SHILLONG: A day after the Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) raised concerns over the exclusion of the Jaintia language from Meghalaya’s inaugural State Anthem, the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has thrown its weight behind the demand for linguistic inclusivity.
Expressing dissatisfaction with this omission, the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on January 21 criticised the state government for what it deemed a lapse in cultural representation and demanded immediate corrective action.
MPCC President and Shillong MP, Vincent H Pala, a native of Jaintia Hills, voiced his disappointment, stating, “It’s really unfortunate what I saw on YouTube. I think the government is not serious with the Anthem, and they left it to people who do not know.”
Pala urged the government to engage individuals well-versed in the rich culture and history of the state for such significant endeavours.
Acknowledging the growing resentment over the alleged oversight, he stressed that corrective measures can still be taken and appealed to the government to address the matter promptly.
Earlier on January 20, during the 52nd Meghalaya Day celebrations, the State Anthem, released by the government, showcased the unique characteristics of the state’s principal tribes—Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo. However, the anthem itself only features the languages of Khasi and Garo.
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The anthem begins in Khasi, transitions to English, moves into Garo with visuals of festivals, dances, and the outdoors, before returning to English.
This composition drew criticism from both the Jaintia Students Union (JSU) and the MPCC.
Soin after the anthem was released, the JSU expressed dissatisfaction, highlighting the need for the government to rectify the exclusion of the Jaintia language.
“We feel very disappointed that the state government instead of including the Jaintia dialect is promoting English in the State Anthem. This has greatly hurt the sentiments of the people of Jaintia Hills region,” the JSU said in a statement.
The union pointed out that the elected representatives from Jaintia Hills remained silent on this matter, urging the state government to replace English in the State Anthem with the languages of all three tribes: Khasis, Jaintias, and Garos.
Highlighting the historical context, the JSU reminded that Meghalaya was formed in 1972 by separating the districts of United Khasi and Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills from Assam.
Till the time of writing this report, no official reaction on the issue has come from the government.
