SHILLONG, Oct 25: The Achik Holistic Awakening Movement
(AHAM) has sought the intervention of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi for the immediate inclusion of Garo language
in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
In a memorandum to Modi, AHAM president George Prince
Ch Momin said, “…on behalf of my organization in particular
and the Garo Community in general pleads to include the
Garo language as one of the official languages in the Eight
Schedule and calls your office to examine our demand and
bring justice to the Garo language.” He said in the past few
years, the Central government has included different Indian
languages in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution on
the recommendation of various Committees yet the
committees like Pahwa Committee (1996) and Sitakant
Mohapatra Committees (2003) have remained inconclusive
of the fixed criteria for the inclusion of languages into the
Eight Schedule.
It shows proactiveness on the part of the Indian government
in being flexible in recognizing the complexity of linguistic
diversity in India.
In 2003, the 93rd Constitutional Amendment was passed
which enabled the government to have a fresh look at the
possibility of inclusion of other Indian languages in the Eighth
Schedule. Consequently, four languages, viz, Bodo, Dogri,
Santali and Maithili were adjudged to be included in the Eight
Schedule.
“We, the people, of Garo Hills region, were hoping that Garo
language be included in the Eight Schedule considering our
identical situation and more justified…Therefore, we humbly
request you to examine our request by the same yardstick to
include the Garo language in the Eighth Schedule of the
Indian Constitution,” Momin said.
He said that the Garo language and literature are vast as it is
blessed with a group of dedicated writers. A large number of
books are published regularly and available in the Garo
language. Garo dramas, songs, and dances are highly
acclaimed and regularly stayed at various places in India.
More than three major newspapers, fifty magazines,
periodicals and journals are available in the Garo language
which however has more or less political and official support
for the demand albeit there was a discussion even in the
Indian parliament to include Garo language in the Eighth
Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
“Recently, the state government of Meghalaya has
recommended the Garo language for its inclusion in the
Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to which we
sincerely hope that the Indian government will recommend
the Garo language for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule
of the Indian Constitution,” he said while adding, “The
inclusion of the Garo language in the Eighth Schedule of the
Indian Constitution will have the following positive impacts
on the people of the Garo Hills region as it is not just a
language but a way of life that propels progress and harmony
in the region for the people of Garo Hills region.”
The positive impacts include Garo language as a mother
tongue and medium of instruction, geographical and
demographic significance of Garo Language usage in India,
literature and literary impacts, freedom of expression in the
legislative and social sphere.
Momin said that the population of Garo Hills in Meghalaya,
and certain populations in the state of Assam, Arunachal
Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, etc. as well as significant
populations in Bangladesh have retained the Garo language
for day-to-day communication.
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In large population centres where people of other states,
especially from Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bengal,
Punjab, Gujarat and other South Indian areas have come to
work, they have opted Garo language instead of their
language because the accent of Garo follows an Indian
pattern.
“In fact, one of the highest Garo subject scorers in the Higher
Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination, 2023
conducted by the Meghalaya Board of School Education is a
Bihari student. In the political sphere, the Garo population is
represented by 24 MLAs from the Garo Hills region, two
MLAs from Khasi Hills, one MLA from Assam, one MP in India
and one MP in Bangladesh. Having such a large political
representation, the Garo language is yet to be included as
one of the official languages in the Eighth Schedule in the
Constitution of India,” he added. (NNN)
