By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 16: The research work on 41 different areas pertaining to the traditions, culture, customs, and practices of the Khasi community is nearing completion. This research exercise was financially supported by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma with a sum of Rs 50 lakh last year.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, KHADC Executive Member (EM) in charge of Education, Carness Sohshang, revealed that the Research and Development (R&D) Committee, which he heads, will meet on May 24 to discuss the status of this research project.
He said they are seeking pre-submissions before asking the selected scholars to submit their complete research work on the different areas and topics.
“We would like the researchers to submit a gist of their work to allow the committee to study it. We will then ask the researchers to submit the full research work after we are satisfied with the gist of their research,” Sohshang said.
Acknowledging that there are certain areas of study that will require more time due to the vastness of the subject, Sohshang stated that they have given ample time for the researchers to complete their work.
“We are aiming to complete the exercise by June. Once the different research works are compiled into a book, we plan to have a grand release event. We will provide an opportunity for people to interact with the various researchers,” Sohshang said.
He also expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for his support to the Council in undertaking this research project.
Earlier, the Council had set a deadline of March 31 for scholars to submit their work. It may be mentioned that the different areas of research are religion and rituals, marriage, dialects/varieties of languages, origin of clans and Khasi lineage, culture, administration of traditional heads, degradation of the value system in present Khasi society, superstitions, land-holding systems, traditional/seasonal markets, traditional musical instruments, historical places and monoliths, handicrafts, inheritance, food and drink, traditional medicine/traditional practitioners, and the life and contributions of (Late) Rev JJ Nichols Roy.
Meanwhile, the Education in-charge of the EM said that the KHADC is exploring the idea of a major research project that will continue for around three to five years.
He said that the CM, who had convened a meeting with the three Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), has also encouraged the Councils to take up such research projects to preserve the culture, customs, and practices of the three major tribes of the state.
Sohshang said research in areas such as the history of different Himas and Syiemships, besides different clans, and so on, can now be explored. “We will deliberate more on which are the different areas since the idea of having major research is still in the conceptualised stage,” he added.