India is no stranger to breathtaking monuments and natural wonders, but few heritage treasures are as quietly magnificent and sustainably ingenious as Meghalaya’s living root bridges. Woven not by architects or engineers but by generations of the Khasi and Jaintia tribes, these botanical marvels are, quite literally, alive. Last week, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman brought long-overdue national attention to these natural wonders by endorsing Meghalaya’s bid for UNESCO World Heritage status. Her support is not just symbolic—it is rooted in reason, responsibility, and regional upliftment. The living root bridges are the antithesis of concrete modernity. In villages like Siej and Nongriat, these aerial pathways are crafted from the roots of Ficus elastica (Indian rubber tree), guided by hand over decades to form sturdy, self-renewing crossings over rivers and gorges. Some are over 100 feet long, several centuries old, and can withstand flash floods and the region’s unforgiving monsoons better than many steel structures. These aren’t just feats of environmental engineering—they’re monuments to indigenous knowledge, community resilience, and ecological harmony. It’s not merely romantic nostalgia to say these bridges deserve global recognition—it’s a logical, cultural, and environmental imperative. By throwing her weight behind Meghalaya’s bid, Sitharaman has done more than appreciate a tourist attraction. She has acknowledged a living legacy of sustainability. At a time when the world is reeling under the effects of climate change, these root bridges stand as metaphors for the very practices COP summits preach—carbon-neutral development, ecosystem-based adaptation, and community-led resource management. UNESCO recognition would not just preserve these structures; it would honour a way of life that the rest of the planet must urgently learn from. But Sitharaman’s remarks went deeper. Her visit to border areas like Sohbar underscores another neglected truth: the strategic importance of India’s border villages. Often ignored in the development discourse, these areas are not only cultural reservoirs but also geopolitical assets. Strengthening infrastructure and connectivity here isn’t charity—it’s a long-term investment in national security and regional stability. The Finance Minister’s promise of improved financial access and economic opportunity is essential if such regions are to remain vibrant, not vulnerable.
One must also view this initiative in the broader context of India’s ongoing campaign to decentralize heritage recognition. For too long, India’s cultural pride has been monopolized by Mughal forts and colonial bungalows. While undeniably historic, they are not the only chapters in India’s story. The living root bridges represent an entirely different civilizational ethos—non-violent coexistence with nature, innovation without exploitation, and architecture without arrogance. Recognizing such heritage diversifies the national narrative and democratizes cultural prestige. Moreover, tourism driven by heritage recognition can be a powerful catalyst for inclusive economic development. According to a 2023 report by the Ministry of Tourism, Northeast India still receives less than 10% of the country’s total domestic and foreign tourist footfall, despite its unparalleled landscapes and culture. UNESCO status could change that equation dramatically, bringing in not just tourists, but jobs, investments, and global attention. Crucially, such exposure would also encourage environmental stewardship among younger generations. Critics may scoff that heritage tags don’t feed the poor. But as Meghalaya’s villagers have shown, sustainability and subsistence are not mutually exclusive. Recognition brings funding, and funding brings preservation—ensuring that the same communities that created these wonders benefit from their global fame. It is commendable that a finance minister—more often associated with fiscal spreadsheets than forest canopies—has chosen to lend her voice to a cause that blends culture, ecology, and empowerment. This is not just about UNESCO; it’s about rewriting the grammar of what India values. If the world can celebrate the concrete curves of the Sydney Opera House or the engineered elegance of the Eiffel Tower, surely it must also bow to the quiet brilliance of Meghalaya’s living root bridges—monuments not of conquest or capital, but of care, patience, and indigenous genius. Let them be seen. Let them be honoured. Let the roots speak.
