By Avner Pariat
Meghalaya is currently being courted and celebrated for its sporting prowess. From football heroes like Eugeneson Lyngdoh to Everest conquering Rifiness Warjri, Meghalayans have demonstrated exceptional physical talent. Their achievements are brilliant tests of willpower, discipline and endurance and honestly if I had to do any of these things I would definitely collapse, onto the floor, in a sweaty and dishevelled heap. However, while sports remain an important avenue for youth empowerment, I am of the opinion that the state government must broaden its vision.
Before we proceed further, I wish to digress a bit and talk about a 19th Century British Raj era idea called the “Martial Races” theory. This was a Colonial racial classification system devised by the British to categorize certain ethnic groups as “naturally warlike” and thus more suited for military service and other physical activities. Because of this they began favouring groups they perceived as “loyal,” “brave,” and “physically robust” – often from mountainous or frontier regions like Nepal and the Punjab. As we can see (even today) this led to widespread stereotyping of these people as “warriors”, as being athletic. And it was also true for many tribals across the country. Khasi labourers were seen as stout, tough and fit for physical labour which is why they were chosen (along with the Nepalis I must add) to be part of the Labour Corp during World War 1. This meant they had to dig the trenches, carry the equipment, and perform other forms of menial labour. We remember their names on the plaques of Motphran (French Monument) in Iewduh. Again while the physical traits are commendable in general, this way of viewing us – tribals – has also limited the perception of our potentialities. Viewing the youth of Meghalaya only as “players” and an overemphasis on Sports as community obsession (reflected in government policy) fails to tackle a centuries old idea which might be very demeaning actually.
Again please do not mistake my argument. Sports have always been an integral part of the tribal societies in Meghalaya. Traditional games like archery, wrestling and tug-of-war highlight the common interests of our ancestors. In modern times, football has become almost a cultural phenomenon, with local clubs and tournaments drawing massive crowds. The government has supported this passion through infrastructure, trainings, and funding. However, this focus has led to an unintended consequence: the reinforcement of the colonial-era stereotype that tribal communities are “physically gifted but intellectually lacking.” Historically, British administrators and ethnographers often depicted tribals as “noble savages”- strong, artistic, and instinctive but not rational or scholarly. And I fear that we continue to fall for the ploy.
A cursory look at state-sponsored programmes reveals a disproportionate allocation of resources. While Sports (especially football) have been allocated numerous academies, stadiums, and scholarships for athletes, amounting to hundreds of crores, intellectual activities have had very little investment. Chess clubs, debating clubs, book clubs, astronomy clubs, science labs, quizzing societies are not as prominent because they are not spectacles and no large crowds would probably cheer them on but I would argue they are as important as any football match. There is a real need to create projects and programmes for these within educational institutions and not just host 3 day events which will not lead to widespread penetration and localised adoption.
Again the recent film policy, the numerous concerts and the grassroots music project (i.e. MGMP) are designed to correct this imbalance for those in the Creative field. I think these are a step in the right direction though again there must be more reward incentives for original content here as well. Right now, everyone who is singing at an MGMP mini event is doing covers, which are fine, but perhaps it would be more worthwhile to encourage something new and exciting from the practitioners.
Why does this matter though, you might be asking? Because when a society and/or government repeatedly tells our tribal youth that their primary value lies in physical ability, it limits their self-perception. Many internalize the idea that they cannot excel in “cerebral” fields, leading to under-representation in academia, science, and governance.
In a world that is rapidly changing, Meghalaya can’t afford to waste its nascent brainpower. What if the next great vaccine comes from a tribal biochemist doing research on herbal remedies? What if the solution to flood-resistant housing is hidden in traditional architecture? We’ll never know unless we start nurturing curiosity alongside cricket skills.
So what’s the way forward? First, shift the narrative. Celebrate and foreground tribal scientists, writers, and thinkers as loudly as we do football stars. Second, re-balance funding and resources – build more libraries and labs, not just stadiums. Third, policy changes: there should be more scholarships for STEM fields, and cultural programmes that don’t treat tribal art as museum pieces but that encourage the evolution of our traditions. Too often right now, traditions have become synonymous with preservation but they need the space and resources to change as well. They are not immutable, they are not set in stone. Every year the Behdeinkhlam festival shows us that we can blend both tradition and aspects of modern life and contemporary issues. I love seeing their creative ingenuity when it comes to the designs of the rots!
Most of all, we need to ask ourselves: Why should any child in Meghalaya grow up thinking their only ticket to a better life is through their feet or fists, football or UFC? The hills of this state have produced warriors, yes, but also writers, thinkers, and, yes, dreamers. It’s time we honoured that full legacy – not just the part that fits an old colonial script. After all, the future belongs to those who can imagine it, not just those who can run the fastest. Let’s make sure our tribal youth know they’re meant to do both!
