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,” says Titosstarwell Chyne, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Chief Executive Member (CEM) 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 Ka Lympung ki Seng Kynthei, said that the matter has been raised with the KHADC since 2011 and the Lympung had asked the
KHADC to frame laws in accordance with the changing times.
However, with their perseverance old outdated traditions have so forth changed. The KHADC has now employed two women into the executive committee of Dorbar Shnong, yet some seem to want to turn back the hands of time
Cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and KHADC member Grace Mary Kharpuri share the opinion that women should be included in the executive committee but not as heads of village dorbar stating that the old laws were created for a reason and it should be followed. Yet, the Women’s Reservation Act, which aims to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, was welcomed by the lone cabinet minister who oversees crucial departments including law, health and family welfare, and agriculture.
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 and now with the inclusion of women in the dorbar, albeit only two women, it is a step in the right direction, yet some don’t see it as a good thing
On the 3rd of October 2023, The Shillong Times released an editorial called “Tokenism”. “This is at best tokenism and Khasi women should not be pleased with these carrots being dangled before them, nor should they readily accept the patronage of being “included” in the executive committee of the Dorbar. Khasi women are quite capable of heading a Dorbar Shnong if need be,” the editorial stated.
As we are taking a step in the right direction, we must take the win as a win. If we keep working and we keep trying, we can use every opportunity to our advantage. “We cannot allow men to take decisions in matters related to women’s well-being, safety and obviously if we work together, a lot of issues can be tackled better, if we are also a part of the decision making process,” said Theilin Phanbuh, president of Lympung Ki Seng Kynthei.
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. 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?
Deiphisha Lyngdoh Talang
Nongthymmai
Shillong-793014
