Panel formed to look into Khasi recognition demand

SHILLONG: The state government has constituted an advisory committee to look into the demand of the Khasi Authors’ Society for recognition of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
The committee will have DD Lapang, who is the chief advisor to the state government, as chairman and S. Kharlyngdoh, as member secretary besides other members.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, the authors’ society stated that it has taken the issue “very seriously as the Khasis being a unique tribe needed constitutional protection of their language.”
In this connection, the society urged the advisory committee to look into the matter seriously and complete its work at the earliest.
Of late, a section of intellectuals have raised concern that barring the authors’ society, none have so far pressed for the demand to recognise Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Former finance minister in the UPA government P. Chidambaram had earlier suggested Congress MP from Shillong, Vincent Pala that Khasi language has to be spoken in the Meghalaya Assembly.
Pala has also told chief minister, Mukul Sangma to allow MLAs who cannot speak Khasi to use the services of an interpreter.
A plea to make a united call upon the Khasi society to demand for inclusion of Khasi language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution was made during the commemoration of 175 years of Khasi written literature which was organised by Sahitya Akademi at St Edmund’s College on December 14.
The Khasi Students’ Union had during the 77th death anniversary of Khasi bard, Soso Tham, also stated that Khasi legislators should speak in Khasi in the state Assembly, which will pave the way for inclusion of the language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.