SHILLONG: The Khasi Authors Society (KAS) is holding a series of seminars to press for its demand for inclusion of the language in the Eighth Schedule following the “inaction of the state government”.
The society has already held seminars in five districts of Khasi Hills and another one is scheduled for September 8.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, KAS president said though local MPs of the state have tried to take up the matter in Parliament they could not convince the members.
“The reason seems to be lack of proper coordination between the state government and the MPs. The government should adopt a resolution at the State Legislative Assembly,” he said.
Seminars were held at Shillong College in East Khasi Hills, Sngap Sing College in South West Khasi Hills, Thomas Jones Synod College in West Jaintia Hills, Eastern Jaintia College in East Jaintia Hills and Balawan College in Ri Bhoi.
The September 8 seminar will be held at Nongstoin College in West Khasi Hills. “We are getting very good response. Teachers and students of Khasi Department, leaders of NGOs, traditional heads and intellectuals took part in the seminar,” he said.
Again, a seminar titled ‘Khasi Authors Literary Day’ will be held on the Literary Day of the KAS at Khasi National Dorbar Hall on September 11.
“We have asked for permission from the Deputy Commissioner and we have been granted permission for holding the rally,” Nonglait said.
The seminars will culminate in a public rally on September 22.
“We have asked permission from the localities of the areas where we will take out a rally. We will start from Madan Iewrynghep, Nongthymmai and take out a procession via St. Edmund’s road to Dhankheti and culminate at Madan Malki ground,” said Nonglait.
He urged traditional heads and religious leaders to participate in the seminar and hoped that the rally will turn out a success.
“The central government should look at the sentiments of the people and the aspirations of the Khasis for the Khasi language to be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. If the government does not consider the long pending demand, it shows that the government looks down not only upon the Khasi language but the Khasi community as a whole,” Nonglait said.
According to the last census of 2011, the Khasi speaking population is not less than 14 lakh (approximately) and to add to that, non-Khasis who speak Khasi and Khasis residing in Bangladesh and other places, the number is going to be more than 14 lakh.
Meanwhile, an official said the department of Arts and Culture has sought the approval of the government to write officially to the Syiem of Hima Khyrim for advice on the ancient practice that continues even today. In the Hima Khyrim, messages in the form of rings of chains, which suggest that the Khasis possess a script used among the ministers and the chief, are sent.
“We wanted to look into the use of Khasi language in the administration of the Hima Khyrim, Hima Mylliem, district councils, religious ceremonies because these are important proofs of whether we actually utilise the language,” the official said.
The official added that the department is making a draft of the Meghalaya Khasi Sahitya Akademi because it is considered as one of the important areas to define the role of Khasi and how it can be taken forward.
With regard to the progress made on the inclusion of Khasi in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, the official said the matter is moving forward.