The Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC) today said that the State government should have declared December 18 as the ‘Education Day’ to pay tribute to the renowned and most revered Khasi poet, U So So Tham.
The statement was aired by HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin after the organisation paid floral tributes at the bust of the poet, erected in the State Central Library premises, to commemorate his 81st death anniversary
Kharjahrin said that the poet was one of the key pillars for upliftment of education and Khasi language in the state. “With such a talent and dedication he had the government should have declared this day as the State Education Day,” he said.
He lamented the deteriorating education system in the state, which was once considered the education hub of the Northeast. Kharjahrin said many talented students from the state have to pursue studies outside because the government cannot provide the best quality education.
“It is a matter of great agony to see hundreds of our youth don’t even get an opportunity to continue their studies while teachers in our state continue to suffer and the Right to Education is ignored,” he said.
HYC general secretary, Roy Kupar Synrem of the HYC lamented the non-inclusion of the Khasi Language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India.
“If the Nepali language has been included in the 8th Schedule why not the Khasi Language?” If the government of Meghalaya has approved Khasi language as the associate official language in the assembly then it should issue a notification that job applicant’s through the MPSC should know to read and write Khasi,” he said.
Meanwhile, various organizations paid rich tributes to U So So Tham. The Khasi Student’s Union held the academic award in his name and felicitated meritorious students at the Divine Saviour Parish Hall, Nongshilliang-Nongthymmai as well as a poetry competition.
