Stress on inclusion of Khasi in Eight Scheduled

Shillong, Aug 29: A seminar on Khasi language was held at Jaintia Eastern College, Khliehriat on Saturday as part of the public campaign to mobilise support for the official recognition of Khasi language in the Eight Scheduled of the Constitution of India. The seminar was graced by B Kharshandi, ADM, Violet Lyngdoh, MDC and a host of Khasi scholars including the president of Khasi Authors’ Society, DRL Nonglait, college teachers and students. In his inaugural address, Kharchandi lamented on the actual situation in the State, where social affairs is being anglicise. He said, “The Khasi people prefer to speak in English all the time even among fellow Khasis, particularly in Shillong city. Khasi language is degenerated by the Khasi themselves, and this must change and everybody should love and like to converse in his/her mother tongue with pride.”

The guest of honour Violet Lyngdoh emphasised that mother tongue is essential in every aspect of social interaction and spoke in Pnar language and while narrating her experience said, “While I was in Bangalore, I met someone from the Lyngdoh clan and found out that she was from Australia, even as she spoke fluent Khasi and desired to study Khasi language in the institution.”

Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih narrated a historical linguistic accounts of Austro-Asitic group of languages, with emphasis on the Monkhmer language, where Khasi language is one of its variety. He presented the DNA findings of the Indian Statistical Institute and the Centre for Cellular Molecular Biology that the Khasi people have inhabited the region since 56,000 years. The sessions concluded with public interaction on various aspects of the Khasi language in the effort to obtain recognition in the Eight Scheduled to the Constitution of India.