Khasi Ethics

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Foreword

Humans are defined as "social beings" which means that we cannot but live in a community. But living in a society or in a community, requires a "good" or call it "genial" atmosphere, one characterized by mutual acceptance, respect and love. Ethics constitutes a very vital part of any culture. It is the foundation stone on which the personal as well as the social life of a community is built on. Ethics promotes mutual respect and fairness in dealings. When it comes to social responsibilities, ethics helps us to behave responsibly or to act in such a manner that our actions benefit both the community and the environment.

If a human culture has proven to be a positive experience for any community, it is the ethical principles that they uphold which guarantee their harmonious co-existence. Imagine a conglomeration of people who are not guided by any ethical principles, what a chaotic existence it would be for them. We are living in a world that has become a "global village" where people of various races, cultures and religions live side by side. In such an existence, there cannot be a peaceful co-existence unless people are governed by certain ethical principles. Often wars are fought like the one going on in Ukraine just because a certain nation chooses to flout some basic ethical principles with impunity. At other times economic wars take place between countries because they do not respect some accepted norms of commercial ethics. Presently, we are faced with the impact of climate change which has put the entire human existence in jeopardy. This is happening because human beings have flouted the environmental ethics and exploited nature mercilessly.

The Khasi community since times immemorial, has always tried to live by its ethical code of conduct. Ethical principles have always governed their relationship within the family, within the Kur (clan), within the village and within the Hima (kingdom). The Khasi principal ethical code "kamai ia ka hok" (earn righteousness) has been the guiding principle of the life of the community till today. The Khasis still remember and still speak of this great ethical norm although they may not adhere to it as they used to do in the past. The adverse influences coming from outside have corrupted the community and today the age-old ethical norms are being flouted openly. Today individualism accompanied by greed and ambition, has sneaked into the Khasi community and social ethics is at its worst. This is posing a great threat to the integrity and identity of the community.

This book on Khasi Ethics by Dr. Barnes Mawrie, is intended not merely to document the valuable ethical principles of the Khasis, but above all it is intended to awaken the community to its glorious way of life that we seem to have gradually lost. The Khasi millennials and Gen Z are quite ignorant about the past and there is a dangerous "cultural illiteracy" gaining ground today. Lack of connection with the past and with the valuable heritage of our ancestors, will definitely lead the community towards the precipice of doom. Ignorance about one's own culture is ignorance about oneself and about one's own history and origin. The lack of awareness about our own valuable ethical principles is all the more threatening for our survival. It is precisely to address this urgent need that this book could become instrumental in re-educating the young generation in the traditional values of the Khasis.

Preface

Ethics plays an important role in the life and history of every people. It shapes their minds and hearts and ensures the continuity of a civilisation. Man is a moral being and therefore he is governed by moral laws in his personal and social life. Because he is also a relational being, he is guided in his relationship with others by these rules of ethics. Ethics makes social life possible and gives integrity to a person in his/her personal life.

The Khasis as a group of people possess very sound ethics. They are governed by a great sense of justice and righteousness. The Khasis believe that it was in the Second Divine Assembly (Durbar-blei baar) that God assigned to them the moral code of conduct. Khasi ethics have been preserved through oral tradition in the form of narratives which have passed on from one generation to the next. Until today no complete study has been made on the theme of Khasi ethics. We find sporadic references to it in many writings of Khasi scholars like H. O. Mawrie, R. T. Rymbai and others. In most of these writings Khasi ethics is never treated in a systematic or organic manner. Comparatively, ethics is still an unexplored subject in Khasi literature or in any other tribal literature for that matter. It is this realisation that has prompted me to undertake a more thorough study of this subject. I am immensely encouraged to see that the readership of this book has grown from year to year and many scholars are using it for their scholarly references.

Right at the start of this book I would like to place on record my gratitude to my family members for encouraging me throughout this project. I am also indebted to Fr. Festus Shadap SDB for his encouraging support and friendship. My special words of gratitude to the Martin Luther Christian University for taking up the publication of this 3rd Edition of the book.

Finally, I express my thanks to all the staff and students of Sacred Heart Theological College, Mawlai, who have always been a source of encouragement and inspiration for me all throughout this undertaking.

Introduction

Human beings are social and moral beings. They live in communities and are governed by a set of ethical norms of conduct. In every society both personal and social ethics influence a person in his or her decisions and behaviour. Ethics is concerned with "good" and "bad", "right" and "wrong" actions and behaviours which in turn determine the quality of human relationship in society. Ethics is an immediate concern of human beings and permeates the whole life of an individual person.

This book is intended to give an overall view of the Khasi ethical life. Therefore, an attempt is made to touch upon every aspect of life where morality is concerned, viz., personal and social. Since the Khasis have a strong sense of the kur, there is an elaborate discussion on social ethics. The whole discussion on the moral conduct of the Khasis is based entirely on their traditional belief and customs; and tradition is a strong point among tribal people. It is the scope of this work to provide the fundamental aspects regarding Khasi ethics. As the title of the book indicates, it is intended to introduce the readers to the vast meaning and nature of Khasi ethics.

The methodology followed in this study is an analytical-folkloristic method combined with a hermeneutical approach. By analysing the moral stories and folktales of the Khasis we have come to certain conclusions concerning their moral life and ethical system. This method is in keeping with the Narrative Introduction.

Ethics which bases itself on stories and folktales. The hermeneutical method is employed to bring out the meaning and significance of these narratives. Hermeneutics also helps us to come to certain important conclusions regarding the ethical system of the Khasis.

The whole book is divided into eight chapters. Chapter 1 is on What is Ethics? To speak so much about ethics without the prior knowledge of what ethics is or what is its scope, would be too unsystematic an approach. Therefore, in the first chapter, a brief discussion on the scope and nature of ethics is provided. Ethics is closely linked with society, so a discussion on the Hynniewtrep society (the Khasis) is included here.