Beware of the Radcliffe “Divide and Rule Policy” blueprinted to make way for Immigrants in Meghalaya

Beware of the Radcliffe “Divide and Rule Policy” blueprinted to make way for Immigrants in Meghalaya
by Mayborn Lyngdoh R

Shillong, February 17, 2022: The Divide and Rule policy is one of the most successful tactics used by the Britishers to rule India with an “Iron Fist”. The first gigantic seed was sowed through the partition of Bengal to East and West Bengal. To logically think how a miniature British East India Company with a handful of soldiers was able to control a large country with an overwhelming population is something we are yet to wholly decipher.

A few days ago, a video is being circulated where a certain Kong was seen giving a definition of who are the non-Khasis, and she went around mentioning Mizos, Nagas, Garos, and then dropped the name “Jaintia” on purpose. Many have shared, reshared and had a good time laughing at it, but what comes after the good laugh. Many would call her stupid, but she’s not. She’s a brilliant strategist.

The seed to divide the Khasi Community (All original tribal people of Meghalaya, excluding Garos) might seem to very small but one should not underestimate the seed planted. It is a systematic dissection, segregation and compartmentalization of the people based on their:

1. Community – Tribal and Non-tribal
2. Sub-community – Tribals and other tribals

Community – Tribal and Non-tribal
In the former, one can see how vehemently Kong and a few comrades have attacked the tribal community leaning more towards the Non-tribal. When the tribals are attacked they keep shut, and when non-tribals are attacked, they raise their voice. But why is this so? I will not like to delve into her personal life, but for the general public to understand, this act is an investment. An investment of a market share in the near decade or so.
But one can argue Kong stood alone for the rights of the labourers, indeed she did. Humans are complicated creatures, but when we talk about marketing and platform in Meghalaya, one must always start with a tinge of Tribal flavor, hence, “Ka Thma u Rangli Juki”.

Recently, Kong also joined in protest of the couple at Khyndailad in solidarity of the claim they made about how the tribals have disseminated the non-tribals since 1979. Ironically, the statistics read that the non-tribal population has multiplied instead of being subtracted. Not a mathematics student, but I would also like to highlight if the claims were true, then how is it that most of the businessmen dominating Khyndailad and Iewduh are non-tribals, even the Bijou Cinema Hall, the only one featuring non-digitalized Khasi films, belongs to a non-khasi.

Pseudo victims:
The placards of couple also features a very important year 2018.
2018 was the year when three young tribal boys were beaten up in a bus by a mob at Sweepers Lane. The result of this was protests from the Khasi Tribals; the non-tribals played the victim card, and instead of the culprits being punished, Khasis were tear-gassed, whipped, chased down the streets, shot at with rubber bullets, and imprisoned. Justice is still pending. Lurshai Hynňiewta, a KSU leader, was beaten up by a mob of non-Khasi who are captured on camera. Justice is still pending.
If we discussed how we’re painted to be communal, it’d take forever. Masks boys at Lawsohtun were quick to be deemed Tribals just because the victims were non-tribals.

Elias Lyngdoh Nonglait succumbed to his injuries. He was beaten up at Them Bijou by a group of goons on the 7^th December 2021 and later passed away on the 21^st of December 2021. The case is yet to see the proper light of day.

Note: In these incidences, the specific Kongs were blind and deaf. 

Sub-community – Tribals and other tribals:
In the second, Kong has attempted to divide the Khasi Community several times. When the Khasi Lineage Bill was proposed, she fought back vehemently as it was personal. She fought for her biological children which she should, any mother would. But the wrong that came with it is the misleading statements on the debate which were made on purpose to divide and to misinform. It was made into a controversy to attract sensational headlines. While being personal with personal agendas, marketing an issue as a crisis of the Jaitbynriew is always productive. The dogma is the antidote to lure uninformed youths and a section of the misinformed over-knowledgeable adults.

Note: There were several suggestions then, one was also by the writer; the act should not be biased based on gender. If the Khasi Woman should lose her identity for marrying a non-Khasi then so should the man if he marries a non-Khasi girl.

The divide and Rule blueprint and its relationship with Meghalaya:
The Britishers left India with a scarred stigma. India was never meant to be peaceful. If we are to learn something from India, the foundation of peace was shook when India was partitioned, many experts made a mockery of the Radcliffe Line, but little did they know that while they all were busy laughing, and later arguing, Sir Cyril Radcliffe had demarcated a chaotic Indian map automated on a self-destruct mode mover the generations.

With Meghalaya, is it not envisioned to be the same?! Scatter the tribals, brand them tags to wear, and make them fight among themselves to make way for the immigrants and the tenants who wished to become masters of the beautiful lands we call Ri Khasi.

We, Khun khasi Khara need start educating our own brothers and sisters first that Khynriam, u Pnar, U Bhoi, U War, Maram, Lyngam, Muliang-Nongtrai are from the same tribe that we proudly called Khasi. We should no longer be offended if we’re identified as a Khasi and not by the name of the sub-tribe that we carry.

A sincere plea to my jaitbynriew is to not be blinded or be led by the sound of these clanging cymbal, who’ll sometime pretend to stand with us so that they can sit with them, lured us to follow suit because we have a repay back the “good deeds” that they have shouldered once to remind us for a lifetime of the interest we owed to them.

An attempt has been made over the years to divide the already divided Khasi Community. The rustic lot from the urban folk, the Khasi women from the Khasi men, by branding Khasi men with different names to instigate and widen the crack of conflict. But, as youths, we have a clear message to send,

Ka pateng U Khasi kan iai tyllun,
I’u Myllung ka ri ngim lah pynhun.
Ngin ym long ki nongtongum u mynder,
Na Ri Thor ki wan, bak sha la Ri Thor kin her.

Ka pyrta ka Mei iangi ban ia tylli,

Keiň noh ka jingrep tit ha Rilum Khasi,
Khynriam, U Pnam, U Bhoi, U War. . .
U dei u paid Khasi ba ĭar.