Sap and the Traditional Healer: A Tribal (Khasi) Understanding of the Human Potential

This paper presents factors contributing to the “making of” nongai dawai, a Khasi healer. The Khasi community’s understanding of what is referred to as a key component of becoming a good healer, sap—loosely translated as talent or potential—is elaborated. Sap is a generic term, not restricted to a specific field but we explore here its importance to Khasi understandings of the recruitment and recognition of those best suited to be healers. The presence of such concepts within indigenous knowledge systems suggests that including the assessment of “aptitude” or “potential” remains important in career guidance even in the present times.