Jowai, Apr 11: The Khasi Authors’ Society (KAS), Jowai unit on Saturday held a public hearing at Iawmusiang Jowai, on the demand to make the Khasi language the official language of Meghalaya.
Speaking on the occasion, the President of the Khasi Authors’ Society, Dr. DRL. Nonglait, in his speech, demanded that the state government should hold a special session of the Meghalaya Assembly by April for the purpose of making Khasi the official language.
He also stated that the state government should inform the centre that Khasi has become the official language and to incorporate it into the Eighth schedule of the Constitution of India.
In order for this demand to be successful, Dr. Nonglait called on all the residents of Hynniewtrep to have unite, from the people, political parties, pressure groups, government and MLAs.
“If the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Ministers and Government Ministers hear this demand, they should convene a Special Session and amend the Meghalaya Language Act,” the KAS president said.
The Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005 is the primary legislation governing the use of languages for official purposes in the state.
Under this Act, English remains the official language of Meghalaya, while Khasi and Garo are designated as “associate official languages” for specific administrative levels.
Dr. Nonglait said that the special session of the Assembly should resolve to make them the full Government languages.
He said that in October 2025, the KAS has already met the Chief Minister and issued memorandum to him and to all the MLAs but nothing has been discussed in the last session of the Meghalaya Assembly.
According to Dr. Nonglait this has led to the KAS to reach out to the public through its various units across the state.
He said that such a meeting was held in Nongstoiñ and in Jowai, such meetings will also be held in Khliehriat, Mairang, Mawkyrwat, Nongpoh, Sohra and other places.
The Meghalaya State Legislature had passed a resolution in 2018 urging the Centre to grant the recognition to Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
