NEW DELHI/TURA: It was an unlikely Wednesday on the busy Parliament Street here with men and women from Garo Hills dressed in their traditional attire, complete with Kotip (head gear), rallying for a separate state to be carved out of Meghalaya.
Spearheaded by the Garo Hills State Movement Committee (GHSMC) and supported by the Mothers’ Union, the Garo Students’ Union, NGOs and traditional heads, the march was led by GHSMC co-chairman Balkarin Marak.
Protesters, who have travelled over 2,000 km to the National Capital, shouted ‘We want Garoland state’, ‘No State, No Rest’ and A’chik A’song Tangbanhchina’ and raised placards with messages demanding separate state. They also wielded traditional Garo weapons mi’lam and sepi (sword and shield).
A large number of people had gathered around the protesters and many among the audience were fascinated by the colorful attire of the protesters and clicked photographs. Speakers highlighted the Garos’ political struggle.
Nikman Marak, chairman of GHSMC, urged both state and central leaders to pay heed to the demand.
“Our people’s demand for a Garo state is more than a century old. It began during the period of the first Garo statesman Late Sonaram Sangma in the 19th century. We have confidence in the Constitution and the lawmakers (and believe) that the voice of Garos will be heard,” he said and added that the struggle would continue till the government accepted the demand.
Roger Benny Sangma, a Garo youth leader wearing Garo Pajar, said widespread discrimination of the Garo people in various sectors had further emboldened them to fight for their own state.
He told the crowd that the Constitution allows creation of separate Garoland state in sync with the State’s Re-organisation Act, 1956.
“This Act of 1956 was a major reform of the boundaries of India’s states and territories, organising them along linguistic lines and paved the way for the creation of new states based on the language of the people. That is why we are rightfully demanding Garoland state,” said Roger Benny.
“Tura is the second most important town in the state. Yet, it was never made the winter capital of Meghalaya. Had it happened, Garo Hills would have received extensive development and people would not have demanded separation,” he added. The rally ended with prayer and an anthem of Garoland state.
