Professional Experience:

1. Worked as Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, St.Edmund’s College,Shillong (2000-2003)

Areas of Specialization

• Sociology of Environment
• Sociology of Family and Kinship
• Sociology of Gender

Membership in statutory bodies within NEHU

1. Member of BOS (Board of Studies) ,Department of Linguistics,NEHU
2. Member of BOS(Board of Studies),Department of Khasi,NEHU
3. Convenor of DRS (Departmental Research Committee),Dept. of Sociology,NEHU
4. Student Counsellor,(Open Course)Dept. of Sociology,NEHU
5. Member of Editorial Board of NEHU Journal .
6. Member of Board of Studies in History Department,NEHU.
7. Member of Board of studies in Law Department,NEHU.
8. Member of Board of Studies in English Department,NEHU.

Member of other statutory bodies outside North Eastern Hill University (NEHU):

1. Member of Our Lady of the Missions Assn.(OLMA)Regd.Office: St.Marys Convent,Laitumkhrah ,Shillong.
2. Member of Sunday School Committee, Presbyterian Church,Nongthymmai,Shillong.
3. Life Member of Indian Sociological Society
4. Member of Ethics Committee, Dr. H .Gordon Robert Hospital, Shillong.
5. Member of Board of Studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Martin Luther Christian University,Shillong.
6. Member of the Governing Body, William Carey University, Shillong.
7. Member of Executive Committee of the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Reclamation Fund Management Authority, Forests and Environment Department, Government of Meghalaya.

Membership in statutory bodies within NEHU

1. Member of Azadi Ki Amrit Mahotsav NEHU core group.
2. Member of Board of Research Studies (BRS) NEHU.

Research Projects

1. A Sociological Study of Folk Medicine among the Khasi (UGC-SAP ,DRS sponsored )
2. Water Scarcity in rural areas of East Khasi Hills-A study in Mawsynram village. (UGC-SAP ,DRS sponsored )
3. Forest and Livelihood of womenfolk in a Khasi village of Ri-Bhoi  District of Meghalaya. (UGC-SAP ,DRS sponsored )

Publications

PUBLISHED BOOKS

1. Shangpliang,Rekha.(2010).Forest in the Life of the Khasis.New Delhi:Concept Publishing Company Pvt.Ltd.
2. Shangpliang,Rekha .(2013).Socio-Economic Dimensions of Forest among the Khasis.NewDelhi:Concept Publishing Company Pvt.Ltd.
3. Shangpliang,Rekha.(2018).Environment and Society in the Context of North East India.New Delhgi:Concept Publishing Company Pvt.Ltd.

CHAPTER IN EDITED BOOK

1. Shangpliang,Rekha.(2009).Ecological Basis of Khasi Ethno-Cultural Traits .In Christianity and Change in North East India.Subba and Puthenpurakal et al (Ed).Concept Publications: p.320-340.
2. Shangpliang,Rekha.(2013).Forests and Tribal Life:Roots of Environmental Change Among the Khasis. In .Social Change and Development.D.V. Kumar(Ed). Rawat Publications:17.p336-347.
3. Shangpliang,Rekha.(2014).Development and Conflict:The legacies of Forest Management Policies in India:A case study in Khasi and Jaintia Hills.In Modernity and Ethnic Processes in India.D.V Kumar (Ed).New Delhi.Rawat Publications: p 148-158
4. Shangpliang,Rekha.(2015).Forest Livelihood and Gender:Livelihood Strategies of Khasi Rural Women.In Dynamics of Gender Disparity:North East Lens.Sutapa Sengupta,Saifun Nessa,Sarbani Das Gupta(Ed). Guwahati.EBH Publishers:p.297-305
5. Shangpliang,Rekha.(2018).Forest and Tribal life with special reference to the Khasi of Meghalaya in Understanding the Tribes of Asia .David Arnold Kharshandi(Ed).Lakshi Publishers and Distributors:p.215-228
6. Shangpliang,Rekha.(2020).Tribal Women and Natural Resource Management : The Khasi Women of Meghalaya in India in Women and Development. Banshaikupar Lyngdoh Mawlong et al.(Ed).Synergy Books India,New Delhi.p.141-152
7. Shangpliang,Rekha.(2021).Forest and Tribal Life with special reference to the Khasis in The Cultural Heritage of Meghalaya.Queenbala Marak and Sarit K Chaudhuri.(Ed). Manohar Publishers,New Delhi.p. 537-554.
8. Shangpliang, Rekha M Shangpliang.2022, Meghalaya and the Covid-19 crisis through a gendered lens, in A Retrospection into Meghalaya’s 50 years journey of statehood. David Arnold Kharshandy,ISBN: 978 81 94893-61-5(HB),Chapter 6,pp.89-97.
9. Shangpliang , Rekha.2023 .Mortuary Beliefs and Practices among the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya, India in Death and Dying in North East India : Indigeneity and Afterlife. Parjanya Sen and Anup Shekhar Chakravarty (Eds) Routledge, ISBN: 9781032344225, Chapter 2.
10. Shangpliang, Rekha.2023.  Livelihood Interventions and Marginalization in Land and Forest Rights of rural Khasi women in Identity and Marginality in Northeast India: Challenges for Social Science Research. Hoinelhing Silthou (Ed) Orient Blackswan, ISBN:9789354423871, Chapter 11, pp.243-248

ARTICLES IN JOURNALS /NEWSPAPER AND E-MAGAZINES

1. Shangpliang Rekha;2008; ‘The Place of Nature in the Culture of the Khasis’;Man in India ;88.No.4;p.547-558
2. Shangpliang Rekha;2012;Forest Legislations and Livelihood Strategies:;Khasi Women in Rural Meghalaya; Sociological Bulletin;61.No.3;p.479-493
3. Shangpliang Rekha;2013;Environmentalism;The Shillong Times;
4. Shangpliang Rekha;2014;Khasi Matriliny:The cultural cradle of Khasi Kinship system;The Shillong Times;Vol.No. 57 Issue No.39,Thursday,September 18th,2014
5. Shangpliang,Rekha:2017;Common Property Resources and Rural Livelihood among the Khasi of Meghalaya; Eastern Anthropologist.Vol.No.70.Issue No.1-2,January-June,2017.
6. Shangpliang,Rekha:2018;Tribal women and Natural Resource Management:the Khasi women of Meghalaya; Echoes from the Hills:An Interdisciplinary Journal.Vol.II.No.MEGENG/2017/74683.Issue:December 2018
7. Shangpliang.Rekha.2015-16.Matriliny in Meghalaya-the Khasi kinship system.In Anthroplogy Today:A NEIRA JOURNAL.Vol.2.No.1.Feb-Aug-2015
8. Contributed a special article in Shillong Times dated March 3rd,2021,on “Women’s Rights are Human Rights.”
9. Shangpliang, Rekha.2019; Forest and Tribal Life among the Khasi of Meghalaya;International Journal of Tribal Literature and Cultural studies.Vol.4 & 5-Issue 1 and 2 January and June 2019(Joint Issue)p.15-30 ISSN 2395-5848
10. Shangpliang, Rekha. July 17,2021;Environment Vs Development:The debate rages on East India Story (e-magazine)

POPULAR ARTICLES

1. “Matriliny and its Dynamics”- The Shillong Times.2^nd May, 2023
2. “Lessons we learn from the Chipko”- The Shillong Times,11^th June, 2016
3. “Women’s Rights are human rights”- The Shillong Times,3^rd march, 2021
4. “Girl Child-Our future”- The Shillong Times,21^st October, 2021.
5. “Matriliny in Transition”- East India Story (E magazine) 19^th Feb, 2022
6. “The legend of the two sisters-Ka Ngot and Ka Iam” – East India Story (E magazine). 2^nd April, 2022

PAPERS PRESENTED IN SEMINARS

1. Attended and presented a paper entitled “Emerging Trends in the harmony between Forest and Tribals: The case of the Khasis of Meghalaya” at a two-day National Conference on Socio-Economic Development of India with special reference to North Eastern Region, organized by the Shillong College Academic Society, Shillong on the 3rd and 4th May 2005.
2. Attended and presented a paper entitled “An Ecological Basis of Khasi  Ethno-Cultural Traits and their Changing trends” at a 3 day National Seminar on Cultural Change among the Tribes of North East India,organized jointly by the Dept. of Anthropology,NEHU,Don Bosco Centre for Indegenous Cultures and Sacred Heart Theological College,Mawlai,Shillong from the 26th –28th of October 2006.
3. Presented a paper “Nature and culture among the Khasis”at a colloquium on “Environment and Human History : Focussing Society and Culture in North East India.”(31st March,2007,Dept. of History, NEHU, Shillong.
4. Attended and presented a paper entitled “Forest Livelihood and Gender:Livelihood strategies of Khasi Rural Women.” at the National Seminar on Tradition,Continuity ,Change: An Assessment into the Gender Disparity in the Context of North East India”Organized by the IQAC of St. Mary’s College,Shillong on the 15th and 16th of May, 2007.
5. Participated and presented a paper entitled”Forest and tribal life: Roots of Environmentsl Change among the Khasis”in a National Seminar on Social Change in North-east India:Processes and Response”organised by the Department of Sociology,NEHU,on the  25th and 26th of November,2008
6. Presented a paper “Common Property Resources and Khasi rural livelihood “at the National Seminar on “Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Ecology:The Context of North East India,14th -15th Oct 2009
7. Attended and presented a paper entitled “The Changing Perspective of Land and Forest in Khasi Hills” at a National Seminar organized by the Department of Sociology ,NEHU,Shillong on the theme “Development And Ecology: Issues and Perspectives” held on 21st and 22nd of March 2011.
8. Presented a paper entitled  “Development and Conflict over Natural Resources : Roots of Environmental Change among the Khasis of Meghalaya” at the National Seminar organized by the Department of Sociology,NEHU,Shillong on “Modernity and Ethnic Processes in India” held on 14th and 15th March,2012.
9. Presented a Paper on “Forest and the Khasi of Meghalaya “at an International Conference held at AIT,at Bangkok,Thailand on the 16th and 17th of December,2015
10. Presented a paper at a National Seminar held at UCC College Barapani,on the topic Women and Natural Resource Management among the Khasi of Meghalaya “on the 18th and 19th of October 2018.
11. Presented a paper entitled “Gender Dimension of Migration in North East India” at a National Seminar organized by the Department of Sociology NEHU on the 14th and 15th of February, 2019 on Urbanization in India : Issues and Predicaments.
12. Presented a paper titled “Globalization in India through a gendered lens” at a webinar on the theme ‘ Celebrating India at 75’ organized by Synod College in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture ,Government of Meghalaya on the 27^th of May,2021.
13. Presented a paper entitled “Globalization in India through a gendered lens” in the Webinar on Celebrating India at 75 organized by Synod College,Shillong in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture ,Government of Meghalaya on the 27th and 28th of May, 2021.
14. Presented a paper titled “Meghalaya and the Covid-19 crisis” at a webinar on the theme ‘A Retrospection into Meghalaya’s 50 years journey of Statehood’ organised by the Centre for Historical Research Synod College(CHRSC)in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture,Government of Meghalaya on the 21^st of October, 2021
15. Presented a paper on Women, Nature and Sustainability: Dynamics, Challenges and Prospects with special reference to the Khasi at an International Seminar on Sustainability towards a renewing existence held on the 25^th and 26^th August 2022 at Synod College, Shillong.
16. Presented  a paper on Border Haats in Meghalaya : Rediscovering Trading Activities as a means of sustaining economy with special reference to Balat village at an International Seminar on Look South Policy vis-à-vis Meghalaya organised by Synod College, Shillong on the 21^st and 22^nd November,2022.
17. Presented a paper on Eco-Feminism in the context of the Khasi of Meghalaya at an International seminar on    organised by the Dept. of Sociology, NEHU on Revisiting Social Theory: Challenges and Possibilities, on November 16 – 17, 2022
18. Presented a paper on Forest and Livelihood Interventions: The Khasi of Meghalaya at a National Seminar Forest Dependent Rural Livelihoods held organised by Department of Botany and Law on February 24-26^th, 2023

RESOURCE PERSON OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT

1. Invited as a Resource person at the 1^st Faculty Induction Programme organized by UGC HRDC, NEHU Shillong through online mode on the topic “Understanding Gender and Organizational policies regarding Gender “on the 22^nd of October,2020.
2. Was a Resource person on the topic “Indigenous people and Development: Emerging issues in the context of North East India” at the 42^nd Refresher Course in Sociology conducted by UGC-HRDC, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) New Delhi on the 24^th of November,2022
3. Was a Resource person on the topic “Social Structure and Socio-Economic aspects of Meghalaya” at the 3-week Police Academy Attachment of IPS(Probationers) held from the 6^th to 23^rd March,2023 at NEPA, Ministry of Home Affairs, Umsaw for interacting with the probationers (IPS)from different parts of the country deputed in Meghalaya. 
4. Was a Resource person at Loreto Convent, Shillong on the topic “Environmental Ethics “on the 16^th of September 2022.
5. Invited to deliver a lecture on “Academic writing and paper presentation skills” at Synod College, Shillong on August 30^th, 2019.
6. Was a Resource Person at the 1^st Faculty Induction Programme(FIP) organized by HRDC(NEHU) on the topic ‘Gender roles-Looking beyond stereo-typical generalizations’ on the 28^th of September,2020.
7. Was a Resource Person at the Refresher Course in Tribal Studies organized by HRDC(NEHU) on the 8^th of Nobember,2021.
8. Was a Resource Person at the Refresher Course organized by HRDC(NEHU) at the Department of Khasi,NEHU on the following 2 topics:
9. Ki kynthei bad ka mariang delivered on 27^th November,2021
10. Ka pneh jong ka longkur-longkha U Khasi delivered on the 20^th of November,2021.
11. Was a Resource Person at a National Webinar on ‘Gender and Society in contemporary India – Issues and Prospects’ organized by Department of Sociology,Sankardev College,Shillong on the 9^th and 10^th December,2021 and delivered a lecture on the topic “Eco-Feminism-Revisiting Feminist Ideology”.
12. Was a Resource Person at the one day seminar on “Cultural Dimensions Of Ecology” organised b the Department of Sociology ,Lady Keane College,Shillong on the 30th of August,2013.
13. Was a Resource Person at the Refresher Course on “Tribal Development- Problems and Prospects” organized by the Human Resource Development Centre,UGC,NEHU,Shillong (27th July-17th August 2015)
14. Was a panelist at a panel discussion on the topic “Intergenerational Gap amongst young students” organized by the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA),Shillong.
15. Participated in a UGC sponsored workshop jointly organized by the Dept. of Anthropology and Khasi,NEHU on “Sensitizing (Awareness) Workshop on Capacity Building for Women Managers in Higher Education” from the 24th to 29th 0f Sept,2007 at Bonnie Guest House,Laban Shillong.
16. Was a resource person at Umshyrpi College at a National Seminar on Infusing Life into Umshyrpi River on the 9th of August ,2016.
17. Was a resource person at a National Seminar at William Carrey University,Shillong,on Kinship,Gender and Family on the 17th and 18th of September 2017.
18. Was invited by Department of Sociology, St. Mary's College, as a Resource Person on World Environment Day ,5th June 2021, to deliver an online lecture on "Eco-Feminism: Revisiting the Feminist Ideology".

ORGANIZER /CONVERER OF SEMINARS / WORKSHOPS /REFRESHER COURSES :

1. Was a convener of a local seminar on the theme “ Nature,Culture and the tribes of North East India” organised by the Department of Sociology,NEHU,on the 2nd of September,2008.
2. Organised a national seminar on the theme “Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Ecology In the context of North East India”in the Department of Sociology,NEHU on the 18th and 19th October,2009
3. Organised a one day workshop on World Environment Day ,June 5th 2014 on the theme “Waste Management and Civic Sense” in the Department of Sociology,NEHU,Shillong.
4. Organised a Refresher Course on the theme “Development : Issues and prospects in North east India” from  the 24th Feb-16th March, 2011
5. Organised a National Seminar on ‘Gender, Society and Development in the context of North East India on the 27^th and 28^th of March ,2023 at the Department of Sociology, NEHU
6. Organised a Panel Discussion on International Women’s Day on the theme “Daughters of the soil” on the 9^th of March 2023 at Multi Use Convention Hall, NEHU.
7. Was an Academic Organizer at a National Seminar on Contribution of Tribal Heroes in Freedom Struggle organized by National Commission for Scheduled Tribe under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Government of India on October 11^th ,2022 at Multi-use convention Hall, NEHU.

Chaired Sessions:

1. Chaired a session on the theme “Digital Literacy and Efficient Use of Social Media” organized by School of Humanities ,NEHU,Shillong in a four days online Capacity Building and Personality Development Program (PDP) for UG and PG female students of Meghalaya sponsored by National Commission for Women(NCW) ,New Delhi on the 22^nd of November, 2021.

Notable Contribution: 

• Hosted the programme as the Announcer during the Twenty First Convocation of NEHU held on the 22nd of October,2013 when the Hon’ble President of India Shri.Pranab Mukherji was present as the Chief Guest.
• Represented NEHU : at a National level meeting organized by the National Commission for Women ,New Delhi on Swadhar Greh on the 13th September 2018.

STUDY TRIPS :

1. Conducted a study tour for 4th semester MA students of the Department of Sociology to Mumbai and Goa on the 21st of Jan 2008.
2. Conducted a field trip for 4th semester students to Mawphlang Sacred Groves on the 5th of June 2014
3. Conducted a field trip for 4th semester students to Mawlynnong Village(Cleanest Village in Asia)on the 13th of June 2015
4. Conducted a study tour for 3rd semester students to Kolkata on the 18th of January 2019 to 28th jan.2019

PRODUCED A DOCUMENTARY FILM

Produced a documentary film (25 mins duration)based on the village Mawlynnong ,the cleanest village in Asia which wastitled “ Mawlynnong-God’s own Garden” and it was released on the 5th of June 2014