Oram ‘scripts’ formula to save vanishing tribal dialects

SHILLONG: Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said on Thursday that there is an urgent need for several scheduled tribes in the country to “develop and work on their own scripts as many dialects are on the verge of extinction.
Speaking at the international seminar on ‘Understanding the Tribes of Asia’ at Synod College in collaboration with PA Sangma Foundation on Thursday, the central Minister said there are 700 listed STs of which 500 have separate dialects. “Over 27 dialects are on the verge of extinction and this is a cause for concern,” he added.
In Meghalaya, both Khasi and Garo languages have branched into several dialects, or varieties, depending on the demographic distribution in different regions and almost all of them follow Roman script. Most of the languages in the northeastern states do not have their own scripts and borrow words from Assamese, Bengali and English.
Oram said the way to preserve tribal culture and practices in the North East is to unite the people of the region. “We need to bring together people of the North East to preserve the tribal culture and practices,” he added.
On granting ST status to Gorkhas, Oram said, “The study is still on, the committee is conducting the study. It is in its premature stage.”
Oram further said during his tenure as Union minister, “I have modified 275 communities out of which 10 were ratified and corrected in grammar and spelling. This time I cannot say what can be done but we are in the process.”
About the seminar, he said, “The seminar will bring closeness among the people of the North East and help them exchange ideas, customs, rituals, which is a major cause of concern.”
On Friday, there will be various technical sessions on the paper discussions by academicians, research scholars.