By The Editor
Tribals of present-day North East (NE) India have been living in these hills side by side as neighbours for centuries ,each tribe maintaining and preserving its own culture and at times borrowing from each other. Land was plenty and resources were quite enough to sustain their body and soul though quarrels and skirmishes were sometimes unavoidable due to misunderstanding and other reasons. After India achieved independence on August 15,1947 national leaders took great care on the delicate subject of integration of tribes into the Indian mainstream without damaging their distinctive socio-cultural entity. In this context the first Prime Minister of free India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru remarked that tribals possessed variety of culture and are in many ways certainly not backward and so there was no point in trying to make them second-rate Indians. They should be helped to grow according to their genius and tradition. Different schemes and programmes for development and uplift of tribes were surely essential but cautioned not to interfere with their way of life and hence provisions of Sixth Schedule for protection and safeguarding of tribals.
NE India has high concentration of tribal population belonging to different ethnic groups and states of Arunachal Pradesh , Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram are tribal-dominated which once were part of composite state of Assam. To the north and east of Meghalaya the region is inhabited by tribal communities like Tiwas, Dimasas and the Karbis of Assam. For ages the Khasi-Jaintias of Meghalaya and these tribal neighbours from Assam have been living in peace and amity though at times conflicts arose which however subsided in course of time. Elements from all sides should realise that peace and tranquility is highly essential for progress and development otherwise they may regress. Not wanting to remain complacent and doing nothing, some dynamic local tribal leaders from Dima Hasao district of Assam on Saturday, January 7, organised the annual Sngi Lumlang festival to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Khasi-Jaintia community in the district which was held at Choto Muolkoi village and well-attended. To mark the occasion ,holiday was been declared in the district .
In 2010, some well-intentioned people from different communities in Dima Hasao district met on the urgent need for peace and unity. After several attempts they finally decided to organise festival for Khasi-Jaintia community in the district. Former Executive Member of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, Moril Massa expressed joy that the festival had ultimately taken place which he had struggled for when he was still an executive member. His message to people in the states of Assam and Meghalaya was desire for peace, love and harmony. During the festival, Sebastine Pakyntein, chairman of Khasi- Jaintia Development Council, Barak Valley, Assam, who also shared Massa’s views, thanked Assam government for recognising Khasi-Jaintia community in the region.