Meghalaya CM asks 3 ADCs to document indigenous knowledge

SHILLONG, AUG 9: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday asked the three autonomous district councils (ADCs) to document the indigenous knowledge (which is the core of indigenous identity, culture, languages, heritage and livelihood) of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes in the state.

Sangma was addressing the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples organized by the North East Indigenous Peoples’ Forum (NEIPF) Meghalaya State Chapter at the Shillong campus of the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) here.

Expressing concern that the indigenous knowledge is fast disappearing, the CM said, “I urge through this forum that we must push for detail documentation (of indigenous knowledge),” while adding “The one thing that we lack as indigenous people especially for North East is that we have no clue and idea and no documentation or very less documentation on what we are and who we are.”

Sangma also announced that the State government has decided to work together to start documenting the indigenous knowledge at the district council level.

“I have asked all the three ADCs – KHADC, JHADC and GHADC – that you start to work and Meghalaya government will fund. We want you to document the different aspects – our clothes that we wear, what is the history behind it, every individual who has contributed something to our culture, what has he/she contributed,” he said while further asserting, “Can we not just document it in paper but can we create it in such a digital manner like videos, songs, so that the young generation can be interested in it. Have competition for it, have some kinds of shows, music and auditions, concerts, allow our youths to feel proud of who they are, give them the content and allow them to work on that content and make it something that people can connect to.”

Stating that the exercise is so crucial, the CM said, “I really urge that we must have documentation and we must have different kinds of information collected and as much as possible digitize it and allow the youth to also connect to all of this.”

When asked, Sangma informed that the KHADC had already approached him on the matter verbally.

“We have had a verbal discussion and they will be writing to me officially with a small proposal in this line and so the district council will start working on it very soon. I expect may be a month or two months’ time we should be receiving things,” he added.

Further, Sangma said that the different issues of the indigenous people of the North East has always been a concern to him.

“The different political parties or different organizations or forums have the same goal when it comes to the indigenous people that is to preserve our identity, our roots and about who we are that makes us different from the other communities and being proud of our identity,” he said.

Meanwhile, the CM also asserted the need for the people of the North East region to look beyond reservation in order to compete and be at par with the rest of the world.

He said it is important to change the mind-set of the people, especially the indigenous community and stop expecting that there will be reservation in all aspects of life. “We need to look beyond reservation and the mind-set of the youth of the North East should be that they are competent enough to compete with anyone in the world,” he added further.

Earlier, the Chief Minister also released a book, “Indigenous 2023” during the occasion. Delegates from other North Eastern states were also present.

The Meghalaya Chapter of the NEIPF comprises the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) and Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF).

By Our Reporter