About District

West Jaintia Hills District is one of the 11 (eleven) districts of the state of Meghalaya. With the bifurcation of the erstwhile Jaintia Hills District into East and West Jaintia Hills District, West Jaintia Hills District came into existence on 31st July 2012 with its Head Quarter at Jowai. Jowai is the host of all the heads of important governmental offices and establishments, educational institutions, hospitals, banking institutions, etc

The total area of the district is 1693 Sq.kms. The district comprises of 1(one) Civil Sub-Division Viz. Amlarem Civil Sub-Division and 3(three) Community and Rural Development Blocks viz. Amlarem C&RD Block, Laskein C&RD Block and Thadlaskein C&RD Block with the following boundaries:-

North – Assam

South – Bangladesh and East Jaintia Hills District

East – Assam

West – East Khasi Hills District

The district has a total population of 2,70,352, of which 1,34,406 are males and 1,35,946 are females. The density of Population is 159.69 per sq. km.

Climate

The Climate of West l aintia Hills District is uniquely pleasant and caressing. It is neithertoo warm in summer nor too cold in winter. The rainfall profile is very high during the south west monsoon, which usually starts from the middle of May and declines towards the last part of September. The intensity of rainfall in the district during the last few years has registered a rising trend, due to the untimely vagary of monsoon coupled by the existence of fogs, mists and nimbus clouds which loom large during the rainy season. The Average Relative Humidity is the highest during the month of July while December records the lowest Relative Humidity.

Administration

The Deputy Commissioner is the head of the District Administration.The Deputy Commissioner is the Executive head as well as jud icial head of the district. The Deputy Commissioner is aided by a number of officers like Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Officer of Civi l Sub-Division and Extra Assistant Commissioners to assist him in different types of activities. As the execu tive head, the Deputy Commissioner plays a vital role in coordinating with all developmental heads of the d istrict for all round developmental activities.

Maintenance of law and order is another important aspect of district ad minis tration to give proper security and to safegua rd the lives and properties of the citizens. In this regard, the Deputy Commissioner acts as the District Magistrate for main tenance of law and order in the district. The District Magistrate is assisted by Additional Deputy Magistrate,Sub-Division Magistrate and other Executive Magistrates and keeps close Li nk with police department for necessity. The Superintendent of Police is the head of the Police The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills District is located at Iawmusiang,Jowai.The district consists of 5(five) Assembly Constituencies, Viz. 1-Nartiang(ST),2-Jowai (ST), 3-Raliang(ST), 4-Mowkaiaw(ST) and 7-Amlarem(ST). The members of the Legislative Assemblies are elected by Adult suffrage for a term of 5(five) years.

There is one Autonomous District Council, viz. Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council which is headed by the Chief Executive Member, assisted by the Executive Members. The council discharges the functions and duties as assigned to it under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India. The functions and duties of the council are discharged through the Executive,Legislative and Judiciary wings. The members of the council are elected by adult suffrage for a term of 5(five) years.The office of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council is located at Iawm usiang,Jowai.

Cultural Heritage

West Jaintia Hills District is the home of one of the major tribes of Meghalaya popularly known as the ‘Jaintias’ or the ‘Pnars’ and other sub tribes like the wars, the ‘Bhois’ and the ‘Biates’. Like the Khasis, the Jaintias are believed to be remnants of the first Mongolian overflow into India. They  established themselves in their present homeland in the remote past and owi ng primarily to their geographical isolation they succeeded in  maintaining their independence until the consolidation of the British administration in this part of India.

Jaintias are a matri lineal society whic h is a very rare and unique practice where the children take the identity or family title solely from the mother. Women are very lucky in this way, because they a re treated with equal rights but the head of the family is always the father. Amongst the Jaintias, it is the youngest daughter who inherits property and has the obligation to take care and look after the fa mily members incase of any financial or health problems.

Language

The people inhabiting the district are the Pnars, Wars, Bhois (Karbis) and Biates mainly. So it is obvious that not one language is spoken. But the main language widely used by the inhabitants of this di strict is the Pnar Language which is different in every sense from the Khasi language of the East and West Khasi Hills Districts of this State of Meghalaya. As is known there is no written script for this language and Khasi is used for ed uca ti ve purposes.English is the only medium of insb’uction used in some schools e.g. Adventist Trai ning School. Other schools use the vernacular dialect in Roman letter (Khasi Cherra dialect) and English as the medium of instruction. However for high school section,English was adopted as the medium of instruction and Khasi dialect was studied as a vernacular subject. It is known that a few loca l learned people are trying to devise the alphabets for the Pnar language.Besides English, Hindi , Nepali, Bengali, Assamese, are spoken by outsiders for communication. A lot of outsiders can speak the Local language pretty well, making work and communication easier.

Dance and Music

Pnars are fond of d ance, Illusic, sports and festivals. Mindful of their cultural heritage, these simple folks are jovial and hospitable. Pnars are particularly fond of songs praising nahlre like lakes, waterfalls, hills etc. and expressing love for their land.They use different types of musical instruments like Duitara, Sarong, (both a restringed instruments), Ka Nakra, Padiah, Katasa (different types of drums), Marynken (harp), Chu wiang, Tangmuri (flutes) etc.

Pnars are music lovers and consider ‘Ka Duitara’as the Queen of music. Traditionally ‘Ryndia khyrwang’, ‘Ryndia Saru’ , ‘Ryndia Stem’,’Ryndia Tlem’ were worn by Jaintia ladies.Men used to wear Sula, Yuslei n, Patoi, Dhara etc. Usually women wear gold and silver ornaments like KhaiJa, Kpien Ksiar, Sahkti,Khadu, Pansngiat (tiara),etc. during Laho dance.Both males and females perform the Laho dance. Attired in their best finery, usually young men on either side of a woman holding arms together, dance in steps. In place of the usual drum and pipe, a cheerleader, usually a man gifted with the talent of impromptu recitation, recites couplets to the merriment of the audience.

‘Shad Pliang’ or plate dance was performed in the Royal palaces to please royal guests.This dance is performed in fields also.

Chad Sukra : This festival of dances is held annually in Jowai and many villages of West Jaintia Hills District, for a day in the month of Aprilj May before the sowing season.

Festival

Behdeinkhlam :

This is the most important festi val of the Jaintias and is celebrated after the sowing is done. It is celebrated annually at Jowai, Ialong, Mukhla,Thadmuthlong and Chyrmang usually in the month of July-August. It is a popular and colourful festival. Men only, young and old, take part in the dancing to the tune of the drums and flute.Women do not take part in the dancing but have an important role to play at home in offering sacrificial food to the spirit of the ancestors. They invoke their aid and intercession that life here below will be good and worthy for the next one above. Men make a symbolic driving away of the evil spirits which cause sickness and misery, by beating the roof of every house with bamboo poles. This festival is also an invocation to God seeking His blessing for a good harvest.

Religion

The original tribal religion of the Jaintias is known as Niamtre. The Jaintia tribals believe that their religion is God-given (not founded by man) and comes to this world by God’s decree. The three cardinal principles dictated by God are kamai yei hok, tipbru tipblai and tipkur tipkha. They signify right living and practice based 011 right livelihood fulfillment of duties toward fellow men to reach God and showing respect to the members of one’s father’s and mother’s clans. Therefore Niamtre stresses equal weight to be given to fellow humans to attain God’s realisation.The British paramountcy during the Seventeenth Century brought about the winds of change in many aspects of the Jaintia society, a good percentage of the people started em bracing Christianity as their religion. Also with the coming of the Welsh Missionaries, many significant changes took place which had certain effects on the value system, beliefs, speech, etiquettes, food habits, life styles and most importantly in the fields of health,education and economic condition of the people. Traditionally, if anyone died in the village, the whole village would stop their work and gather at the deceased person’s house. People still follow the custom inspite of the hectic schedule of everyday modern life.Apart from Christians, there are other religious groups in the district like the Unitarians, the Hindus, the Muslims etc.

Arts and Crafts

Jaintia people are famous for their weaving skills and creating cane mats, stools and baskets. They are also famous for weaving of carpet and silk and the making of musical instruments, jewellery and pineapple fiber articles.They also weave cloth. A collection of various types of clothing used by both men and women of this district.They include dresses worn during festivity as well as in their day to day life.

Pottery

Jaintia people are famous for their potterys kills. They make special kinds of earthen containers (Maloi) used to store food items and others, earthen tea pots (Tipot Khyndew Heh) used for storing the prepared tea for serving purpose or simply for storing water, earthen mugs (Mok Um) used for drinking water.

Food

Jaintia people a re very fond of Jadoh, a nourishing Biryani clone. It is prepared from pig head.Jadoh is served with Dokhleh (pieced pork). Another important cuisine is Tpusein(a steamed rice bread) which is bland in taste and it is taken with piping hot tea.Jaintias are famous for preparing “Tungtoh” or “Tungrymbai” which is a pungent mix of fermented beans and spices that adds the flavor to the simplest meal or festive spread.Another traditional delicacy of the Jailltias is ‘Kha rang'(dried fish) which is crispy in taste.’Kwai’ which is similar to ‘Tamul+Pan’ in Assam hasa special social importance.