From CK Nayak
New Delhi, Sep 29: Eminent writers, authors and legislators belonging to the Khasi community took their decades-old fight for language recognition to the national capital by holding a two-day long seminar, protest rally and other programmes here starting on Friday.
Addressing the inaugural session as the chief guest, Lok Sabha member from Shillong, Vincent H Pala said that since Khasi language is spoken by majority in Meghalaya it should get its due recognition in the Constitution. If needed the Union government can bring amendments and include Khasi language as done in the case of Bodo and Santhali, he said.
Pala, the only MP from the Khasi community in the Lok Sabha, had raised the matter of recognition of the language several times in Parliament. He even moved a private members’ bill on the floor of the Lok Sabha. But in the absence of a majority the same could not be adopted.
Cabinet minister and senior NPP leader, Ampareen Lyngdoh said the state has submitted to the Centre all relevant papers along with the State Assembly Resolution adopted in November 2018, urging the Centre to take steps for inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule.
She also informed that a group of ministers from the state had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently and demanded inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
The mega event is being organised by the Khasi Authors’ Society in collaboration with HynniewTrep Delhi Association on “Khasi Language literature and Culture”.
KAS president DRL Nonglait said that the fight for inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule is almost as old as the creation of the state which was done on linguistic lines.
But even after more than 50 years the same is not done for which the KAS had to come to Delhi in support of its demand. The KAS has prepared documentation on Khasi language, culture, art and folklore to buttress its genuine demand.
Although there are hundreds of languages spoken across the country, the Eighth Schedule recognises a total of 22 languages as official languages.
Earlier, a KAS delegation had submitted a memorandum which reflected the features and status of Khasi language and requested the Centre to initiate necessary steps to include the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule. Then it was assured that views and opinions of the Central Institute of Indian Language (CIIL) and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will be taken into consideration.
KAS feels there would be no dearth of subjects in the UPSC examinations as there are more than 50 colleges in Meghalaya which offer Khasi as Honours subject up to the degree and postgraduate levels. The Department of Khasi at the North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong also offers Khasi as a subject up to the PhD level.
The national seminar was presided over by Padmashree Prof B War and RP Warjiri Convenor of HTDA welcomed the guests. KHADC Chairman, Lamphrang Blah also spoke on the occasion which started with a welcome song presented by the KSU Delhi unit.