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Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 15: The ninth annual conference of Oral History Association of India (OHAI) titled “Mountain History: At the Intersection of Memory, Politics and Identity” successfully concluded at U Kiang Nongbah (Old) Guest House, Northeastern Hill University, Shillong, on Friday.

The insightful and informative 3-day conference brought to light the oral traditions and their intricate linkages with the socio-political landscape in the mountains across the nation. Thereby, fulfilling its objective of exploring India’s rich regional histories and cultures, focusing on the often-overlooked and ‘imbalanced’ narratives from the mountain and mountain communities and addressing them.

Hosted in collaboration with the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, North-Eastern Hill University and Northeast India AV Archive, St Anthony’s College, Shillong and supported by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan, the conference was inaugurated by Minister of Education, Government of Meghalaya, Rakkam A. Sangma, on March 13, 2024.

The inaugural Keynote address was delivered by activist and author, Dr. Shekhar Pathak, who spoke on the “Himalayan Histories: Looking at the Corners”.

He said the Himalayas are like the spine of a living body of a thousand mountain ranges and valleys. He further emphasised that in the Himalayas, the dynamics of uncertainty has shaped the behaviours of the lifestyles of the locals and the Oral histories in the Himalayas have prompted the art of writing. He also opined that “While written words can walk, oral expressions can fly.”

The first session was on the theme “Exploring Pastoral life- worlds'', chaired by Sumallya Mukhopadhyay, in which the first presenter Nikita N. spoke on the ‘Route, Rituals and Relationships between Gojri Buffalo herders and the Alpine meadows’. On the same line, the second presenter Garima Sudhan spoke on life along the Mountain Frontiers with special context on ‘Post Partition Dilemmas of pastoralists in Kasmir’.

She spoke of the challenges that force the pastoralists leading them to lose access to pastures due to “shifting borders” and said this ambiguous nature of borders often pose challenges to the pastoralists forcing them (Gujjars and Bakarwals) to do labours of various kinds. The third speaker Swati Condrolli opined that the cuisine serves as a gateway to understand various cultures.

The Fourth Speaker was Rosaline Varsangzuali who spoke on the ‘Oral History of Mizo Dress: Tawlhloh Puan as a symbol of Identity and Politics’ and how the dress evolved and symbolized into a political statement and symbolism for nationalism and cultural identity. Fifth Speaker Regina Gurung presented her paper on ‘Funeral rites and practices of the converted Buddhists and Christian communities in Sikkim Himalaya’.

The sixth participant Aman Kant Panta discussed the ‘Role of the Himachal Devtas in Times of Social change’. His study showed that the deities in the western Himalayas are changing, transforming and reorganizing due to which the forms of castes in the ‘lower castes’ are also impacted.

The second session was on the theme: Histories, evolving masculinities and ecofeminism chaired by Dr Barath N, Asst. Professor, JMC, NEHU. The first speaker C. Lalmuansanga explored the creation of masculinity in Mizo society through ‘Myths, Legends and Heroes’, where he found that the Christian ideology and the Mizo culture intertwine, hence, the Christian sense of masculinity or manhood stands well with the Mizo culture and is widely accepted.

The second participant Rohit Mahanta explored the paradigmatic embodiment of ecofeminism in India taking Kong Spelity as a subject of his study who is revered as a ‘Hero’ among the locals for her resistance against the Uranium mining in the state of Meghalaya.

On DAY 1, in a parallel session with the theme “Music Tradition in the Mountain” chaired by Dr. Karen Donohue, Asst. Professor, JMC, NEHU. The first speaker Shantanu Majee studied the sound of the Pahadi Music. In the same vein, the second presenter discussed the wedding folk songs of the Tamangs.

The second session was themed “Linguistics, toponymy and the construction of moral geographics” which was chaired by Sangamitra Chatterjee, Secretary, OHAI. The first speaker Santhwana Santosh spoke of the Mountain narratives and reading Tottam of North Malabar. The second speaker Upasana Chettri discussed Tales, Toponymy and Terrains through the Exploration of the Geography of Sikkim in Lepcha Folklore.

The third session was themed “Evolving trends in Mountain Histories” was chaired by M Indrakumar Singh. Sonam Chhomo presented a paper on Re-imagining home through folktales and adivasi futurism in Subhash Thebe Limbu’s Ningwasum.

The second presenter Nakhrai Debbarma presented her paper on Mountain and Ecosystem, Cultural Narratives and Conservation. The third presenter Lobsang Norbu Bhutia, traced the construction of indigeneity through oral history.

On DAY 2 of the conference, the keynote speaker was Vasudha Pathak who is a retired Professor of Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi.

She spoke on the topic ‘Telling’ Tales of Mountains and Changing Himalayan Landscape’. She observed that the British created an understanding of the Himalayas and looked at mountains in terms of the river systems. They commodified the mountains. The session was themed “Perspectives on World War-II from North east India” chaired by Manash P. Goswami, Head of Department, Journalism and Mass Communication, NEHU.

The first presenter on this theme was Lianboi Vaiphei who spoke of Recollecting the oral Narratives of second world war from the tribes in North East Frontier and its Impact of Modernity on the Tribal world. She observed that the locals of Manipur saw the airplanes as a symbol of suffering and death.

The second speaker Sochanphy A. Shimray narrated the Journey of a young girl in the Tangkhul Hills during World War II through the eyes of a young Tangkhul girl through personal anecdotes. The third speaker Dawa Lhamu Sherpa explored the historical Trajectory of Military Recruitment of the Gorkhas of Darjeeling Hills.

The next session was on the theme “Studying Animals, diseases and the environment through orality” chaired by Rahi Soren. The first presenter of this session Ritu Mehra studied the ‘Traditional Interpretation of Bird Calls in the oral histories of Bhumiyathal Village in the Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand’; she emphasised that the problem in the area is not deforestation rather overgrowth and the lack of proper care for the aquifers which forces the birds to move towards larger water bodies. The second presenter was Darisha Lyngdoh who probed into the history of Environmentality and Orality in Khasi-Jaintia Hills.

While the third presenter C. Lalrinchhani spoke of the COVID 19 pandemic and Mizo society which was a socio-cultural study. Fourth presenter Tenzin Nyima Bhutia delved into the topic of Tibetan Buddhist Monks, Reviving Faith, Revisiting Memory and Revising Culture in the Eastern Himalayan Regions of India as a custodian. The fifth speaker of the session Adhiraj Singh Bhist spoke on Brahmanism, Masculinity, Orality and Text in the Deific Cosmology of the Kullu valley.

On the 2nd day, the parallel session was themed “Oral History from below: protests, and rebellions in the hills” chaired by Etawanda Saiborne. The presenters, Rahi Soren, Richa Raj and Arpeata Sharma spoke of Hul Narratives, Halla Bol and the Gorkha women testimonies. The 2nd session was themed “Oral History perspectives from the Western Ghats” chaired by Ravindra Vemula. The presenters Jagath V. and Parvathy V. presented their studies on memory and displacement and the struggles for identity in Wayanad respectively.

The 3rd session was themed “The making and unmaking of places” chaired by Dr Cherry Kharshiing, Board member, NEIAV, where speaker Antarlina Bhattacharjee spoke of the narratives weaving Jampui Hills and its nostalgic tapestry.

On day 3, the theme was “Constricting mobility, constructing precarious economies” chaired by Aniket Alam. The first speaker Somashree Choudhury traced the movements of Hakka Chinese in India and their series of migration to various locations. The second speaker Lahun Dashisha Rumnong traced Iewduh’s Past through the storytelling of a farmer who aspired to be a poet. The third speaker of the day Kishan Sirswal mapped the Trans Himalayan Trade in the Darjeeling Mountain economy through Oral History.

The afternoon session ended with a valedictory session followed by a visit to the Ever-Living Museum at Mawshbuit for the participants. OHAI’s conference has been an eye-opening event in bringing to the fore the multifaceted histories and cultures of India’s mountain regions, contributing significantly to the understanding and appreciation of these unique communities.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 15: In a function held at Mendipathar, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, today, handed over the land allotment documents to Varun Beverages for the setting up of an industrial unit at Mendipathar, North Garo Hills.

In his address, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, thanking the Chairman of Varun Beverages, Ravi Jaipuria, for his decision to set up the industrial unit in Mendipathar said that this decision has set the pace for private investments in the State and the industrial unit in Mendipathar will transform the lives of the people of the area. He also expressed his gratitude to MIDC for having completed the processes of the land allotment in a record time.

Talking about the project and the setting up of the industrial unit, the Chief Minister said that the Mendipathar Industrial Growth Centre was declared as an industrial area a few years ago however no developments have taken place in the area for years.

“With the setting up of this industrial unit for packaging soft drinks like Pepsi, Mirinda and other beverages the lives of people will be transformed as employment opportunities for local people will open up,” he said.

He also informed that soft drinks and beverages that are consumed on a daily basis are bottled in Assam or West Bengal. “With this bottling unit in Mendipathar we can consume the soft drinks that are packaged in our own state,” he said adding that the company will in future explore the possibilities of packaging drinks and products from locally available products like pineapples also.

The Chief Minister also informed that the company will invest 185 Cr for the project that will be completed within 12 months.

The plant besides supplying products to Meghalaya will also distribute to neighbouring states. Also present during the handing over function were MLA, Mendipathar, Marathon Sangma, Varun Beverages CEO, Kamlesh Jain and officials of MIDC.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 15: State’s chief electoral officer (CEO) BDR Tiwari on Friday said that Meghalaya is ready for the general elections to the Lok Sabha.

The state has two parliamentary seats – Shillong and Tura.

“All necessary preparations in respect to the logistics, manpower, training and all other requisite arrangements have already been taken up as per guidance and instructions of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Meghalaya is ready for a very peaceful and more participatory Lok Sabha elections 2024,” Tiwari told reporters.

He informed that his office has done a lot of IEC activities and the SVEEP activities are also ongoing. “Now, we are more focusing on the polling station wise and we have also worked out an implementation plan and accordingly we are engaging the local institutions and all stakeholders including stakeholders, public, students,” he said.

Stating that the electoral literacy clubs are being activated, Tiwari said, “We have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the education department to focus more on the youth.”

“Traditional methods like village announcement systems, involvement of dorbars (are being taken up) so that people can come forward to cast their votes,” he said while adding the state is hopeful that the voting percentage this time will increase when compared to the 2019 elections.

There are over 22.70 lakh voters in Meghalaya.

On the law-and-order aspect, the CEO said that state machinery is fully geared up to ensure peaceful conduct of the elections.

“We are doing all necessary arrangements in respect to law and order. It is already taken from the police side and we are in touch with all district authorities and even with the bordering districts also.

Arrangement for the expenditure monitoring and all those things to make the election inducement free and to keep the law and order situation totally in control,” he said.

“And to conduct the peaceful election, the state machinery is fully geared up and we are focusing on the better arrangement of assured minimum facilities so that voters will get facilitated and they can cast their votes in a happy and healthy environment,” he added further.

Correspondent

Nongpoh, March 16:  The Garo community under the banner All Khasi Hills A’chik Federation (AKHAF) had gathered denouncing the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) for their decision to exclude the Garos from holding Rangbah Shnong Post in the Khasi Hills Region.

Over 300 residents gathered and convened a meeting which was led by Serimina D Marak, President of Ri Bhoi District Women Wing, and General Secretary Manuel Ch Marak at Nongspung A under Pillangkata Police Outpost.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Serimina D Marak and Manuel Ch Marak slammed KHADC for taking up the motion or Bill at the District Council session which stated the removal of Rangbah Shnong posts of any Garo residents at villages under Khasi Hills region.

They also said that this move has hurt the sentiment of the Garos, who have been living in many villages in Khasi Hills Region for the past 18 century as they have been living in peace and harmony in this region.

They also added that the representatives have also submitted a written to the Chief Minister seeking his intervention on this matter.

The two AKHAF leaders, have also reiterated their demands for removal of the bill within two weeks' deadline if the same is not taken into consideration, the AKHAF will be compelled to take stern action against this.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 15: NPP national general secretary and deputy chief minister Sniawbhalang Dhar has opined that the opposition Congress has been admitted in an intensive care unit (ICU) and that it would be pointless to re-elect its candidate and sitting MP Vincent H Pala from Shillong parliamentary seat.

He said that it would also be pointless for people to vote for the opposition Voice of People Party (VPP) and United Democratic Party (UDP) as they will only end up in Byrnihat and will reach nowhere.

Addressing at a meeting held at Byrnihat, Ri Bhoi on Thursday, to drum up support to the NPP’s candidate for Shillong and cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, Dhar said there are around 4-5 candidates, who will be contesting in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.  

“However, the candidate of the UDP will not reach anywhere and the VPP candidate also as you all know will only end up in Nongpoh (Byrnihat),” he said. He also alleged that voters, especially Garos and non-tribal, are not inclined towards the two parties.

Also alleging that the Congress is a sinking party, Dhar said, “Congress is a party, which is already in the ICU and we don’t know what will happen to it. The grand old party now has only 5 MLAs (in Meghalaya). The party, which had ruled the Centre once with a majority of 543 now is being reduced to only 40-50 and in this coming election, I don’t think they will even cross 40 seats. So why should we want to send the Congress MP. If we send (the Congress), we are fighting a losing battle already.”

“Therefore, I urge the people that the only option now is for you to vote for NPP’s Ampareen Lyngdoh,” he added.

He also said that the people will be best judge on the performance of Pala during the past 15 years.

Meanwhile, Dhar informed that as transport minister he had taken up with the Centre for sanctioning of eight laning road from Khanapara to Byrnihat and four lane road from Umroi to Jaintia Hills to ease the ever growing traffic jams.

The deputy chief minister also lauded the Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun for working very hard to bring development to the constituency. He said the MLA would even fight with CM every evening for development of his constituency.

“Therefore, it is visible that this constituency is not lacking behind be it roads, water supply, education sector and others,” Dhar said while adding that Jirang and Ranikor were among the constituencies which received the maximum development from the government.

“Sohtun is one of the most dynamic and hardworking MLA I should say. He fights almost every evening with the CM in his office. Today he came and asked for water and another 2-3 days he asked for roads and sometimes when he came and opened the door, CM would say what you want now. That is why he cares for his people.

In his speech, former Sohiong MLA Samlin Malngiang said that the NPP is a party which has principles and has leaders like Conrad K Sangma and two deputy CMs – Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar. “Therefore, people should vote for the NPP in the upcoming polls to ensure all round development of the state,” he said.

The meeting was presided by Jirang MLA and attended by leaders and workers of the party.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 15: BJP leader and cabinet minister AL Hek is among the five ticket aspirants for Shillong parliamentary seat. 

The party has also submitted six names for the Tura parliamentary seat for decision of the central leadership. 

Informing this today, BJP state president Rikman G Momin said, "We have already sent the names of these candidates to the central leadership."

Apart from Hek, Momin said the other ticket aspirants for Shillong seat include advocate Dr Fenela Lyngdoh Nonglait, former state president Ernest Mawrie, BJYM president Mewaker Lyngdoh and Sumitra Laloo. 

For Tura seat, the ticket aspirants include sitting Tura MDC Bernard N Marak, former MLAs - Winnerson D Sangma and KC Boro, former MDC Boston Marak, Ria Sangma and Thomas Marak.

Momin said, "We don't know (when they will announce the candidates) but the third list is coming soon."

Further, the state president said that the party is ready to fight the elections. He said that the party has already started the election campaign. 

He said that the CAA issue will not affect the BJP in Meghalaya.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 15: In continuation of the tradition started by (L) Purno Agitok Sangma, the National Peoples’ Party today kicked off its poll campaign from Adokgre in North Garo Hills.

Adokgre, named as “Chenanggre” or land of victory, has been the ground for the campaign for Purno Sangma. In 2016, Conrad K. Sangma, took over as National President of the party and has continued the tradition, which is over 30 plus years now.

All bigwigs of the party including State President Prestone Tynsong, Rajya Sabha MP Dr W.R. Kharlukhi, State Working President Marcuise Marak, and a host of other party leaders assembled at Adokgre to kick off the poll campaign.

Both the candidates Dr. Ampareen Lyngdoh for Shillong Lok Sabha and Agatha K. Sangma for Tura Lok Sabha were present at the campaign.

Speaking on the occasion, National President of NPP and Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K. Sangma said, “Be it MP, MLA or MDC elections, our father P A Sangma always began his campaign from Adokgre because he believed in victory and hence the name of Chenanggre. It used to start from a small rostom in the field, and today we stand before you from a stadium fulfilling our leader’s dreams.”

He said that Meghalaya in general, and Garo Hills in particular, has witnessed a mass transformation in the last six years. “Earlier, if roads were good then the belief was that the area belonged to Assam, while bad roads indicated Garo Hills. That is no longer the case,” he said.

Seeking votes in favour of Agatha, the NPP chief asked “Today the daughter of P A Sangma stands before you seeking your support. We cannot forget Late P A Sangma.”

He said that this election is important for NPP and expressed confidence the margin of victory will surpass that of the 1.90 lakh victory margin bestowed on him when he contested the by-poll following the death of P A Sangma in 2016.

“I am confident we will have the biggest margin of victory in this election which will be nothing short of 2.50 lakh or even 3 lakh margin,” a confident Conrad Sangma announced.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 15: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the schedule for the general elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies 2024 on March 16.

Meghalaya has two parliamentary seats - Shillong and Tura. 

Most of the political parties have announced their respective candidates for both the seats. 

The candidates for the Shillong seat include sitting Congress MP Vincent H Pala, NPP leader and cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, RDA candidate Robertjune Kharjahrin, VPP general secretary Ricky AJ Syngkon and NEHU prof Lakhon Kma. 

The candidates for Tura parliamentary seat include sitting NPP MP Agatha K Sangma, Congress legislator from Gambegre Saleng A Sangma, former TMC legislator from Rangsakona Zenith M Sangma. 

With the Election Commission of India (ECI) announcing the poll dates for the General Elections to the 18th Lok Sabha on Saturday, the two seats in Meghalaya – Shillong and Tura – will go to the polls in the first phase on April 19. The results will be declared on June 4.

The Shillong seat, with 13,14,036 electorates as per the 2021 data, will witness a tight contest, among the incumbent Vincent H Pala of the Indian National Congress (INC), who is a consecutively three-time winner, former Congress woman, M Ampareen Lyngdoh, now an NPP minister in the ruling dispensation, a former civil society group leader Robertjune Kharjahrin representing a regional party conglomerate consisting of United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP)-coined Regional Democratic Alliance, Dr. Ricky J Syngkon, a college teacher of the infantile Voice of the People’s Party (VPP).
In Tura, where sitting MP Agatha Sangma, a five-times MP and the youngest minister ever to be in the Union government, will face insignificant challenge from the INC’s Saleng Sangma, and a challenger from the BJP. The Tura seat has 10,11,676 electorates as per the 2021 data.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 12: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said tough action will be taken against the perpetrators behind the IED bomb blast at Them Iew Mawlong, which rocked the entire Shillong on March 9.

"A lot of people have now been arrested and tough action is being taken. As I said we will ensure the people who are responsible for this are caught," Sangma told reporters.

He said very swift action has been taken based on the police intelligence network and technology. 

"The police are doing an enquiry and a large number of people have been arrested and even last night I was updated even as far as 12 o'clock at night, I received phone calls from officials from the police, informing me about the different actions that have been taken and hence I am monitoring the situation very closely," he added.

Asked if the government would be willing to continue peace talks if HNLC is involved in the blast incident, Sangma said that based on speculation right now, we will have to see who is behind this. "Once we are able to ascertain with full proof only then we will be able to make an official statement," he said. 

"So yes, there are certain things we have made forward. We have done our research, enquiry and everything and intel is indicating to certain individuals and groups but without full details it will not be proper for me to say anything right now," he added. 

The CM said, "We are doing a lot of work and I cannot share all the details with you right now but there is a huge exercise that the police are conducting and they have successfully in fact they have done a number of things, which again as I said in an appropriate time we will inform, but we are on it and those individuals, who are trying to create these kinds of problems, we will ensure they are caught and action is taken against them." 

On Sunday night, two including an HNYF leader were arrested for their alleged involvement in the IED bomb blast at Them Iew Mawlong. They have been identified as Tarzan Lymba, who is the HNYF disciplinary secretary, and Ebakordor Nongpluh. The duo have been forwarded to 10 days police custody.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 12: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said that his government will not allow uranium mining to take place in Meghalaya.

His statement came after an organization had allegedly written to the Centre for restarting the uranium mining project in Meghalaya. 

"Any organization can write, I cannot stop organizations from writing to the Government of India but that does not mean it is the stand of the government," Sangma told reporters. 

"We are very clear that without taking people into confidence, without looking at all scientific aspects of things, we are not going to allow the uranium mining to take place in our state," he said. 

The CM said that the government's stand is very clear on the issue as "it is regarding people's lives, it is regarding people's health and it is regarding the future of our state".

"While there may be concerns from individuals, who may want this and certain sections may want to move forward in this, it has to be addressed in a very careful manner as I said we have to take people on board, we have to carefully study the impact of these things and till then we have to ensure that no step is taken in that direction in any way because as I said this is regarding life of the people and the future of our people," he added.

Further, the CM informed that there has been no communication from the Centre to the State on issue related to uranium mining.

Meghalaya Times

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