Discussion under way over Khasi as official language

SHILLONG, March 1: Amid the push to elevate the status of the Khasi language, Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) spokesperson and Minister for Arts and Culture, Paul Lyngdoh, has confirmed that discussions regarding this demand made by the Khasi Authors’ Society are under way.
According to Lyngdoh, the society had earlier petitioned the Chief Minister to designate Khasi as an official language of Meghalaya alongside English. The proposal aims to upgrade Khasi from an associate official language to a full-fledged official language, ensuring its wider use in government communication and administration.
“Since the Chief Minister has authorised me to engage with them, I have had discussions with the society. It is my considered view that this is achievable. I have briefed the CM about our discussions, and the next step is to take the matter to the Cabinet,” Lyngdoh said.
He further emphasised that the government would gather input from all stakeholders. “We will follow the entire process with due diligence before arriving at a comprehensive solution,” he added.
The demand to grant Khasi official language status has been longstanding, with supporters arguing that it would strengthen the cultural identity of the Khasi people and help preserve their linguistic heritage.