Shillong, Sep 3: A proposal has been submitted to the Meghalaya Governor seeking official commemoration of August 17 as a historic and constitutional day in Meghalaya, specifically in relation to the constitutional history of the Khasi states.
In a representation to the Governor, the Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) said that August 17, 1948, was the date when the Governor General of India, C Rajagopalachari, formally signed and accepted the conditional Instrument of Accession together with the Annexed Agreement entered into with the 25 Khasi states.
“This historic constitutional arrangement recognised the distinctive position of the Khasi states even without signing the Instrument of Merger as done by over 565 princely states and provided for their special relationship with the newly independent Indian Union,” HITO said.
The proposal said the date deserves greater public awareness as it represents an important chapter in the history of the Khasi people and the constitutional evolution of present-day Meghalaya and reflects how the Khasi states as traditional and indigenous political institutions entered into a constitutional relationship with India while seeking to preserve their distinctive customary institutions, traditions, rights and identity.
