Shillong, May 26: Meghalaya conservationist Hally War was honoured with the Padma Shri by the President of India on May 25 in recognition of his lifelong contribution to preserving the state’s traditional living root bridges, bringing national attention to a practice deeply rooted in Meghalaya’s cultural and environmental heritage.
Reacting to the honour, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said he felt privileged to witness Hally War receiving the award from Droupadi Murmu. Recalling a visit to Siej village, the chief minister said he had been inspired by War’s knowledge, dedication and deep respect for nature.
Hally War, a resident of Siej village in East Khasi Hills, has devoted decades to nurturing and maintaining the traditional living root bridges known locally as Jingkieng Jri. These natural structures are formed by guiding the aerial roots of rubber fig trees across streams and ravines, creating bridges capable of enduring Meghalaya’s intense monsoon conditions for generations.
War began learning the technique during childhood under the guidance of his grandfather. He had earlier described the process as something that initially felt like a game, before later understanding the deeper significance of the bridges as part of the identity and heritage of local communities.
Over the years, he has played a key role in maintaining multiple living root bridges in and around Siej village while passing on the knowledge to younger generations and encouraging the protection of the surrounding ecosystem.
Emphasising the importance of preserving these structures, War had said that such bridges take many years to mature and become strong, warning that losing them would mean losing something that cannot be replaced by modern infrastructure.
Congratulating him on the recognition, Sangma said Hally War’s journey reflected how preserving heritage, protecting nature and passing down traditions are essential aspects of nation-building.
The living root bridges of Meghalaya have also attracted international interest in recent years, with India having submitted a nomination dossier for the Jingkieng Jri cultural landscape for possible UNESCO World Heritage consideration during the 2026–27 evaluation cycle.
