Shillong, Sept 4: The Khasi National Dorbar Hall celebrated 100th year of their existence at their Dorbar Hall, Mawkhar here on Monday.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Prestone Tynsong said that he has just read about the short public notice served by the Khasi Himas to every village for serious thinking and planning about the creation of the separate State for the tribal.
He said that this ultimately led to the birth of the Khasi National Durbar on September 4 1923 to safeguard and protect the unique Khasi culture and identity.
According to him, people had to work for weeks to attend this important meeting which has lasted for three days.
Tynsong said this only showed the far-sightedness past leaders who understood about the need to a common platform by forming the Khasi National Dorbar.
He said that the formation of the Autonomous District Councils was a result of the commitment of the past leaders for protection the interest of its community.
On the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister also felicitated the oldest general secretary of the organization, JK Tariang and also released the centenary souvenir of the Khasi National Dorbar.
It may be mentioned that in 1917 the Montagu-Chelmsford Report, which proposed the development of self-governing institutions in India, saw the beginning of political development in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
At that time Meghalaya was a province under Assam and the people felt strongly about the creation of a separate hill state for the tribals.
A few Khasi elders within the Khasi community noted the changes of the Report as something fundamental.
The report asked the people to gather for discussions on the importance of the report and what should be done about it.
Fifty-four representatives from various Hima(s) and about three hundred people from different parts of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills attended the Dorbar.
From 1923 to 1928 there were intense discussions held in the Khasi National Dorbar that proved instrumental to the Hill State Movement.