Shillong, February 28: The Department of Khasi, NEHU, Shillong in collaboration with the North Eastern Council (NEC), Shillong has organized a one day symposium on the theme: “The Beginning of Written Khasi Language and Literature” to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of Khasi Language and Literature. Smti. Roshan Warjri, Hon’ble Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Government of Meghalaya was the Chief Guest of the function and the Guest of Honour were Prof. L.S. Gassah, Honorary Director, ICSSR-NERC, Shillong. On this day the Chief Guest has released a journal entitled Ka Dak Sah Kynmaw( special issue of Ka Thwet Jingstad). The journal is a collection of various research works in the field of Language and Literature.
In the inaugural address, the Hon’ble Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Smti Roshan Warjri, the Chief Guest of the function lauded the Department of Khasi, NEHU for organizing such a Symposium. In her speech she encouraged the students and scholars of Khasi literature to enrich Khasi language and literature. She also appreciated the Department of Khasi for focusing not only in the field of literature but also laying emphasis in the field of language.
Prof L.S. Gassah, the Guest of Honour of the inaugural function of the Symposium stress on the need to explore more into the study of other varieties within Khasi language. He added that there were many linguists in the past who made an attempt to study the varieties but it is an area which still needs more in depth study.
There were two sessions in the One-day Symposium. In the first session, Prof. Badaplin War, Former Dean School of Humanities, presented a paper on the study of the beginning of written Khasi language. Rev. (Dr.) B.L. Nongbri presented on the contribution of the Welsh Missionaries to written Khasi literature. In the second session, Sr. (Dr.) Philomena Kharakor presented a paper on the Biblical influence in pre-independence Khasi literature. Rev. (Dr.) O.L. Snaitang presented a paper on the Role of Christianity and Social Change.
The Symposium concluded with a Valedictory function where eminent author, translator and recipient of Padmashree award and U Tirot Sing award for arts and literature, Shri Sumar Sing Sawian was the chief guest of the function. In his speech he stress that language is a unifying factor of Khasi society.
