Tura, Jan 30: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Sunday inaugurated the first ever Matrilineal Research Centre at Harding Theological College in Edenbari, Tura hailing its establishment as a crucial institute that will not only document the way of life of the matrilineal system but also provide researchers from across the world the opportunity to come and see this unique way of life of the Garos and other tribes that practise this extremely rare system.
Inaugurated the Matrilineal Study Research Centre of Harding Theological College at Edenbari, Tura with MLA, Thomas A Sangma. The Matrilineal system represents Meghalaya’s unique tribal identity & this Center will play a pivotal role in strengthening our rich heritage@MundaArjun pic.twitter.com/n6XoRTUuYc
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) January 30, 2022
Unveiling the plaque at the centre in the presence of theological professors of the Harding College and North Tura MLA Thomas A Sangma, the chief minister said that the quality of a college or university the world over is always based on the kind of research it does.
“If you look at the top colleges and universities across the world, the focus is always based on their research. In our state we are lacking research. The establishment of this centre is immensely important because it is paving the way for us to research the identity of not just us Garos, but other tribes that also practise the matrilineal system of life. I have not come across any other institute that does this,” said the chief minister.
He said that Berkeley University in California, USA, which has tied up with Meghalaya state for an innovative programme called SMART Village Movement has expressed its keenness to collaborate with the Matrilineal Research Centre in its ongoing research.
“The lead professor from Berkeley who accompanied me to the Mangsang Sobha, last year, told me how excited he is about the coming up of the Matrilineal Research Centre. He told me that his university is keen to connect some of his research students to come to Garo Hills and collaborate with Harding Theological College’s Matrilineal Research Centre. This is a very big step that will take research to new heights,” a confident Conrad Sangma told the gathering.
Dwelling on the importance of documentation, the chief minister said most of the practice of matrilineal systems is passed on from generation to generation by way of mouth with no proper documentation.
“Documentation is very important because people from around the world will come to see the research, videography, photography and records. Researchers from the world will come to study our way of life and see its impact on society-be it positive or negative, if any, and this will be the real contribution of this institute,” a confident chief minister said.
