Tura, Jan 24: Citizens of Bonepa A’tilla locality of Tura, once a historical place of a famous garo chieftain, have raised strong objections against a local media organization terming its comments on a mural created in the area to celebrate Meghalaya statehood day as highly misleading and one sided.

The Shillong Times newspaper had depicted the mural, that was created outside a school wall, which shows a headhunting battle of the garos as something not in sync with the peaceful creation of the state of Meghalaya.The front page of The Shillong Times sunday edition had a picture of the mural and a caption that read- “The mural in question depicts the headhunting days of the Garo tribe, a fact that is well known in the history of the tribe itself.

However, its depiction for the attainment of the statehood itself, which was achieved through peaceful protests and dialogue, has been questioned.”

The citizens of Bonepa have responded to the allegation and  accused the media group of distorting historical facts.

“We the residents of Bonepa A’tilla locality in Tura strongly object to the “Photo Caption Story”, which appeared in the front page of The Shillong Times, Garo Hills Edition on 23rd January, 2022,” the residents charged.

They accused the newspaper of highlighting only one part of the story- that of the head hunting days, and not about the transformation from a violent way of life to that of a peace loving one after embracing Christianity.

There are also paintings of the three hill state movement leaders depicted in murals which did not get mention in the newspaper, they complain. Our art depicts that ages ago, the Garos withstood and shielded its community even at the cost of beheading someone. However, with times and advent of Christianity, the Garos have imbibed the Christian virtues and have evolved to be peace loving people, states the release.

Through our art, we do not intent to hurt anybody’s sentiment but we wanted to give out a message of the historical relevance of our locality, which finds mentions in the Garo society.

We apt it fit to tell to the world that our locality was the ground where the council of Garo chiefs met to adopt a resolution on the matrilineal society, a culture which the Garos are proud of.

Giving a detailed concept note on the wall murals, the locality leaders wrote that the series of wall art depicted traces the history of the Garos from ancient times to the achievement of statehood fifty years ago. The Garos were a ferocious  tribe who practised head hunting during ancient times. It was only much later, with gradual contact with other communities and settlement in villages, and conversion to Christianity that the practice came to an end, they mentioned quoting history.

The name of the locality ‘Bonepa A’tilla’ is significant because it is named after the grand council held on the grounds of a powerful Chief known as Bonepa. Garo mythology narrates how it was in this grand council of all chiefs and elders of clan that a resolution was made to convert from patriarchy to matriliny, where lineage would henceforth be traced through the woman.Since then, the Garos have followed the matrilineal system, a unique social structure, found in few places around the world- where property is passed through the female and lineage traced through her.

The portraits painted are of three eminent leaders who spearheaded the Hill State movement which began in 1952 and which was achieved after almost 2 decades.Mody K Marak was the founder of the 1st Garo Regional party known as Garo National Conference which was renamed Garo National Council later. The hill state movement began at the urging of this very party.Capt. Williamson A Sangma is known as the architect of Meghalaya. He was the undisputed leader of the non-violent movement in which every citizen of the state supported or participated in. He was the first Chief Minister of Meghalaya, later MP and Governor of Mizoram.Sanford K Marak was a young leader of the Hill State Movement, who resigned from Assam Police Service to actively participate in the movement. He was inducted as Minister in 1970, of the interim govt of Meghalaya Autonomous State prior to full statehood in 1972, this becoming the first Garo Minister in the State.

The newspaper published a portion of the art work which depicts the head hunting practice with caption that it does not show any relevance to the Statehood Day. In this regard, we would request you to kindly understand the historical relevance as to why Bonepa locality came up with such a concept.

That Bonepa locality stands by its art work that showcases the historic facts of our tribe and how over time, we have evolved as a peace loving citizens.