Pala slams omission of Jaintia language
SHILLONG, Jan 21: The State Congress on Sunday criticised the state government for leaving out the Jaintia language from the State Anthem, which was released on Saturday during the 52nd Meghalaya Day celebrations.
The party demanded that corrective action be taken with immediate effect.
The anthem is only available in the languages of Khasi and Garo, but the pictures showcase the distinctive traits of all three of the state’s principal tribes. The anthem starts out in Khasi, then switches to English, then moves into Garo with images of festivals, dances, and the outdoors to accompany it, before going back to English.
“It’s really unfortunate what I saw on YouTube. I think the government is not serious with the Anthem and they left it to people who do not know,” MPCC president and Shillong MP, Vincent H Pala, who hails from Jaintia Hills, said on Sunday.
“They should engage people who know the rich culture and history of the state and not just anyone,” Pala said, acknowledging that there is a lot of growing resentment over the alleged error.
“They can still correct it, and I request the state government to do so,” the MPCC chief stated.
The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) had on Saturday expressed dissatisfaction with the omission of the Jaintia language soon after the launch of the first State Anthem.
Criticising the state government for leaving out the Jaintia language, the JSU has requested that the state government replace English in the State Anthem with the languages of the three tribes that make up the state: the Khasis, Jaintias, and Garos.
Additionally, the JSU had also emphasised that the state was formed in 1972 by separating the districts of United Khasi and Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills from Assam.