Consensus in House over inclusion of Khasi language in Eighth Schedule
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has proposed the setting up of a Committee to expeditiously move the Union Government to complete the process of setting up of uniform criteria to pave the way for inclusion of any language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
The Chief Minister suggested that initially a five-member Committee including members from both ruling and Opposition, members of the Khasi Author Society (KAS), Sahitya Akademi and other academicians could be notified.
Sangma said he is ready to notify the Committee immediately.
“We want the Committee to complete the process of engaging the Centre to lay down the uniform criteria at the earliest,” Sangma while replying to a cut motion moved by UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh in the State Assembly on Thursday.
He informed that since there is no criteria for inclusion of the language in the Eighth Schedule, an inter-Ministerial Committee was constituted which made an in-depth study on the whole gamut of the issue including recommendations of the Sitakant Mohapatra Committee to suggest a set of uniform criteria which will pave the way for deciding to include any language in the Eighth Schedule.
“When the Ministry concerned has put in place this uniform criteria then it will be much easier to pursue our demand for inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule,” the Chief Minister said.
Meanwhile, Sangma said the other two major hurdles which prevent recognition of any language is the absence of a State Sahitya Sabha and also because Khasi is not a medium of instruction up to the Higher Secondary or Higher Educational level.
“From the above facts, the Government is also in the process of compiling relevant information to move towards fulfilling the necessary criteria. We are committed to seeing that the Khasi language is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution,” the Chief Minister said.
He said that the demand for inclusion of the language in the Eighth Schedule has grown because of the advantages the language gets once it is included in the Schedule such as getting the annual Sahitya Akademi Awards, accessing funds for the implementation of the language and including the language as a subject in the UPSC examinations and numerous other advantages.
“For the language to be included in the Eighth Schedule it would have to be spoken by a sizeable population and Khasi at present has a language population of close to 11 lakh as per 2001 census,” Sangma said.
The Chief Minister said that presently there are 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution adding that it is learnt that the demands for inclusion of 38 languages is being considered.
Earlier, while moving the motion, Lyngdoh said that the issue for inclusion of the Khasi language needs to be addressed immediately.
The UDP legislator said that the language which was a dialect used by people of Sohra acquired the status of a Modern Indian Language (MIL) which is nothing short of remarkable.
He pointed out that the early history indicated that Khasi language belongs to the Austro-Asiatic family of the Monkhmer group.
“The wonderful factor is that the Khasi language drawn from the Austro-Asiatic strand is the only one surviving today,” Lyngdoh said.
Despite making a humble beginning in 1841, the UDP legislator said that the language got its first due recognition in 1900 by the Calcutta University adding that the Gauhati University recognized the Khasi language in 1976.
‘Now, the scholars in NEHU who are doing their PhD and M Phil are allowed to write their thesis in Khasi,” Lyngdoh informed.
He said that Manipuri language managed to get into the Eighth Schedule due to the persistent and effective approach by the State legislature to convince the Centre while the Nepali language was recognized due to sustained public agitation by both the public and intellectual group.
“The facts and figures speak for themselves that Khasi language deserves inclusion in the Eighth Schedule,” Lyngdoh said.
Nongthymmai legislator Jemino Mawthoh observed that language is an important marker of the identity and culture of a community. “There is enough justification to include the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule,” Mawthoh said.
Opposition leader Donkupar Roy said that this is the third resolution taken in the Assembly to include the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule but each time the resolution was defeated since the Government did not approve it as it was moved by the Opposition,” he said.
Meanwhile, Government Chief Whip Ronnie V Lyngdoh suggested the constitution of a Committee comprising members from both the ruling and opposition including experts on the language to find out the best possible approach in getting the approval of the Union Government to include the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule.
‘I am confident that the Government will clear the various barriers which have acted as stumbling blocks to achieve what we want,” Ronnie Lyngdoh said.
Congress legislator Pynshngain N Syiem said the inclusion of the Khasi language is very important for the survival of the small community and that this demand should be vigorously pursued.