Agnes Kharshiing

Agnes Kharshiing
Born
Shillong, Meghalaya, India
Known forActivism
Parent(s)Martin Narayan Majaw, Edith Kharshiing
RelativesJohn Filmore Kharshiing

Agnes Kharshiing is a women's rights activist from Meghalaya, India.

Activism

Her outspoken advocacy and leadership of protests for women's and communities' rights has been linked to her detainment.[1][2][3][4]

She has led sit-ins in protest against government evictions of local communities from land. She has spoken out against corporal punishment and bullying in schools. She condemned the appointment of MLA Julius Dorphang, who allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl, as a member of the Assembly Privilege Committee in Meghalaya.[5][6][1][3]

She is the President of the Civil Society Women's Organization (CSWO).[7]

She was arrested then released in March 2013 for use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty, as well as criminal trespass. She told reporters that as member of a committee on justice, formed as part of Meghalaya Legal Service Authority, she was trying to help the parents of a rape victim access a media centre.[8] She protested against the eviction drive conducted by Meghalaya Urban Development Authority, for which she was arrested on 9 November 2013.[9]

She was involved in exposing graft and lack of transparency in child nutrition programs. She advocated for programs supporting local food rather than use of contractors. She organised a rescue mission to Radhamadhab Road – a red-light district in Silchar, Assam – to deter a growth in child sex trafficking. Prior to this, she had been interacting with a 16 year old survivor who had escaped from Radhamadhab Road.[10][11]

Fellow activist Angela Rangad said Kharshiing's 2013 arrests were attempts "to suppress any attempt of asking questions and bringing to light largescale illegal deals and land grabs."[12]

In 2018, she and fellow activist Anita Sangma were assaulted in East Jaintia Hills district by a pro-mining group implicated in illegal mining operations,[13] after she and Sangma had filed a police complaint about illegal mining and coal transportation.[14] According to the Hindustan Times, Kharshiing had stopped at multiple places to take pictures of stocked coal, and was attacked after stopping near Sohshrieh after seeing trucking carrying coal. They were ambushed by about 30-40 men, who dragged her and Sangma out of their cab and started beating them up. The cab driver left and informed the police in Jowai of the attack.[15] Sangma suffered blunt force trauma about 7-9 cm deep to the scalp.[16] She was in critical condition and was hospitalised for over a month.[17] As a result of the attack, Kharshiing lost her sense of smell.[13]

In 2019, Kharshiing, along with Turkish women's rights activist Nebahat Akkoç, was given the 11th International Hrant Dink Award by the Hrant Dink Foundation.[18]

Personal life

Kharshiing's brother Robert was a member of the Rajya Sabha representing Meghalaya for the Indian National Congress.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b "Kharshiing out on bail". The Telegraph Calcutta. 3 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013.
  2. ^ "INDIA: Human rights defender Ms Agnes Kharshiing released; struggle for land rights of indigenous people continues". Asian Human Rights Commission. 20 November 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Bail refused to Meghalaya woman activist fighting eviction". Business Standard. 12 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Hearing on damages suit - Govt seeks compensation from pressure groups". The Telegraph Calcutta. 16 November 2013. Archived from the original on 9 December 2013.
  5. ^ "Meghalaya women's groups fume as MLA held for rape made Privilege Committee member". The Indian Express. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Meghalaya: Student alleged to have been brutally punished in a school in Shillong". The North East Today. 12 October 2016. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Agnes Kharshiing arrested". Meghalaya Times. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Agnes arrested, released". The Shillong Times. 27 March 2013. Archived from the original on 24 February 2025. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  9. ^ "Free Human Rights Defender Ms Agnes Kharshiing! - A Letter to the Chief Secretary of Government Of Meghalaya, India". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  10. ^ "The Price Of Life: The trafficked children of the red-light area in Silchar". 3 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Study reveals graft in child nutrition scheme". The Telegraph Calcutta. 9 December 2012. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013.
  12. ^ "Protests over Kharshiing arrest". The Telegraph Calcutta. 9 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013.
  13. ^ a b "Meghalaya: 6 Years On, Agnes Kharshiing & Amita Sangma Still Fight for Justice". The Sentinel. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  14. ^ Barooah Pisharoty, Sangeeta (27 December 2018). "Prime Accused in Meghalaya Activist Agnes Kharshiing Assault Case Surrenders". The Wire. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  15. ^ Laitphlang, David (9 November 2018). "Meghalaya social activist beaten up by suspected coal mafia". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  16. ^ Sitlhou, Makepeace (4 December 2019). "How Agnes Kharshiing uses RTI to battle illegal mining in Meghalaya despite the risks". The Indian Express. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  17. ^ Chhakchhuak, Linda (26 December 2018). "Agnes Kharshiing, the Woman Meghalaya's Coal Mafia Tried to Silence". The Wire. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  18. ^ "Turkish award for activist who survived assault by coal mafia". The Hindu. 16 September 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  19. ^ Karmakar, Rahul (17 November 2018). "Who is Agnes Kharshiing?". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
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