By Avner Pariat
“The one value which everyone seems to have in common is belonging. Everyone has a powerful need for belonging—a powerful urge for belonging. And one of the reasons why fascism is now so attractive, particularly to young men, is that many young men have lost a sense of belonging. They feel alienated; they feel isolated; they feel that no one cares. They’re not part of anything, and fascism comes along and says, “Hey, you could be just like us. You could wear the same uniform, chant the same slogans, march to the same drums, and beat the same people up.” And they say, “Whoa, fantastic- I’ve got a community.” The only way we’re going to draw people away from that form of belonging is to create a much better, inclusive form of belonging. ”
– George Monbiot, British author
Monbiot’s observation about Humanity’s deep need for Belonging carries particular urgency for Meghalaya today. When young men feel adrift in a rapidly changing world, when anchors of Tradition weaken while modern alternatives fail to take their place, dangerous voids emerge. Across our state, we see this play out as vested interest groups (sengbhalang) step in to offer precisely what’s missing – a sense of purpose, a ready-made community, however destructive its foundations might be. The challenge before us isn’t simply to condemn these forces, but to offer something better: an inclusive vision of Belonging that draws on Meghalaya’s deepest strengths while addressing its most pressing issues.
At the heart of any solution must lie a revitalization of community institutions, though not through nostalgic attempts to recreate the past. God knows we have had enough of that! Our traditional systems possess remarkable resilience, but they require careful adaptation to meet contemporary needs. Consider how often relatively minor local disputes (especially along sensitive zones like border areas) escalate unnecessarily because local communities lack confidence in their own problem-solving capacities, thereby creating openings for outside groups (pressure groups/sengbhalang) to position themselves as indispensable mediators. The answer lies not in dismantling traditional structures but in enhancing them -through regular community forums that encourage open debate, through skill-building initiatives that empower local leaders (especially amongst the youth) through creating spaces where difficult conversations can happen before tensions reach boiling point.
Simultaneously, we must reckon with the quiet crisis of male alienation unfolding across our state. Walk through any of our growing towns in the evening and you’ll see them – groups of young men with time on their hands and frustration in their hearts, susceptible to anyone who offers them a semblance of dignity and direction. The solutions here demand both compassion and creativity. Community counselling initiatives could provide crucial emotional support, filling the gap left by eroding traditional mentorship structures. Having been an insider into many sengbhalang networks I have seen how many confused and battle-ready young men are tutored and coached within them. These organisations have replaced the ailing tradition of the kni (maternal uncle), once perceived as important and respectable by each and every kur (clan), by each and every village/community. Having no equivalent response to fill in this gap on the side of the Liberals, the Conservatives have made merry and have used this crippling aimlessness among our young populace. The results are there for all to see. The state is paralysed and impoverished by the near endless barrage of impossible-to-achieve protests and odd demands. Most of the participants then end up being used, while the handful in-charge of the trouble-making become MLAs and MDCs. This is the Meghalaya Model, since 1972.
Sports leagues and cultural platforms should be consciously designed as neutral grounds where young men from different backgrounds can discover shared passions and interests that transcend ethnic divisions. For that matter, even our government offices, where subtle divisions often mirror broader societal fractures, could become laboratories for connection through simple, deliberate efforts to foster understanding among staff from different communities. Think a Show-and-Tell programme done once a month between employees, in which they could share and exchange food, stories, histories. That would be a great thing to see!
Economic stagnation fuels much of this discontent, and here too we need fresh thinking. Too many of our youth see only two paths: migration or idleness. The Homestay loan initiative by the Tourism Department demonstrated how intelligent government backing can unlock entrepreneurial energy while celebrating cultural heritage. Similar models could be adapted for agricultural innovation, green energy projects, or tech-enabled artisan cooperatives. When public works projects hire and train local youth, they don’t just repair infrastructure – they repair the social contract. The key lies in designing initiatives that speak to young people’s aspirations while remaining grounded in local realities, avoiding the trap of either pandering to global fantasies or limiting horizons with excessive parochialism.
Underpinning all these efforts must be a conscious effort to redefine what it means to belong in Meghalaya today. This doesn’t mean abandoning cherished identities, but rather recognizing that in an interconnected world, our fates are linked whether we acknowledge it or not. Local media could play a transformative role here, not through didactic messaging but by telling compelling stories of cross-community collaboration that already exist and have existed for hundreds of years. Educational institutions must integrate more shared cultural programming, creating early experiences of unity that can withstand later pressures toward division. Even something as simple as inter-village exchange programs for students could plant seeds for a more cohesive future. Most Khasis have no idea about the Garo Hills and the beautiful people and their culture, the opposite is also true. Time to fix that, everyone!
The task before us is neither simple nor quick, but its urgency grows with each passing season. Every young man drawn into destructive networks represents not just a personal tragedy, but a weakening of our collective future. Yet in their restless energy lies tremendous potential – if only we can offer worthy channels for its expression. What’s required now is a coalition of the willing: traditional leaders open to thoughtful innovation, educators willing to bridge divides, entrepreneurs who see opportunity in unity, and ordinary citizens ready to extend the boundaries of “us” just a little further. The present context – a Meghalaya where Belonging comes only through division – is too bleak to contemplate. The time to act is now, before the voids in the lives of the young become filled with something we’ll all regret.