Meghalaya farmer and environmentalist Hally War has been conferred the Padma Shri Award in 2026 for his contribution to social service and environmental conservation. A resident of Siej village near Sohra in East Khasi Hills, War has dedicated over five decades to preserving the traditional Khasi practice of bio-weaving living root bridges (Jingkieng Jri), a unique form of indigenous ecological engineering that blends nature, patience, and community knowledge.
The award has been widely seen as a tribute to the often-unrecognised custodians of indigenous environmental practices in Meghalaya. War, in his response, expressed gratitude for the honour and acknowledged the support of his community in sustaining this long-standing tradition.
A Childhood Inspiration Turned Lifelong Mission
War’s journey began at the age of ten when he witnessed villagers and his own family struggling to cross fast-flowing rivers during the monsoon season to reach agricultural lands. The lack of safe crossings often led to hardship, isolation and delays in daily livelihoods. This early experience shaped his lifelong commitment to finding a natural, sustainable solution rooted in Khasi ecological traditions.
Guided by ancestral knowledge passed down through generations, War learned to work with the rubber fig tree (Ficus elastica), carefully directing its aerial roots across rivers and streams. Using temporary bamboo and wooden scaffolding, he nurtured the roots over years and decades, gradually shaping them into stable, living structures. Unlike conventional construction, this method requires long-term patience, intergenerational care, and deep ecological understanding.
One of his most well-known works, the Umkar Living Root Bridge, took nearly 50 years to reach full maturity and continues to serve as a vital crossing for local communities in the region. The structure remains a practical lifeline as well as a symbol of sustainable engineering rooted in tradition.
Living Architecture of the Khasi Hills
Living root bridges are unique to Meghalaya and represent a rare intersection of ecology, culture, and infrastructure. Unlike concrete or steel bridges, these structures strengthen over time as the roots naturally grow, thicken, and interlink. Their durability is enhanced by the region’s high rainfall and forest ecosystem, making them resilient to floods and erosion.
This traditional practice reflects centuries-old Khasi knowledge systems that emphasise coexistence with nature rather than altering it. It also demonstrates a form of community-led environmental stewardship where knowledge is passed down orally and through practice rather than formal documentation.
In recognition of their cultural and ecological importance, Meghalaya’s living root bridges were included on UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List in 2022 under the designation “Jingkieng Jri: Living Root Bridge Cultural Landscapes.” This listing marks an important step toward global acknowledgement of the region’s indigenous engineering heritage.
Alongside his environmental work, War continues to engage in farming activities, cultivating betel nuts, black pepper, and other local crops. He has also played a role in mentoring younger community members, ensuring that the knowledge and practice of living root bridge construction is not lost to modernisation pressures.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Hally War’s recognition with the Padma Shri highlights the importance of valuing indigenous knowledge systems in conversations around sustainability and development. At a time when climate resilience and ecological balance are becoming global priorities, such practices offer meaningful insights into how infrastructure can evolve in harmony with nature.
The living root bridge tradition demonstrates that development does not always require disruption of natural ecosystems; instead, it can emerge through careful collaboration with them. As modern societies search for sustainable solutions, the question arises: should traditional ecological knowledge systems receive greater integration and institutional support in contemporary infrastructure and environmental planning?
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