Shillong, August 18: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, today, launched, ‘Ki Dienjat’, a research initiative for re-examining Khasi-Jaintia Socio-Cultural linkages with Southeast Asia. Also present during the launch were, Minister, Sanbor Shullai, Arts & Culture, Justice, Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew, Principal Secretary, Arts & Culture, members of the research team and officials from the Arts & Culture department.
Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, in his address “Ki Dienjat” is, a journey of rediscovery — reconnecting with our past so that we may better understand our present and shape our future. He added that the launch is part of the continuing effort to document, preserve and celebrate the cultural and historical fabric of our State, and to give the people the tools to trace the origins. He added that based on the early colonial-era records and indigenous knowledge, local scholars and researchers have over time arrived at a growing consensus that the Khasi and Jaintia tribes may have migrated from regions such as present-day Cambodia and Laos.
He further stated that contemporary research to validate these historical connections has been limited held back by the lack of funding for international fieldwork, the logistical and political challenges of working in these regions, the absence of structured academic collaboration, and limited long-term institutional support.
“To close this gap, we constituted a dedicated study team under the Department of Arts and Culture, bringing together distinguished scholars and officials to lead a comprehensive, interdisciplinary effort to explore, document and analyze the ancestral origins of our tribes,” he said.
On the Ki Dienjat e-Portal that was launched during the occasion, the Chief Minister said the-Portal is designed to make research more effective, accessible and impactful and a centralized platform for accessing information, managing research data and enabling collaboration, which will speed up communication, cut paperwork and administrative cost and improve transparency and monitoring. “I hope this portal will be shared space where researchers, institutions and communities come together to exchange knowledge and deepen our collective understanding of our identity and heritage,” he said.
The Chief Minister also informed that the thought process for having the research into the origins of the various tribes of the state began with Late P A Sangma who emphasized the need for an in-depth research on the roots of the Garos. He informed that a similar research project will be launched for the Garo Hills region on the 1st September 2026, on the birth anniversary of Late P A Sangma.
He added that the project aims to have a long-lasting impact on the people of the state, covering major tribes and integrating various cultural aspects like language, architecture and music. He further stated that the project will uncover surprising findings but also cautioned on the challenges and sensitivity of the research.
He also underscored the importance of involving young research scholars and encouraged their participation. “Through this research initiative we reaffirm our commitment to preserving, protecting and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Meghalaya,” he said.
In conclusion, the Chief Minister reminded the gathering of the importance and need of the research and called for collaboration and participation from all stakeholders.
The Chief Minister also released the project document and also remotely inaugurated the Research Room of Ki Dienjat at the premises of Williamson Sangma State Museum, Shillong.
The Tracing the Roots Project is a pioneering interdisciplinary initiative to document Meghalaya’s indigenous history, languages, cultures and heritage. It brings together oral traditions, indigenous knowledge, historical research, linguistics, archaeology and scientific methods and calls for collaboration with national and international academic institutions.
It will build an evidence-based understanding of the roots and origins of the Khasi-Jaintia tribe while creating digital archives, scholarly publications and educational resources to preserve this heritage for future generations. Under the program, 75 scholars will travel to Vietnam, Cambodia and Tibet to study the origins and journeys of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo people.
