Sahitya Akademi a body against recognition of Khasi language

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 26, 2020

Senior member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Bindo M Lanong has alleged that the delay to include the Khasi language in the Eight Schedule to the Constitution of India was due to “deep conspiracy” by the Sahitya Akademi.

“There was a deep conspiracy by the Sahitya Akademi (on the issue),” Lanong said while participating in the discussion on the budget during the summer session, which concluded here on Friday.

The former deputy chief minister said that the expert committee of the Sahitya Akademi had visited Shillong in 1977 and 1985-88 in view of the demand for inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eight Schedule.

According to him, the Khasi language was recognized at the degree level by the Calcutta University in 1919.

“However in 2001, the Sahitya Akademi informed the state government that the Khasi language could not be included in the Eight Schedule due to the fact that many langauges have been included. Suprisingly three years after this in 2003, four languages including Bodo were included in the Eight Schedule… Doesn’t this means that they were bias when it comes to Khasi language?” Lanong said.

The nominated member further demanded that a case should be filed against the Sahitya Akademi for its biasness to the Khasi tribal.