SHILLONG, MEGHALAYA
Our ways survived British rule and global culture because they work with this land, not against it.
Pastor William’s study walls are covered with photographs of disappearing Khasi traditions, each image a small rebellion against the amnesia that threatens indigenous knowledge. At 52, he moves between worlds with the fluid grace of someone who understands that preservation requires adaptation.
His journey to cultural preservation began with loss. “Returned from university in Delhi in 1995 to find my village had forgotten half the traditional songs my grandfather taught me. Development was happening so fast that elders were dying before anyone thought to record their knowledge.”
The revelation changed his life trajectory from church ministry to cultural archaeology. “Started visiting villages with a tape recorder, asking elders to share stories their grandchildren had stopped listening to. Discovered that traditional ecological knowledge was disappearing faster than the forests themselves.”
His work isn’t romantic nostalgia but practical urgency. “Young people see cities and think traditional ways are backward. But our matrilineal system prevents land grabbing, our sacred groves preserve biodiversity, our community decision-making prevents conflicts that tear apart other societies.”
He’s documented over 200 traditional songs, mapped 15 sacred groves, and created educational programs that teach urban-educated youth why their ancestors’ wisdom remains relevant. “Tradition isn’t museum piece – it’s tool kit for solving problems modern world hasn’t figured out yet.”
His most challenging work involves translating traditional knowledge into language that connects with contemporary concerns. “How do you explain to smartphone generation that living root bridges are superior technology because they improve with age instead of deteriorating?”
When I asked about resistance to his preservation efforts, he smiled thoughtfully. “Some traditionalists think I’m changing too much, some modernists think I’m holding back progress. That’s how you know you’re finding the right balance.”
Some people preserve the past. Pastor William builds bridges between wisdom that was and wisdom that could be.
– Zara