Who Defines the Jaiñtia? History or Colonial Records?

By reducing the history of the Jaiñtia people almost entirely to British colonial records, Bhogtoram Mawroh’s article, “Who Are the Jaintia? Colonial Records and the Question of Khasi Identity” (The Shillong Times, 2 April), makes a fundamental historical error. Colonial records are valuable sources, but they are not the sole authority on indigenous identity. They reflect the administrative priorities, linguistic limitations, and political assumptions of British officials rather than the self-understanding of the communities they described. The concern behind this response is not merely academic disagreement but a growing tendency among some…