MLAs need to speak in Khasi in House: KSU

SHILLONG: Time is ripe for Khasi legislators to speak in Khasi in the state Assembly, which will pave the way for inclusion of the language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
This was asserted by Khasi Hills Students Union president, Lambokstarwell Marngar while speaking at a function to commemorate Khasi poet, Soso Tham’s 77th death anniversary at State Central Library here on Monday.
Marngar recalled the literary contributions of the poet to the Khasi language.
“We will support the Khasi Authors’ Society’s demand to recognise Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution,” the KSU president said.
Congress MP from Shillong Vincent Pala had recently informed that he was suggested by former finance minister in the UPA government P. Chidambaram that Khasi language has to be spoken in the Meghalaya Assembly as a first step towards its recognition.
Hynniewtrep Youth Council general secretary, Robert Kharjahrin said the Khasi community should love and preserve their language while looking up to Soso Tham as an inspiration. Members of People’s Democratic Front also paid homage to Soso Tham.
The party’s president, Ivanbanlum Marbaniang drew reference from Soso Tham’s poems of U Diengbilat (The English Pine) and Sah beit ia u prek, (Drive the nail aright), stressing the words of wisdom in the poems.