MEGHALAYA:
A·chik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) has expressed deep regret over statements made by the Khasi Authors Society relating to the inclusion of the Garo language in the 8th Schedule.
Macklawrence M Sangma, the education secretary of ACHIK, said a mature organisation such as the Khasi Authors Society (KAS) made “immature statements of leaving Garo language aside from the inclusion of 8thSchedule.”
General secretary RP Kharshiing of KAS earlier made a statement that the Garo language could hinder the inclusion of Khasi in the 8th Schedule.
Kharshiing is reported to have said that one language cannot be an obstacle to another language. He was of the opinion that Garo society should focus more on literary works and research, while the Khasis may go ahead to advocate for their inclusion in the 8th Schedule, as they “fulfill the criteria” thereof.
However, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai told Rajya Sabha in August 2021 that there are no such fixed criteria for language inclusion that Kharshiing seems to be alluding to.
Rai had then said, “Since at present there are no criteria defined to place a language under the 8th Schedule, no time frame can be provided for the consideration of the demands for inclusion of more languages in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution.”
GARO NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR KHASI WOES
Sangma, who has perceived Kharshiing’s statement as belittling the status of the Garo language, also said that there are Garo speakers, also known as A·chik, in Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal, West Bengal, and Meghalaya. He further referred to Jewel Areng, the sole Garo and Catholic member of parliament from Bangladesh representing at least 100,000 Garos there.
Garos are represented in the state legislatures of Assam and Tripura as well, he added.
“The number of representations in Assembly in different states signifies the strength of numbers of Garo speakers in the other states. The Garo language is also being studied in schools, colleges, and universities, and even Ph.D. in Garo is being taken up,” Sangma said.
Calling Kharshiing’s statement absurd, he said it is best for KAS to avoid blaming Garos for the Centre’s hesitance in including Khasi and Garo languages in the 8th Schedule.
Indeed, it should be noted that Mundari, another Austroasiatic language like Khasi, is on the list for inclusion and is spoken by more than 1 million people, for which an entirely new and unique script was invented.
Nicobarese is also an Austroasiatic language spoken by 30,000 people in the Nicobar Islands and included in the demand list.
Tulu, a Dravidian language with inscriptions in the Tulu script dating to the 7th–8th century AD, is spoken by almost 2 million speakers but remains unlisted. Saraiki spoken by 26 million, Rajasthani spoken by at least 25 million people and Bhojpuri spoken by 51 million speakers have seen no progress in their demand for inclusion despite being among the 39 languages for consideration, which gives credence to Sangma’s statement that Garo’s status has nothing to do with these delays.