SHILLONG: The system of writing Khasi surnames with English alphabets will likely be a thing of the past once the Khasi Clan Bill is passed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
Informing this on Tuesday, KHADC CEM HS Shylla said, “Khasi surnames should be spelled with Khasi alphabets. Once the Bill is passed, there is a need to make necessary corrections. For instance it should be Suting and not Sootinck.”
On Wednesday, the KHADC held a meeting with representatives of clan members under the jurisdiction of the KHADC.
“There are many surnames that have English alphabets such as Kyndiah is spelled as Kyndykes, Khain as Chyne. Once the Bill is passed, that should change,” Shylla said.
When asked, he said there are more than 4000 clans under the jurisdiction of the KHADC.
There are a number of Khasi clans who use English alphabets in their surnames such as De Cruz, Cunville, Fancon, Laitflang and others.
On the other hand, Shylla said the Khasi clans should be registered in the office of the District Council so that the Rangbah Kur or the clan elder can be recognised by the district council.
“Unless the clans are registered, they cannot issue the Khasi Clan certificate as directed in the KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage), Bill, 2018. The role of the Dorbar Kur has a connection with the Lineage Bill,” he said.
According to him, before issuing the Khasi tribe certificate, persons should obtain the Khasi clan certificate. After many hours of meeting, he said the clans have agreed that the KHADC should go ahead with the Khasi Clan Bill.
The meeting clarified that Syiem and Lyngdoh were posts and not surnames, and the clan heads were entrusted with the task to make necessary corrections.
The KHADC has given time to the people to give their suggestions till November 18 and people can get a copy of the draft Bill on Wednesday at 1 pm.
