Inspirations from Living Roots Bridges of Meghalaya

Building something that is strong and lasting, requires active management and sustained effort.

I happened to visit a Living Roots Bridge in Meghalaya last week. These bridges serve as a means to traverse otherwise impassable rivers during the unforgiving monsoon seasons. They epitomize an elegantly simple solution, created by weaving and manipulating the roots of Indian rubber fig trees, a skill passed down through generations among the Khasi and Jai?tia communities. Their innovation stems from creative problem-solving, capitalizing on the natural characteristics of these flexible aerial roots. These roots demonstrate a propensity to anchor themselves to other objects and readily merge with one another.

The significance of these bridges extends beyond their engineering. To some, they embody the spirit of 'jugaad,' a Hindi term signifying clever solutions. For others, they represent the strength of collective grassroots participation spanning multiple generations. Environmental enthusiasts are quick to highlight their minimal material and maintenance costs, showcasing efficient resource utilization, absence of environmental harm, and carbon sequestration. They serve as a remarkable model of regenerative design and development. Furthermore, the tradition of crafting these bridges underscores the importance of knowledge transmission.

The growth of these bridges takes considerable time, typically spanning 10-plus years, and requires patience and unwavering determination to achieve long-term objectives. As long as the host tree thrives, these bridges grow sturdier with each passing year, with some enduring for over five centuries, capable of supporting up to 50 individuals.

The living roots bridges are deeply integrated with their surroundings. Owing to the flexibility and adaptability of the living roots, they withstand floods and storms, ensuring their durability.

However, maintaining these living root bridges is an active process to fortify the structure and prevent decay. New roots continuously sprout throughout the tree's life, necessitating careful pruning and manipulation. Without active management and care, many bridges succumb to decay or overgrowth, rendering them unusable.

Drawing parallels, one is inspired to think of many useful things. Building and maintaining an organization shares similarities with the care these bridges demand. Proper guidance of the roots is required, but decisive pruning where needed is equally important. Just as mosses and epiphytes must be removed, hindrances need addressing. Parts of bridges being built sometimes are weak, actively identified, supported through bamboo structures, and later grow sturdier.

In essence, a profound metaphor for the persistence and active management required in nurturing any long-lasting endeavor.