By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 2: In keeping with its intentions of uplifting and promoting the indigenous traditions, the KHADC has shortlisted 40 research scholars to conduct research in 20 areas pertaining to the tradition, culture, customs, and practices of the Khasi community.
Informing this here on Thursday, KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pyniaid Sing Syiem said that the Research and Development Committee under the Council’s Education department headed by Executive Member Carness Sohshang has managed to shortlist 40 out of the 90 research scholars who applied for the research work.
“It is really overwhelming to see such a positive response to this initiative of the Council,” Syiem said.
He added that the Council will issue appointment letters to all the 40 research scholars who have been shortlisted next week.
According to him, the selected scholars will have to complete their work by February 2024.
“We will publish all the research work in the form of a book. Primarily, we will initially keep the book of the research work in the library of the legislative wing of the Council. We may consider distributing the book among the universities and colleges in the second publication,” the CEM said.
It may be recalled that the Council has earmarked Rs 50 lakh for this initiative.
“We want to promote research on tradition and culture of the Khasi indigenous society by youths or research scholars deprived of funding or scholarships from other sources,” Syiem said.
The lack of quality research papers and books is one of the main problems faced by many research scholars, he said.
The KHADC chief said the Council’s Education department will undertake the challenge to promote research culture among scholars and academicians to enrich the tangible resources in the form of books or research papers.
He stressed the need for introducing a research and development cell in view of the education system changing from the existing to the New Education Policy 2020.
The educational institutions would be given an opportunity to develop such a cell for improving the quality of education, he said.
Apart from the lack of research in traditional institutions, Syiem said studies related to indigenous societies do not get funding from other departments or agencies.
He also said that the KHADC plans to fund postgraduate students, research scholars, and teachers to study the social, political, and traditional aspects of the Khasi community.
The 20 areas of research are religion and rituals; marriage; dialect/varieties of languages; origin of clan and Khasi lineage; culture; administration of traditional heads; degradation of value system in the present Khasi society; superstitions; land-holding system; traditional/seasonal market; traditional musical instruments; historical places and monolith; handicraft; inheritance; food and drink; traditional medicine/traditional practitioner; and the life and contribution of late Rev JJ Nichols Roy.