Editor,
I am writing to you on the topic of “Women in the Dorbar Shnong” – a topic that has been pushed under the rug, after only a few reports. It is an important issue that needs to be discussed more.
A Khasi woman is the guardian and preserver of the family goods, but even so Khasi women are denied a seat at the Dorbar Shnong. So the ‘Lympung Ki Seng Kynthei’, led by some of Meghalaya’s most powerful women, has called for representation on the Dorbar Shnong’s executive committee. But it has not received any serious consideration.
“We have formed a social committee to study the matter. Neither do I accept or reject the proposal but it needs to be examined….This is a sensitive issue. Khasi custom and tradition allows only men in the Dorbar Shnong,” said Titosstarwell Chyne, the Chief Executive Member of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to ‘The Meghalayan’. Chyne further mentioned that although certain Dorbar Shnongs have let women vote in headman and executive committee elections, the law does not accept such participation.
Tentiness Swer, the general secretary of ‘Lympung ki Seng Kynthei’, said that the matter has been raised with the KHADC since 2011 and so they have asked the KHADC to frame laws in accordance with the changing times, yet till today there seems to be no change.
When visiting Meghalaya, foreign academics are always perplexed as to why there are so few female legislators in the State Assembly. They don’t really comprehend why it’s so difficult to get elected to the legislature until they learn that women are prohibited by “tradition” from running for office at the Dorbar Shnong, the institution at the bottom of the political food chain.
Yes, as Khasi people we live in a matrilineal society but even so such society isn’t as women-centric as it claims to be. Including women into the Dorbar Shnong is a step in helping women. If we simply take the example of health in our State, we will find that women and children’s health and nutrition is incredibly poor. Yet the men don’t seem to understand why. This is because it takes a woman to understand the plight of another woman.
As I have stated in my introduction, Khasi women are the preservers and guardians of the family goods. They protect what is meant to be theirs, yet when it comes to politics women are seen as lesser than, as most seem to think that lineage and the passing of last names are enough rights for a woman to have in our “matrilineal society”. If we as a people of the Khasi society do not include women into the conversation; into the big discussions; that too in the 21st century, then when will we?
The new State BJP president, Rikman Momin who took charge on October 3 said that he is ready to strengthen the party. He however said that no single individual can do much without the help and support of the team and to achieve that he will work with all including the outgoing State BJP president Ernest Mawrie.
Regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Momin said that they will start working on it as soon as the central leadership of the party gives a green signal for both the Shillong and Tura seat. When asked about the people’s acceptance towards the BJP party in the State, he defended stating that there is still hope for BJP as PM Modi is working for the poor and the various schemes.
Stating that even though it is very challenging as they have only two MLAs, he still expressed hope that with a combined team effort, they expect things to change for the better. Admitting that the party has not been successful in the last two Assembly elections, he however said that the BJP vote shares in the State have gone up. The BJP president further said that being a part of the MDA coalition whenever and wherever they find the issues of corruption and irregularities, they will take it up at the platform.
Deiphisha Lyngdoh Talang
Nongthymmai
Shillong
