By Richard H. Dkhar
World Environment Day, celebrated globally on the 5th of June each year, is a moment of reflection, responsibility, and renewal of our commitment to protect and preserve the Earth. In 2025, as the world faces an ever-growing climate crisis, disappearing biodiversity, and environmental degradation, indigenous perspectives offer timeless wisdom and models for sustainable living. Among these, the Khasi worldview stands as a profound testament to a life in harmony with nature. For the Khasi people of Meghalaya, the environment is not merely a resource to be exploited but a sacred trust inherited from the ancestors and to be passed on with care to future generations.
This article explores World Environment Day through the Khasi lens—where land, water, forests, and all living things are seen as living, sacred entities, and where nature is woven deeply into spirituality, culture, and daily life.
The Khasi Understanding of Nature: Not a Resource, but a Relative
At the heart of the Khasi worldview is the belief in the eternal essence that connects all life. Nature is not lifeless or inert. The rivers, mountains, trees, and stones are alive, each with a spirit of its own. The Khasis do not separate themselves from the environment; they see themselves as part of a great circle of life. This is embedded in traditional sayings like “u khunbynriew u don ka jingkitkhlieh bad u tip ba u dei ban ri bad sumaria ka Mei Mariang sawdongsawkun” , the ideal human being knows one’s responsibilities to protect and care for Mother Nature.
This relational view of the environment is best seen in the personification of Mei Mariang (Mother Nature) and Mei Ramew (Mother Earth), who are revered as givers of life. These spiritual mothers are not metaphors; they are deeply respected entities. Environmental destruction, from the Khasi religious and ethical viewpoint, is not just unsustainable—it is a spiritual violation.
Sacred Groves: Living Symbols of Ecological Wisdom
One of the most powerful examples of the Khasi reverence for nature is the institution of Law Kyntang or Law Lyngdoh—the sacred groves. These forest areas are protected by traditional laws and are considered dwelling places of deities and ancestral spirits. Cutting trees, hunting, or even removing a leaf from these groves without ritual permission is forbidden. The grove is not only a religious site but an ecological treasure, often preserving biodiversity long lost in surrounding areas.
On this World Environment Day, sacred groves remind the world that traditional ecological knowledge is not primitive but profoundly advanced. These groves serve as natural carbon sinks, water reservoirs, and biodiversity hotspots. The Khasi traditional custodianship of land is an example of conservation without coercion—where spiritual reverence replaces environmental legislation.
Land, Identity, and Stewardship
In Khasi culture, land is identity. “U khunna larympei u dei u khun u Blei”—the child who belongs to the land belongs to God. The land is seen not as a commodity, but as a communal and spiritual inheritance, especially within the matrilineal system. Women inherit the ancestral land, ensuring that the land stays within the clan and is passed down through generations.
The Khasi phrase “Ukhun karympei”—the child of the hearth—reflects how one’s connection to land is foundational to identity. Losing the land is losing not only livelihood but also one’s soul and lineage. Therefore, environmental degradation is not merely an economic issue; it is a crisis of identity and continuity.
World Environment Day 2025: Challenges and Hopes
In 2025, the world finds itself at a critical juncture. From the Khasi Hills to the Amazon, from Shillong to Shanghai, the cry of the Earth grows louder. Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is here—in changing rainfall patterns, landslides, and increasing ecological fragility even in Meghalaya. The once lush forests are being cut for roads, buildings, and illegal mining. Rivers like Umkhrah and Umshyrpi are choking under plastic waste and urban sewage. Youth are migrating to cities, and with them, often, traditional ecological knowledge is disappearing.
Yet, there is hope.
Across the land, many are returning to indigenous wisdom. Youth groups are reviving Shnong-level tree planting festivals, school children are learning about Mei Mariang and civil society is pushing for stronger environmental protections to promote respect for the land and traditions that conserve it.
World Environment Day is a time for the Khasi community—and indeed the world—to remember that progress without preservation is destruction.
Reviving the Sacred: The Role of Youth and Education
This World Environment Day, the role of youth cannot be overstated. Urbanization and globalization threaten to erode indigenous practices, but they also bring new tools. Social media, documentaries, and community action can be used to revive and share traditional environmental practices.
Institutions and schools must integrate Khasi ecological knowledge into their curriculum—not just as folklore but as science, spirituality, and philosophy. A Khasi student should learn that sacred groves protect biodiversity, that the oral traditions carry sustainable land ethics, and that songs and folktales hold environmental messages.
A Call to Return and Protect
World Environment Day 2025 is not only a celebration but a call. From the Khasi point of view, the Earth is not just a planet—it is a sacred being, a mother, a teacher, and a temple. The Khasi community offers the world a powerful model: of living with respect, taking only what is needed, and leaving the rest for others—both seen and unseen.
As the global community grapples with ecological collapse, the Khasi perspective reminds us that sustainability is not a new concept; it is an ancient covenant, a lived reality, and a sacred duty.
Let us all, in the spirit of Mei Mariang, renew our commitment to protect the Earth—not just for our sake, but for all beings and for generations to come. Let us not forget: “Ka Mei Mariang ka peit, bad ka kren da ka jingsngap”—Mother Earth watches, and she speaks through silence. May we learn to listen.
