Shillong, Jan 28: The Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) has urged the State government to construct a centre for public performances, traditional food and craft outlets at Khyndailad as a monument to preserve its historic name and cultural legacy.
The bustling Khyndailad in Police Bazar area was transformed into a pedestrian-only zone last year.
The HYC now wants the government to allow open performance space for local artistes, designated shops for traditional foods and indigenous crafts, and interpretative installations explaining the historical significance of Khyndailad.
“Khyndailad is not merely a commercial hub; it is a historic and cultural landmark of Shillong whose name, identity and legacy are steadily being diluted. The philosophy of “Im Ka Kyrteng, Sah Ka Nam” demands that the name ‘Khyndailad’ must not survive only on signboards, but live on through visible, functional and meaningful public spaces that narrate its story to both residents and visitors,” HYC President Roy Kupar Synrem said.
He said a centre for public performance would enhance Shillong’s cultural tourism appeal, transforming Khyndailad into a living cultural monument rather than a congested commercial zone. “This initiative would not only honour our past but also invest in our future by creating livelihoods, preserving indigenous knowledge systems and instilling pride among our people,” Synrem added.
The group urged the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister in charge of the Urban Affairs Department to direct the conc
