuance beyond a point – merely for the sake of persistence can also lead to poverty. This should make us sit and think through issues concerning traditional institutions in a world that requires modern governance models.
(The writer is former diplomat)