Of respelling Khasi surnames

SHILLONG: From Dohkrut to ‘De Cruz’ and Sun to ‘Sunn’, the intentional respelling of many Khasi surnames to get a touch of the foreign names, has angered the members of KHADC on Tuesday.
KHNAM member Adelbert Nongrum took exception to the respelling of certain Khasi surnames during the debate on the motion moved by him on the need to protect, and safeguard the indigenous tribes on   the second day of the Winter Session of the KHADC.
“As a means to empower the indigenous tribe, the people should be aware on the spellings of certain Khasi surnames, for instance Dohkrut is written as ‘De Cruz’, Sun as ‘Sunn’. Hence, l there should be a complete structure to reframe customary laws of the Land as the Council is the custodian of the rights of indigenous people.”, Nongrum said.
He observed that the indigenous tribes are imitating the western culture and putting aside the values bestowed on the people since time immemorial.
“If we carry on with the current trend of imitating the West, we may end up marrying persons from the same clan, and hence it is the need of the hour for the Council to take note of the issue,” he asserted.
Nongrum said that there should be a thorough scrutiny before issuing a Scheduled Tribe certificate and wanted the Federation of Traditional Dorbar to convene a meeting of the Raid, Dorbar and all the clans for the proper recognition of the clans.
HSPDP member Pyniaid Sing Syiem,, echoed the same  by adding that the Council should maintain a record of all the surnames of the Khasi tribes. “The Khasi customary law, surnames, issuing of Scheduled Tribe certificates and others should be placed on record and subsequently followed by the Council.”, he said.
Replying to the motion, the CEM P.N.Syiem agreed that it is high time for the Council to look into the matter, “The Council will take note of the transferring of surnames, adopting Khasi surnames by non Khasis, and we may even bring  amendment to the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997 to prevent any dilution.”