By Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh
Ecclesiastes once said, “Is there a thing of which is said, ‘see this is new?’ It has already been in the ages before us.” These words remind us of a timeless truth about the cycle of life and the human experience. No doubt, there are certain aspects of life which remain unchanged, but each year brings new experiences, perspectives, opportunities for growth, besides anxieties and fears as we tread into the unknown. As we begin the new year, let us re-enforce our core values and beliefs in the “Kamai ia ka hok” (to earn through just/righteous and fair means) and “ka tip briew, ka tip blei” (to respect fellow humans and to acknowledge the fact that every being, whether human or non-human, is equal and possesses inherent divinity).
Repetitiveness
Versus New:
Since the days of my theological formation, about a quarter of century ago, I am still being challenged by S J Samartha’s public sermon. He was a renowned Indian Christian Theologian, where he addressed the pertinent question of what is repetitive and what is new in the human cycle of life? Delivering his timeless message to the students of Bishop Cotton Girls’ School, Bangalore way back in 1981, S. J Samartha rightly pointed out that, “Repetitiveness has a place in human life. Most creative acts of life that sustain our being are indeed repetitive. What is familiar looks safe and comfortable. Repetitive actions provide continuity, stability and opportunities for growth in our personal lives or in our institutional existence. Tradition has an important place in human life because it provides us with the foundation without which life would lose its sense of direction and orderliness.” At the same time S. J Samartha put out a counter argument towards repetitiveness and tradition. He said all traditions have a tendency to become hard and they resist change. New ideas or suggestions find no place in Conservativism or amongst the traditionalists. New ideas get rejected in the name of tradition, sometimes brushed aside by authoritarian bulldozers. He further argued that old institutions, outmoded slogans and meaningless rituals or practices leave no room for the green grass to emerge from the concrete tradition.
As against the old, the Christian Bible in the New Testament propounds the idea of a new creation-that the old has passed away and behold the new has come. This idea aims at giving people the assurance and hope of a new beginning. However, I concur with S. J Samartha that there are resources in the faiths of our neighbours as well that can provide us with the same hope and assurance. In the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society within our State and Nation, it is sinful and irresponsible to believe that only one religion has the resources to contribute to the emergence of the new.
The Biblical idea of a new creation is manifested through the life and works of Jesus Christ, one of the great teachers, which the Palestinian or Arab-Jewish society had ever produced. He did not outrightly reject the old, rather the idea of a new creation is about transforming lives, challenging established structures, changing directions and planting small and creative communities. (S. J Samartha). To quote a few of Jesus’ teachings which can usher in radical changes in society- “You have heard that it was said you must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies. And the second greatest commandment is, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me…When did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Do we have the gumption to follow what our Sants or Prophets or Messiah had taught us in the past. Their teachings are as radical as they were thousands of years ago. We have failed many of our prophets and we have betrayed our own Messiah. Period!
What is in store for the people in the Land of the Clouds?
As usual, festivities will continue till the last week of January or may extend to February and there is no dearth of festivals in this place. Some of them are for free and some you have to empty your purses to be able to participate and many couldn’t afford them. The festivals which had happened and soon to happen in the State, are mere facades and do not reflect the reality. The fact is that a major section of population in Meghalaya are living in impoverished condition and their purchasing power is extremely weak. While the number of tourists visiting Meghalaya is on the rise, the impact on the livelihoods of the local population will be limited unless there are significant policy changes that prioritize inclusivity and support for the poorest and most vulnerable segments of society.
For Lease/For Sale:
Of late, certain critical issues that are so dear to the people of Meghalaya, especially the Indigenous community, that have evaded public attention or scrutiny, are the enhancement in the lease period of government land from 30 to 60 years, the establishment of Invest Meghalaya Authority (IMA) and the passage of Meghalaya State Investment and Promotion and Facilitation Act 2024. Now it is a common practice in Meghalaya not to engage in pre-legislative consultation on significant bills or policies, like land, forest, environment, employment, economic development policy etc that have a direct bearing on the lives of the people. Such practice is unhealthy and it only displays a sense of arrogance and insensitivity on the part of the executive. The State Government claims that all these are done in the name of economic development, to attract investors and to create employment. But at what cost?
Through the Invest Meghalaya Authority and Investment Promotion law/policy, the Government is gearing up to create land banks and ease investment in the State. There is no second guessing that the State needs development and employment opportunities. It has been argued that the creation of land banks will facilitate easy access to land for economic opportunities. That land banks can help Indigenous communities develop sustainable businesses, agriculture, or cultural tourism, thereby creating jobs and increasing self-sufficiency. However, the decision to establish the Invest Meghalaya Authority vis a vis Investment law/policy should not be left to the government alone. The State’s local/traditional institutions, pressure groups and civil society collective must demand for wider consultations and that the Government must put in public domain all papers, including file notes/cabinet notes and comments etc made by various government or non government agencies in this regard.
While defending the decision of the Government, Bah Paul Lyngdoh, Minister of Tourism etc, called out the “Sengbhalang” or NGOs/Pressure groups to provide an alternative to economic development. It is easier for the minister who is privy to all information to brush aside the critique made by pressure groups on the issue. On the other hand, other civil society groups that are seeking access to information via RTI Act are facing a tough time with the Government’s delaying and denial tactics and the department concerned is yet to provide all the information. It is understood that as a minister and spokesperson of the government, Bah Paul Lyngdoh, has to justify the decisions made by the government of the day, but there was also the “old Paul Lyngdoh”, who was once loved and admired by the people of Hynniewtrep, and who had prophesied upon this land through his powerful poem entitled, “For Sale”- this battered, autistic land with all its lucre-laden earth, our precious minerals, medicinal herbs and rare orchids, and trees and fields and waters-all these and all else…No contact number is needed. Our agents are everywhere…” (As quoted from Souvenir, Khasi Students’ Union 20th Anniversary Celebration 1978-1998).
It is believed that the pressure groups, like the Khasi Students’ Union and other civil society group (s) who are critical about the establishment of IMA are well armed with knowledge and information to take on the Government. Meanwhile, it can be said that land banks can contribute to further dispossession of land from Indigenous communities, particularly if lands acquired are culturally significant or ancestral. It will lead to potential conflicts and issues of marginalization. Economic development initiatives driven by land banks will always prioritize profit over people. Indigenous communities often face significant legal and political hurdles when attempting to reclaim the lands or negotiate terms with land banks in countries where such systems have been established.
Let me end with a line from the hymn- “There’s no time for idle scorning, while days are going by.”