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Umshyrpi River flowing on the City of Shillong

Shillong the capital of Meghalaya also known as the “Scotland of the East”. It earn this name from the beautiful landscape and the cleanliness equivalent to Scotland. That was a long long ago. Does Shillong still fit to be known as “The Scotland of the East”? It is a question that need to be pondered deeply. It has always been a fact that most tourist were attracted by the name and fame of Shillong, and when they visit the place they were guided on their entire tour which I can say will most likely be Ward’s Lake, Sweet Falls, Elephant’s Falls, and many more popular places. But I can say that not even once were they presented with the true Shillong. Take a look from the Ajalee’s Station up to Motphran, the road is full of garbage and stuff you’ll be vomiting if you happen to remember at dinner time. Where is the Clean and Green Shillong?

Looking at the “Wahumkhrah” River, it was all full of rubbish dumped from different localities. But no one seem to check on this too. It was sad to see our beautiful river being choked with plastics, cartoons and many items that are not degradable. People washes their vehicles and many garage would dump their wastes into the same river.

Today I happen to be very near “Umshyrpi” River around 11:50 PM (IST) when heavy downpour start. I watch the river which is full of garbage, polythene bags, and many debris of different types. The rain lasted for 35 mins. What followed was a a foul smell near the river. I could see thick black water flowing from drainage system to the river carrying almost everything you can find. When the rain almost stop, what I observed was, the water from the drain are clearer compared to half an hour before. Well, I believe that this is really amazing, half an hour heavy shower and Shillong is almost clean (Except the river is more dirty).

The Obvious Question is can we make Shillong “the Scotland of the East” once again? What are the steps required if we want to? Why not pass a bill in parliament to Preserve the Beauty of Shillong?

The answer to the above question depends on all of us…

Lets not make our Children to Curse us by not keeping their water resources clean.
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Khlem da lah ban nym sngewsih, sngewsynei, sngew myllung ia ki paradoh parasnam jong ngi ha Langpih. Ha kajuh ka por kum ki Khristan, ngi sngew kumno ia ka jingjia ha Langpih? Ka ktien U Blei ka ong, “Ieid ia u paramarjan jong me kum ialade”, ka ong shuh shuh “Ieid ia u nongshun jong me”!!! Hang ta te nga sngew kumba la kynduh mawsiang. Kaei ba phi sngew pynpaw hangne.

Khasi is a unique tribe that inhabit the northeastern part of India. The Khasi dwell in the beautiful hills of Meghalaya. The uniqueness of Khasis is in their language. In most place the same tribe would have only one language or speak the same. When I met other tribal in this region I find that they have the same language to communicate among themselves. Whereas the Khasi has a different dialect for each village. The village that I stayed is not having the same dialect as the other one in the next village. And we won’t understand each other if we have a conversation.

You may be wondering then how we trade and do business in this place? Well the answer is we have a common dialect which is considered as the official Khasi dialect also called as “Ktien Sohra” meaning the dialect of the people from Sohra. This dialect is also called as “Ktien Khasi” meaning the dialect of the Khasis. The “Ktien Sohra” don’t have any alphabet but was coined by the British Missionaries, using phonetic codes.

The location where the Khasis dwell is also known as the Khasi Hills, with beautiful landscape and natural beauty. Waterfalls clean and clear streams that roll out into the wild. It is also know once as “The Scotland of the East”. Well I believe that term no longer applies. But it was still known as “The abode of Clouds”. Its a beautiful place to visit and enjoy with the nature.

One lyricist wrote a lyric about the Khasi Hills in tune of the anthem of Wales. The lyric goes as follows:

“Ri Khasi Ri Khasi, nga ieit ia pha
Ka Ri ka ba ieit u barim u ba jah
Ki tymmen mynhyndai la ngam iohi shuh
Jingkynmaw ia ki kan nymduh”

Here is one of the shot I took recently on the Trip to Sohra. Sohra is also well known as the Wettest place on the planet earth. Widely known as “Cherrapunjee”

A beautiful view of the Landscape on the Way to Sohra

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