Since last 7 generations, Drorstar Mawthoh from Mawmuthoh village in East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya is engaged in treating poor people through traditional herbal medicines. He has claimed that he had successfully treated patients suffering from malaria, diarrhea, boils, burns, snake bite, bone fractures, blood pressure, and above all Cancer.

In the Khasi society, the practice of the traditional way of healing has existed since the ancient times and this knowledge they had passed it to their children which continues till date. This legacy continues in Drorstar family too. It is their belief that they should maintain the knowledge and skills which their forefathers have passed to them. Drorstar has treated more than 100 people from Smit, Nongkrem, War Jaintia, Shillong, Ri Bhoi districts of Meghalaya.

In the family of Drorstar even his father who does not belong to the same lineage practices the traditional system of healing. According to Drorstar, he is not a full time traditional healer and much is still needs to be learnt. “The knowledge our forefathers have given is preserved, pursue and animated by my family”, says Drorstar.

“There is a need to encourage the transmission of traditional healing knowledge to the younger generation”, informed Aibimis Rani, the Field Animator of FARM Northeast Program. Social Service Centre (SSC), Meghalaya, and NGO partner of FARM Northeast programme under Caritas India has initiated a seminar for the traditional healers where all 10 traditional healers including the sons and daughters of the healers including Drorstar attend the seminar with his mother Herilo Mawthoh.

The healers discussed the topics on Danger from Depletion of Medicinal Plants and Inadequate Documentation and Transmission during the seminar. It was proposed by the healers to plant medicinal herbs in the kitchen garden or nursery to seek scientific assistance.

Stensing Myrboh, another traditional healer from Raleng have adopted this suggestion and now grows herbs in his kitchen garden and uses medicinal herbs for treating patients only from his garden.

Traditional healers like Mrs. Phlora Mawkhiew, Mr. Stensing Myrboh and Mr. Petros Nonglyer through the intervention of FARM staff have kept a record of the diseases they treat since November 2017, which will further help to keep the knowledge intact and the recognition from the government.  The SSC is still mobilizing the other traditional healers to maintain the same.