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Telangana inspires tribals to fight for revival of their kingdoms
After spurring statehood demands across the Northeast, the Telengana tsunami has now shaken something out of the pages of history – tribal kingdoms, reports Rahul Karmakar
After spurring statehood demands across the Northeast, the Telengana tsunami has now shaken something out of the pages of history – tribal kingdoms.
Riding the clamour to divide Meghalaya into two states, one for the Garo tribe and the other for the Khasis and Jaintias, tribal chieftains have sought the reinstatement of the Himas or Khasi kingdom-states. They have also asked New Delhi to undo a wrong done to these tribal kingdoms via the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement (IOA&AA) in 1947.
The Garos, Khasis and Jaintias are the three principal matrilineal tribes of Meghalaya, which was carved out of Assam as a tribal state in 1972.
According to the Federation of Khasi States (FKS), there were 25 Himas prior to India’s Independence. On August 15, 1947, these kingdom-states signed the Standstill Arrangement for a period of two years.
“However, 19 of these states were threatened, intimidated and forced to accept the IOA&AA on December 15, 1947. The remaining six were made to follow suit between January 11, 1948 and March 19, 1949,” said FKS spokesperson John F Kharshhiing.
FKS, the apex body of all Himas, is a non-formalized government that has been handling social, administrative and judicial matters at the local level, somewhat like the Panchayati Raj system. Elections sans expenditure are periodically held in this government.
Decisions taken by the Dorbars are often in conflict with the democratically-elected government of Meghalaya. Sticklers to the traditional system of governance thus dislike the latter’s “interference”.
“The IOA&AA was to facilitate administration between the heads of the three-tier Dorbar (Assembly-like traditional administrative body) and the Government of India. These Dorbars continue to be relevant for the people,” Kharshiing told Hindustan Times.
After IOA&AA came into effect on April 29, 1949, the Governor of Assam inaugurated the first (Constitution Making Dorbar) of the Khasi States which had 86 members representing the Himas and various villages. “Owing to lack of representation in Delhi, the IOA&AA was not included in the final draft when the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949,” Kharshiing explained.
Consequently, the Sixth Schedule was imposed on the Khasi States while the Instrument of Accession of Kashmir found mention in Article 370 simply “because the Kashmiris had four representatives in the then Constituent Assembly”.
The FKS argued that New Delhi’s failure in fulfilling its national commitment made in the treaties to the 25 Himas was the cause for constant conflict between the indigenous people and legislations by the Parliament from time to time. “We are not secessionist; we want our rights to self-rule restored, and with minimum official interference,” Kharshiing said.
The Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance government has declined to comment “at this juncture”. However, Urban Affairs Minister Paul Lyngdoh felt the demand has scope for discussion.
