TURA: The A’chik Youth Welfare Organization (AYWO) recently submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, urging him to work towards the inclusion of Garo and Khasi language in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution.
According to the Geneal Secretary of the AYWO, Sengbath Ch Marak, the inclusion of Garo language will be a boon for the people of Garo hills. Marak said that Garo Hills has been lagging behind economically, socially and politically and the inclusion of Garo in the Eight Schedule would open up opportunities for the people.
Marak added that the inclusion of Garo in the Constitution would enable a Garo person to be a member of the Official language Commission and monetary benefits can be tapped and utilized for literary promotions. He said that he move would also enable civil service aspirants to opt for Garo subject in various Civil Service Examinations.
“Currently about 2 million speak the language in Meghalaya, Assam, West Bengal and other NE states. It is also spoken by about 1 lakh in Bangladesh and taking into account the contiguous nature of the nature it can be termed as a regional language. The language is also used as a medium of instruction in many elementary and secondary government schools and can also be opted for as subject for majoring,” Marak reminded.
Marak, while pointing put that Garo language is given the status of ‘Associate Official Language’ (main official being English) under five districts of Garo Hills district of Meghalaya under Meghalaya State Language Act 2005, felt that it was ready to be included in the 8th schedule.
“The very idea of ES is to honor the linguistic rights of language communities of India. In keeping all these factors into account, AYWO wants MDA government to be pro active while dealing with such an important issue which will determine the recognition of ‘linguistic minorities’ and clear all the hurdles,” stated the memo.
“Both the Garo and Khasi community has its own literary body which strives towards the well being of linguistic upliftment and for the progress. We have our own A’chik Literature Society. The ALS is the premier literary organization of the A·chiks which was started in 1963. It is noteworthy to mention that there is also ‘Garo Sahitya Sabha’ in Garo dominated areas of Assam,” said AYWO.
The AYWO felt it was imperative on the part of the MDA to be responsive towards the idea of inclusion of both languages as well try to replace the Khasi Authors’ Society (KAS) from Khasi Hills and A’chik Literature Society (ALS) from GH into a ‘Sahitya Sabha or Academy’.