Shillong November 21: The department of philosophy of Lady Keane College in collaboration with the Indian Council of Philosophical Research, New Delhi and ICSSR-NERC, Shillong organized a national seminar on Environmental ethics on tribal societies with special reference to north-east India at Lady Keane College here on Wednesday.
Addressing the seminar Former Dean of School of Humanities, Languages and Education-NEHU Prof Sujata Miri observed that due to egoism and pride of human beings are inclined to violate the natural order hence there was the need for moral education which the tradition provided with the help of stories.
“The tribal leaders extended the idea of respect to the natural world not because they conceived it is an extension of human community but as equal members inhabiting mother earth, ‘Ka Mei-Ramew’”, Prof Miri said.
While narrating a story of two river goddesses namely Umngot (Myngngot) and Umiam which depicted Umiam, the younger sister as the proud and Umngot as the steady sister, the Former Dean said the elders emphasized the underlying motive of all rivers to flow for the welfare of mankind and to set an example to rash and arrogant men by showing the victory and steady Umngot river.
“Umngot’s actions can be seen as an embodying the quality of natural goodness in contrast to her Umiam, who went against the laws of nature through ignorance and stupidity, meets a violent end”, she said.
Miri also said that different legends never tire of describing the majestic and splendor of natural forces. “There is a deeper message for their progeny pointing to certain guidelines for living a good life and the Khasi way is one of joyousness, an open-hearted acceptance of life which regards the universe as basically good”, she added.
“The moral obligation on tribal thought springs not because of the rational will or some other subjective consideration of man but it springs rather from the sacredness of the entire natural order. Man, animals, rivers and mountains are equal members of a community, having obligations and duties to one another”, Prof Miri said.
She also opined that tribal thought is strictly non-hierarchical and no species exists for the sake of another, all exist for the sake of all and for the sake of the entire community of species which is sacredly grounded.
“Instead of theorizing about this fact in academic journals, tradition taught this through songs and stories, sung and told on appropriate occasions”, she said. .(SP News)
