Shillong, Jan 28: Academia at the Center for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, National Law School of India University, Bangalore, were intrigued and surprised to know about the partyless khasi democracy, as they have not heard nor learnt of existence of such institutions.
This was expressed during a meeting between Dr S Japhet, Professor & Director, Center for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, National Law School of India University, Bangalore, and Bah John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board, Chairman, The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, Spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States, held on 23 Jan 2014, in the renowned National Law School University Campus.
The discussions centered around the various ‘democracies’ the academicians were very kren to know more about the Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid and Dorbar Hima.
It was expressed that while a number of democracies were based on the ‘first past the post’ and existence of ‘ruling an opposition’ concept, on the other hand they were surprised to learn that the khasi democracy was based on the foundation of ‘consensus’ there was no concept of ‘Ruling or Opposition’.
Bah John Kharshiing informed them that the Khasi electoral process for electing their Village, Clan and Hima Chiefs was based on the foundation of ‘uba ioh ia ka mon uba bun ba lang’ meaning ‘consensus’ while Indian Democracy was based on ‘Majority’.
They wanted to know more about the ‘recall’ process which has been the traditional practice for thousands of generations. Bah John F Kharshiing, informed them that this process included the holding of the annual Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid and Dorbar Hima on presence of the citizens ‘u khun u hajar’ once a year, and that in the event they hav list the confidence of the citizens they could be re-called by u khun u hajar at any time, there was no fixed tenure in the traditional,electoral process.
On being informed by Bah John Kharshiing, they were surprised to learn that there was no Election Commission to oversee the election of the traditional representatives at the village, clan or Hima Level, and were also surprised to learn that the treaties Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement 17 August 1948 (IOA & AA) of the Federation of khasi States, were yet to be concluded by the central authority.
Those present in the discussions Dr S Japhet, Professor & Director, Center for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, National Law School of India University, Bangalore, Dr Bala Gurumurthy, President, Normadic Tribes Mahasabha, and Dr. S. Madheswaran, Adviser, Planning, Govt. Of Karnataka and other academia of National Law School University.
Rgds, John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board, Chairman, The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, Spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States.(SP News)
