SHILLONG, SEPT 22: Thousands of people hit the city streets here on Saturday demanding the Centre government for immediate inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eight Schedule to the Constitution of India.
The procession, which is one of the biggest being organized by the Khasi Authors’ Society (KAS) in its 37 years of struggle to achieve the demand, started from Madan Iewrynghep and ended at Malki ground where a large gathering was held.
This also came a day after the Cabinet of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government announced its decision to pass an official resolution for inclusion of Khasi and Garo language in the Eight Schedule during the ongoing session of the state Assembly.
The rally was also attended by Urban Affairs minister Hamlet Dohling, Sports & Youth Affairs minister Banteidor Lyngdoh, State Planning Board chairman Lambor Malngiang, KHNAM MLA Adelbert Nongrum, MDCs, leaders of different political parties and pressure groups which include the Khasi Students Union.
People from different walks of life including students were also seen braving the heavy downpour as they listen to the speakers at the gathering.
However, four were injured when a pandal set up (not by the organizers) at the venue collapsed due to many people trying to take cover from the rain. They were immediately taken to the hospital by the ambulance which was kept there on stand by.
Addressing at the rally, KAS president Dr DRL Nonglait said, “We demand the Centre to include Khasi language in the Eight Schedule in the upcoming session of the Parliament. The state govt should also send the official resolution immediately after its passing in the Assembly.”
He informed that Khasi Authors Society would also soon submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for their necessary intervention towards fulfilling the long pending aspiration of the people of the state.
“If needed, we would also consider taking up a demonstration in front of the Parliament to demand for our rights,” Dr Nonglait said while asking all the 36 MLAs of Khasi and Jaintia Hills to be ready for taking on the Centre if it still turns a deaf ear to the plea.
Later while responding to a query, KAS president told reporters that the attempt to also push for Garo language to be included in the Eight Schedule should not be a stumbling block for the consideration of Khasi language.
“We have been fighting for the statehood together with the Garos and we will be happy if Garo language is also included. But we will make it clear that it has to go by merit and the attempt to make Garo also included in the 8th Schedule should not be a stumbling block for the consideration of Khasi as the language which has better and higher stature,” he said.
According to him, Khasi has been there in the list of 38 languages which the MHA is considering for inclusion in the 8th Schedule but recently on checking its website, Garo has also been there in the list of new languages which are considered for inclusion.
Asked what would be the KAS next step if the Centre does not include the agenda in the upcoming Parliament session even after the state Assembly adopts the resolution, Dr Nonglait said, “We will not stop to voice our demand we will have to make our demand heard by the concerned authorities and we will have to plan our strategy of how to make the government realise that Khasi people should not be neglected.”
Referring to violent protest in other states in the past, he said, “So the government of India saw the sentiment of the people but we the Khasis are peaceful people we have been able to get statehood through peaceful agitations. Now also when we move for inclusion of Khasi language we will move peacefully but then the strategies of our movement cannot be revealed.”
While expressing confidence that the Centre will oblige, Dr Nonglait said this is because of the stature of the Khasi language adding that there were some queries from the MHA like whether there are around five lakhs population speaking the language.
He however pointed out that according to the 2011 census the number of people speaking Khasi in India is 14, 31,344 and said, “So we have crossed much higher the limit set by the MHA.”
“Another important criteria set by the MHA is that the language should be a medium of instruction in schools and colleges and Khasi has been the medium of instruction of examination from nursery to Ph.D. There are languages which have been included in the eight schedule but they have not even open the PG courses. So when we consider academically and the literary tradition of the Khasi language is considered then they should not neglect the stature of Khasi language we are far ahead than the stature of Bodo, the stature of Santhali, which were included in the last few years in the 8th Schedule,” he added.
Earlier while speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Syiem P Syiemlieh, Chieftain of Nongkhlaw province recalled the historical incident about the imposition of Assamese language in the erstwhile composite state of Assam.
“We have achieved autonomous statehood in 1972 through the struggle against the imposition of Assamese language in 1960, and now our language deserved to be included in the Eight Scheduled to the Constitution of India,” he said.
In her speech, Prof Antionette Kharmalki Head of Khasi Department, North Eastern Hill University narrated the history, ‘Khasi language is a subject of studies at Calcutta University, Guwahati University since the pre-independence period, which the British colonial rulers recognised the Khasi language more than any other tribal languages in the country’.
The other speakers who also addressed during the rally include Samuel Jyrwa, Chairman of the North East Students’ Organisation, Dr P Nongtdu, Principal of Jaintia Eastern College; Dr. S Loniak Marbaniang, retired Professor of NEHU, and Dr. Bajubon Roy Kharlukhi, former Member of Parliament and former Principal of Union Christian College.
By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours