SHILLONG, July 25: Members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly will now get the opportunity to debate in Khasi and Garo languages inside the House.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Monday revealed that the system of allowing members to participate in the Assembly proceedings in Khasi and Garo languages will be implemented during the Budget session next year.
Addressing the gathering after unveiling a book Ka Lapalang Ha Ri War penned by Dr Bashida Massar at St Anthony’s College here, Tynsong said they will not be able to introduce the new system in the autumn session in September since they need to appoint interpreters and install the equipment inside the Assembly hall.
“This is the beginning of our attempt to showcase to the world the richness of the Khasi and Garo languages. With this initiative, we are also trying to strengthen our case to impress upon the Centre to include the two languages in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution,” Tynsong said.
He reiterated that the state government has been relentlessly following up with the Centre for constitutional recognition to the two languages. “We have also got many documents to support and justify on the importance to include the Khasi language. We are still pushing with the Centre,” Tynsong said.
Speaking about the book, the deputy CM lauded the author for aptly describing the uniqueness of her Lapalang village near Pynursla.
“I hope that this effort on the part of Dr Massar will inspire others to do the same,” he said, adding that the book will be part of the collection in the State Central Library.
On her book, Dr Massar said she used to hear stories about her village from her parents. One of the stories that has stuck to her mind since her childhood is that of the crash of a fighter jet in the village during World War II.
She said she has included photos of scraps of the fighter jet in her book.
According to her, the book also contains information on vegetables, fruit and animal species found in the village which have now become extinct.
The author has also mentioned about traditional games she played in her childhood which the younger generations are not aware of.
Others present on the occasion included Padma Shri Badaplin War, Principal of St Anthony’s College Bro Albert L Dkhar and Archbishop of Shillong Archdiocese Rev Victor Lyngdoh.
