SHILLONG: The Achik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM), a Garo civic body, has called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps towards the inclusion of the Garo language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
George Prince Ch. Momin, President of AHAM, conveyed the sentiment of both his organisation and the expansive Garo Community in his formal communication to the Prime Minister on Wednesday.
“We, the people of Garo Hills region, were hoping that Garo language be included in the Eight Schedule considering our identical situation. We humbly request you to include the Garo language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution,” Momin was quoted as saying by the press.
Affording the Garo language a spot in the Eighth Schedule would bestow upon it an official recognition, thereby influencing multiple realms including education, literature, and freedom of speech, Momin added.
The memorandum further highlighted the political significance of the Garo community, stating, “In the political sphere, the Garo community’s voice is strong, boasting of 24 MLAs from the Garo Hills alone, along with representation from other regions. Yet, despite this robust political presence, the Garo language still awaits its formal endorsement as an official language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.”
The memorandum read, “The Garo language, far from being just a communication tool, plays a vital role in the daily existence of the people of Garo Hills in Meghalaya. Furthermore, it holds significance for sizable populations in states such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, and Nagaland, even echoing in parts of Bangladesh.”
In 2018, the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution requesting the Central government to incorporate the Khasi and Garo languages into the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
These languages, spoken and understood by over 23 lakh Khasi and Garo tribal members, hold significant importance and serve as associate official languages within the state. The resolution was presented by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and received full support from the assembly.
