Shillong, Nov 9: Governor of Meghalaya CH Vijayashankar today attended the commemorative monolith installation ceremony at Lum Sohpetbneng as part of the year-long 125th year celebrations of the Seng Khasi movement.
Also present on the occasion was Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, cabinet ministers Lakhmen Rymbui and Sanbor Shullai, elders, community leaders and various units from across Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
Lum Sohpetbneng holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for the Khasi-Pnar community, symbolising the sacred connection between Heaven and Earth in ancient Khasi belief. As part of the 125-year milestone of Seng Khasi, more than 41 monoliths have been erected at the summit of this sacred peak by different circles and units to commemorate the historic legacy of the Seng Khasi movement, which was founded on November 23, 1899 in Shillong under the guidance of Babu Jeebon Roy. For 125 years, Seng Khasi has been preserving and promoting the Niam Khasi faith, traditional values, language, rituals and cultural identity of the Hynñiewtrep people.
Addressing the gathering, the Governor lauded the Seng Khasi movement as one of India’s oldest and most respected indigenous cultural preservation efforts and praised the community for protecting ancestral wisdom despite the pressures of changing times. He highlighted that monoliths are not just stones but sacred symbols representing continuity, strength and the living memory of the ancestors. He also stressed on the importance of harmonising modern progress with cultural identity and spiritual consciousness.
Vijayashankar further emphasised that conservation of nature has always been an integral part of the cultural ethos of the tribal communities in Meghalaya, particularly among the Khasi people who have traditionally lived in harmony with forests, land and natural resources, treating them with reverence as gifts of the Creator. He called for collective responsibility to continue safeguarding Meghalaya’s rich biodiversity, forests and wildlife for the future generations.
