Seinraij Jowai, a prominent organization representing the Indigenous faith of Meghalaya, has expressed its gratitude to the State Government for its efforts toward improving the state in sectors such as education, health, and youth empowerment. The organization particularly lauded the establishment of the state’s first university, Captain Williamson Sangma State University, as a milestone in the government’s educational initiatives.
However, Seinraij Jowai has strongly opposed the government’s decision to consecrate the university through a massive Christian Prayer Service on January 13, 2025. The announcement, made by Education Minister Shri Rakkam A. Sangma, has sparked widespread concern. In a statement, the Minister reportedly justified the event by comparing it to Hindu rituals conducted in Parliament, saying, “If the Parliament can be blessed with Hindu rituals, why not a Christian ritual in a Christian state?”
Seinraij Jowai condemned this statement, asserting that it undermines the secular fabric of the Indian Constitution and infringes upon Articles 25 and 26, which guarantee the right to freedom of religion. The organization called the Minister’s statement an attempt to create communal division in Meghalaya and a disregard for the state’s Indigenous faith and heritage.
In their statement, the Seinraij Jowai leaders highlighted the rich cultural and religious history of Meghalaya, noting that prior to British colonization, Indigenous faiths were the only religions practiced in the state. They emphasized the need to preserve traditional festivals like Ka Behdienkhlam, Ka Chad Sukra, Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem, and Ka Leh Niam Iewduh, which reflect the cultural identity of the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo tribes.
The organization also pointed out that Meghalaya, like the rest of India, is a secular state, as declared in the 42nd Amendment of the Indian Constitution in 1976. Citing the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in S. R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994), Seinraij Jowai reminded the government that secularism prohibits the state from endorsing or promoting any particular religion.
“It is vital for the government to maintain neutrality in official programs,” said the Seinraij Jowai statement, adding that organizing a Christian prayer service for the inauguration of a public university violates the spirit of secularism and the principles of harmony and mutual respect enshrined in the Constitution.
The organization has urged Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma to intervene judiciously and reconsider the plan for the prayer service. They appealed for respect for the Indigenous faith, culture, and traditions, which are integral to the pride of Meghalaya.
“We call upon the government to ensure religious harmony and mutual respect among all communities in the state,” said Shri Hercules Toi, President of Seinraij Jowai, and Shri Arwotki Sumer, General Secretary, in their statement.
The controversy surrounding the planned Christian prayer service has sparked a broader debate about secularism, inclusivity, and the representation of diverse cultures in Meghalaya’s public institutions.
