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The voice of the Khasis

Documentary on the indigenous sect to be screened at the UN Headquarters

Harun ur Rashid
FOR the first time the voice of the Khasis, a small indigenous sect in the northeastern part of Bangladesh, comes out from the deep forest and projects itself at the international level. The united Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (uNPFII) screens a documentary on the Khasis today at its fourth session (May 16-27) at the uN Headquarters in New York.
Titled Behind the Green, the 33-minute documentary is the result of relentless one-and-half-year work carried out by the Indigenous Peoples Development Services. Directed by Shakil Ahmed, the film presents the rich historical heritage of the Khasis, living in Sylhet district and their day-to-day pristine life. It is also the saga of the inherent bond that exists between nature and these indigenous people.
The empire of Khasi King Jayanta during the 19th century stretched up to the Indian state Meghalaya. Legend has it that even when the
entire Indian subcontinent was ruled by the British, King Jayanta had full control over his Khasi territory.
Betel leaf is the major source of income for the Khasi people. The documentary shows how this ancestral way of livelihood has made these people care for nature and preserve it. Since the betel leaf grows on other trees, preserving the trees from destruction--both human and natural--has become an inherent part of the Khasi culture.
Even Sylhet district got its name from the Khasi language. The documentary reveals that the origin of the name is neither "Sylhaat" nor "Sylhatta". "It was rather 'Sella Haat', sella meaning 'title' and haat meaning 'market', from which Sylhet derived its name," informs a Khasi source.
Like other indigenous peoples in the country, the Khasis are a culturally rich community with
many occasions for dance and music. The colourful costumes, the traditional musical instruments, the music, the dance steps--everything corresponds to the simplicity of the lifestyle of these people.
However, this simplicity once seemed to be a curse for the very existence of the Khasis, when Bangladesh government wanted to turn the ancestral homeland of the Khasis into an Eco Park.
Following tremendous resentment among people, however, the government changed its decision and the Khasis stayed where they have been living for ages.
The documentary now aims at creating awareness among other indigenous peoples as well as the Bangalee community living around them.