SHILLONG: Chief legal convener of a forum “I am Fearless”, Daniel Stone Nonglai said the need to conserve its culture and identity forms the basis for which Khasi and Garo languages need to be recognised in the next constitutional amendment.
“I am Fearless” is a forum of young advocates of Meghalaya formed with a primary objective for recognition and inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
“Another main reason is that Khasi and Garo communities are a matrilineal society,” he said at a press conference on Friday.
He added that it was time for the Khasi and Garo languages to be recognised since Assamese, Manipuri and Bodo languages were also recognised.
Uncertain about the demand for inclusion of Khasi language in the Constitution’s Eighth Schedule as many languages are battling for the same, Nonglait said, “It happened during the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003 there were around 38 languages which had demanded for recognition of their languages but only 4 languages were recognised.”
At present there are 22 languages recognised by the Constitution of India in the Eighth Schedule. Originally, there were 14 Eighth Schedule languages and the rest are added by constitutional amendments.
He informed that Sindhi was added in 21st Amendment Act, 1967, Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added in the 71st Amendment Act, 1992 and Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhili were added in the 92nd amendment Act, 2003.
“The calculation of Amendments since the Constitution of India came into force on 26th day of November 1949 to 1967 is 18 years and from 1967 to 1992 is 25 years and from 1992 to 2003 is 11 years,” Nonglait said.