Tamulpur May 4: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mr. Conrad K Sangma today said that ‘language’ defines the identity of a tribe. “It is our identity as a tribe as a community and therefore, the importance of language cannot be measured,” the Chief Minister said speaking at the 61st Annual Conference of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha at Tamulpur, Assam.
Lauding the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS), he said, “We all are inspired to see how Bodos have ensured that their language moves ahead, it is nurtured, and documented”. The conference was graced by Hon’ble President of India Ram Nath Kovind, Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma and Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang.
The Chief Minister took the opportunity to apprise the Hon’ble President of India on the inclusion of Khasi and Garo language in the eight schedule. He also spoke on the similarities between Garo and Bodo language, while advocating strongly for inclusion of Garo & Khasi language in the Eight Schedule.
Mr. Conrad said that he strongly feel that inclusion of languages of different tribes and different communities will only leave to a stronger integration of this very diverse but great nation of us.
He further urged the President of India to support the people’s aspiration of the Northeast and to ensure that languages from the region is included in eight schedule to protect and promote the language and identity of the people.
“We urge you to ensure that not just Garo and Khasi but all the different communities and tribes and languages that are there in the northeast different tribes, they may be small but their identity comes from the language and the culture that they have,” he added.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma recalled his late father PA Sangma and his concerns for the people of Northeast. Late P A Sangma was somebody who had a great affinity for the poor.
The Chief Minister of Meghalaya he said that he remember till today when he was an MP, when Bodoland was undergoing through many issues, he raised his voice for the Bodos and Bodoland in the Parliament. For the respect that he extended to the Bodo people, similarly, the Bodo people extended the same love and respect towards him.
He also told the gathering that he will be attending the first PA Sangma Memorial Lecture at Bodoland University next week. Meghalaya Chief Minsiter said that the presence of the President of India in a program like this is not just an inspiration to the people of Bodo areas, but it shows your concern and your respect for all the tribes of the Northeast.
Praising the President for his frequent visit to Northeast, he said, “This sense a very powerful message to the people of NE that as a government and as the President of this country, every single community is important.
It sends a message that every language that is being spoken throughout the country must be preserved and must be given due importance and this message will reach every corner of the Northeast.
He also thanked President of India on behalf of the people of the North East specially of Bodo area. The Chief Minister thank the President of India for coming for a very, very important function like this today.
The government of India has also shown a lot of interest in insuring that the local languages are preserved and are taught in school are documented and are promoted, He also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his initiative to ensure that all languages are preserved and promoted.
