SHILLONG, May 15: KHADC Chief Executive Member, Titosstarwell Chyne on Monday slammed VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit for his alleged attempt to garner public sympathy by questioning why children using their father’s surname cannot be identified as Khasis.
“We cannot use the surname of the father as we are a matrilineal society. This is applicable to everyone and not only Basaiawmoit,” Chyne said while reacting to a recent statement by the VPP president during a recent public meeting at Nongpoh where the latter had questioned why his children, who are using his surname, could not be considered Khasis.
“I will fight for my children if there is an attempt to take away their right of being called Khasis,” the VPP president had stated during the rally.
Basaiawmoit had also questioned why his children could not be called Khasis when both he and his wife were Khasis.
Taking an indirect dig at the KHADC CEM, Basaiawmoit said people who are raising this issue need to properly consider if they themselves are Khasis since they are using alphabets like “C” and “Y” in their surnames which are not Khasi alphabets.
“They first need to question themselves for westernizing their traditional surnames rather than questioning others,” Basaiawmoit had stated.
Chyne also said that as per Sections 3 and 12 of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Khasi Social Custom of Lineage Act, 1997, only those following the custom of using their mother’s surname will be identified as a Khasi.
On Basaiawmoit’s remarks of using westernized spellings, Chyne clarified that the letter “C” is not used by the Chyne clan only and there are other clans like Chen and Cunville who are also using the English alphabet.
He said the KHADC has amended the Clan Bill which was introduced by former CEM (L) HS Shylla, he said that the council has already approved the bill and the issue of ensuring correct spellings of Khasi surname will be addressed.
He also asserted that the council is committed to preservation and protection of the age-old matrilineal tradition of the Khasi tribe where children adopt their mother’s surname.
Chyne also stated that any Khasi woman who marries a non-Khasi needs to get the Khasi tribe certificate to apply for the Schedule Tribes certificate for her children.
“Obtaining the Khasi tribe certificate is mandatory if they want to apply for the ST certificate,” he said.
