By BK Dey Sawian
Across the globe heritage buildings are restored at phenomenal costs to the exchequer, to convey to the world the existence of a history vis-a-vis different human settlements. We talk of our culture, of tradition and we have a history that the people of our State and more particularly of Shillong are proud of – for Shillong is a civil settlement which dates back to the 1860s, wherein a well-defined system of administration co-existed in perfect harmony with the governments of the ‘Cosiyah Rajas’; and where a Municipality was instituted in the early 20s of the last century. Sadly, all these facets of history will soon be cached as part of our oral tradition – stories which you may or may not like to believe. It all began with the Raj Bhavan. Then came Tara Ghar and now most horrifyingly it is the turn of the age old office of the Inspector General of Police of erstwhile Assam (dating to pre-independence days), currently the office of the Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills District. They have targeted at every edifice of a civilized society/institution of governance.
I recall an ‘esteemed’ member of the Legislature suggesting that the Governor be moved out of the Raj Bhavan to make way for reconstruction of the Legislative Assembly. Following this came the proposal to demolish Tara Ghar, a heritage building where the first Chief Minister of the State resided at the time Meghalaya became a full-fledged State. And now it is the turn of the Police to make way for a structure which will not only depict the ugliness of modern Meghalaya buildings but would perhaps, remain incomplete in form, as most buildings in this State do.
And Good God! What are we doing to our past? There is a personal anecdote I would like to share, which has a bearing to my narrative. Like all suitors at the time of courtship you spin ‘tales’ of your upbringing and wealth to impress the belle of your dreams. I recall telling my beau of our home at Sohra where 7 generations of our family have bred and stayed. Being a proud ‘Nong Sohra’ I added that ‘we’ lived in organized settlements and proper homes when most others in this sub-continent lived in mud huts and perhaps on ‘tree tops’. I noticed her expression of disbelief to my tale. During our courtship, my wife had accompanied me to Sohra where we visited our family home. As she was conducted around by a cousin, she was taken into the past and was told of the history of the structure. There was evidence of bewilderment in what she heard and saw: a heritage structure which stands testimony to the life and culture of the old settlers of Cherrapunji. I thank God that no one in the family tree, past and present, have ever entertained thoughts of converting our family home into a shopping mall or a business center. My courtship tale would have remained yet another tale!
Will the Gen-Next take on the mantle of being the pioneers of a new Shillong? In the years ahead it will stand testimony to their pioneering venture and carry into the future tales of the culture and dynamism of our 21st century citizens, rather than be remembered as the ‘Destroyers of History’.
