Travel and Research: Shella: A multi ethnic village at Indo- Bangladesh border

Shella: A multi ethnic village at Indo- Bangladesh border

Village Shella is situated in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya, India under the Sohra Division. Shella is well connected by road ways with Shillong to Guwahati route. Shella is 500 feet above sea level. The village has Post Office, Police Station and Primary Health Centres at Sohlap and Disong. Village Shella is divided into ten hamlets namely, Sohlap, Pyrkan, Umdoh, Mawrynkhong, Jasir, Nongnong, Rymsongkatonor, Jamew, Duba and Disong which are spread over both at hills as well as in plain areas. The village Shella is surrounded by Kalatec from the east; Khamalai, Palbasti, Norburoi, Khamohi and Khabada from the west; there is no village in north; Dalia, Khasyndha, Dishantila, Khlewumthang, Bamuntila, Adorghar and Umkhabo from the south. There are three primary schools and one secondary school at Sohlap and one higher secondary school run by Ramakrishna Mission is situated at Disong.

War Khasi is the dominating population and Christianity is the major religion. Approximately 70 % are Christians and 30 % follow Hinduism and traditional religion. There are three churches situated at Pyrkan, Mawrynkhong and Sohlap. One Roman Catholic Church comes under Sohlap. The conversion took place about 40 to 50 years back when Hindu dominancy was persists. Thomas Jone came to this village from England to preach Christianity. Theological College at Cherapunjee was also founded by him. There is also one Hindu temple of Chandi Devi situated at the BSF camp at Sohlap. Chandi Devi is worshipped in the form of a black stone. There is also another stone kept beside Chandi Devi which is also worshipped as Jainti Devi. The temple is maintained by BSF and the cash box and other monetary matters are handled by the temple committee. Bengali Brahmin use to perform all rituals organised by temple authority.

The village social system is the matrilineal. After marriage male is the head of the family. Decision making authority belongs to male. Marriage is not allowed with the same clan (kur). The youngest daughter of the family inherits the maximum property. She also owned the house, whereas, other movable and immovable property may be shared among the other brothers and sisters.

The village local administration is headed by the Head Man. Head Man of the village is the judicial authority. All the ten hamlets of the village have one Head Man and each hamlet has one secretary. Function of secretary is to select the members. There are twenty six members selected from all the hamlets. They summon Darbar to select the members. Shella, Mustoh, Nongwar, Nunnong, Umtalang, Tynger, Dewsaw, Longtrai, Lyngkhom, all these villages are under Wahahadar. Both male and female have the right to vote. Dorbar Hima is equivalent to Dorbar Shnong. Every village has to send three people to Wahahadar Dorbar. Out of these three people one can be the Head Man and another two can be the secretary. One is executive and another is the judicial body. The Joint Secretary of Khasi Autonomous Council is presently functioning as Wahahadar. Block Development Officer cannot interfere in this entire local village administration system.

The existence of intermixed community and religion are also noted from the field. Although the people of Shella speak their language and follow their own culture but there is also a touch of Bengali influence because it is situated very near to Bangladesh border.

The people of the village depend on River Shella for their main source of water. Tube well, dug well, etc. is not found in any of houses. They draw water from the river for both drinking and other purposes.

Megalithic structure at Shelle village