MLAs debate in Khasi in Assembly but mix along with English

Shillong, Mar 19: Two MLAs who tried to debate in their own mother tongue ended up discussing issues by mixing with English language in Assembly on the second day of the budget session here on Monday.

Infact the two MLAs – Ampareen Lyngdoh from East Shillong constituency, and Adelbert Nongrum from North Shillong constituency were to create history that they were the first to debate on Governor’s Address by speaking in Khasi in the House, since English is an official language that legislators have been communicating right from the inception of the first Meghalaya Assembly in 1972.

The fact that members of the Assembly have been speaking in English is because Meghalaya is dominated by three major tribes – Khasi, Jaiñtia and Garo, but they did not speak the same language.

Both Ampareen and Adelbert spoke in Khasi in Assembly as a reaction against the Governor, Ganga Prasad who became the first governor in the history of the state to have addressed members of the House in Hindi, on the first day of the budget session on March 16.

Ampareen and Nongrum belonged to the Khasi tribe.

However both the members though utilized most of the time by debating the governor’s address in Khasi, but they also used words and sentences in English.

Observers in the Assembly said that both the members were speaking ‘Khalish’ since they were mixing Khasi and English during the course of their debate in the House.

Lone NCP legislator from Gambegre constituency, Saleng A. Sangma who also participated in the debate, had sought permission from the Speaker to allow him to speak for few minutes in his Garo language.

Saleng however termed the debate by members in their own mother tongue “sad and not healthy” saying, “It is sad on my part to see that we are having differences on language (Khasi and Garo) in the House. This is not healthy and I can see that the brotherhood is moving away from us.”

Hill State People Democratic Party MLA from Mawkyrwat constituency, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar urged the members not to be “emotional” just because the governor had addressed members of the House in Hindi.

“It would be unfortunate if we are trying to minimize the dignity of the House. Let us communicate in the language we all understand (English) especially those who can communicate in English,” he said.