By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 11: The Khasi Authors’ Society (KAS) has once again renewed its demand for the inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and for it to be declared an official language of the state. A delegation of KAS is also likely to take up their demand with the Centre in New Delhi.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Literary Day celebration to mark the 46th anniversary of the society’s foundation, KAS president DRL Nonglait said the demand has been consistently pursued with the Centre but remains pending with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. “We have not received any information on when the Eighth Schedule will be amended. Only then will there be a chance for Khasi to be included,” Nonglait said.
He said that the society has decided to hold another national seminar in Delhi next year to highlight the need to recognise Khasi, and will once again seek appointments with officials of the Ministry. “If our campaign in Delhi to pursue this long-pending demand fails, then we will have no option but to go back to the people,” he added.
Reiterating that the society will not relent until Khasi is recognised under the Eighth Schedule, Nonglait also stressed that the KAS is pressing for Khasi to be made a full-fledged official language of the state.
Currently, Khasi is recognised only as an associate official language. While acknowledging that English would be difficult to replace since it has been in use since British rule, Nonglait argued that Khasi too must be accorded official language status.
He recalled that following intense campaigns in 2005, the state government granted associate official language status to Khasi, but said the society was not satisfied. “We wanted Khasi to be made an official language,” he emphasised.
According to Nonglait, granting full official status to Khasi would elevate the importance of studying the language, as official communication in government offices would then be conducted in Khasi. He further noted that job interviews conducted by the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) and various District Selection Committees (DSCs) would also be held in Khasi.
It may be mentioned that the KAS was formed on September 11, 1979.