French Consul General, Didier Talpain, paid a visit to Mawphlang Sacred Grove on Saturday while on a visit to Meghalaya.
Talpain was accompanied by the press attache and diplomatic liaison officer Anjita Roy Chowdhury from the French consulate in Kolkata. Those who showed the visitors around Mawphlang included C Alan Lyngdoh Mawphlang, the Lyngdoh of Hima Mawphlang, John F Kharshiing, the chairman of the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, myntris of Hima Mawphlang and local guides who provided a detailed and in-depth account of the biodiversity and history of the famous sacred grove.
The Consul General was also briefed by the Lyngdoh on the various aspects of the culture, administration and the sacred rituals that were practised inside the sacred grove by the Lyngdoh his predecessors until four to five decades ago. Talpain inquired as to the availability of documentation on these ancient cultural practices, rituals and administration.
Kharshiing informed him that there are around 75 such sacred forests all over the state under the custodianship of Syiems, Lyngdohs, Dollois, A’king Nokmas and clans.
To mark the occasion, the Lyngdoh presented a memento to the Consul General, while Kharshiing presented a copy of the extracts of the official white paper on Indian states, which included the Instrument of Accession and the Annexed Agreement of August 17, 1948. Kharshiing informed Talpain that the rulers have been petitioning the government of India since 1950 and are awaiting recognition by the Centre within the Constitution. The French Consul General, Kharshiing said, was intrigued by the existence of such ancient cultural administration and practices.
