Joint fishing contest brings brief calm to Assam–Meghalaya border

A section of the Assam–Meghalaya border at Hahim in Kamrup district saw rare cooperation on December 20 when residents from both states came together for a community fishing competition, an event held annually despite ongoing boundary sensitivities.

 

About 300 participants took part, cutting across communities such as Khasi, Garo, Rabha and Boro. They came from North Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills in Meghalaya and from Goalpara, Kamrup and Sivsagar districts of Assam. A small number of participants also arrived from neighbouring Nagaland.

 

The event has been organised every year since 2011 by local residents living near the inter-state boundary. Organising committee member Kailash Sharma said the competition offers a space for interaction in an otherwise tense region. “We live in this border area where disputes often arise, but here in Hahim, people of all communities come together, irrespective of caste, creed or religion,” he said. “We celebrate the Christmas spirit by fishing together and enjoying the day.”

 

The competition was held from 9 am to 2 pm in a large pond and included cash prizes for the winners. Silchon Marak of Darangiri in Goalpara district won the first prize of Rs 1 lakh after catching a fish weighing 3.615 kg. The second prize of Rs 30,000 went to Kaspar from Tynghor in West Khasi Hills, while Simanta Das of Singra, Boko, received Rs 10,000 for third place. Twenty-five other participants were given consolation prizes of Rs 2,500 each.

 

Participants used a range of traditional fishing methods and bait, including earthworms, flour and insect larvae. The contest tested skill and patience rather than speed.

 

While border disputes between Assam and Meghalaya continue to surface from time to time, local residents said such gatherings help maintain working relationships and regular contact between communities living on either side of the boundary.