Meghalaya today celebrated its 52nd Statehood Day at District Auditorium & Library, Tura with the release of the State Anthem.
The anthem is a well thought attempt to carefully capture and respect the shared-identity of the land and its people.
The anthem was anchored by Arts & Culture Minister Paul Lyngdoh and coordinated by Secretary FR Kharkongor along with Arts & Culture team.
The Anthem was composed by Late Neil Nongkynrih, founder of the Shillong Chamber Choir, who has contributed immensely to the area of Music for the State. The indigenous instrumentation was laid down by Shillong-based folk-fusion band Summersalt and Nokpante of the Garo hills.
The anthem gives equitable lyrical representation of the Khasi and Garo people with fair creative structural space to each group entity.
The English lyric was drafted by Nongkynrih after which a group of writers, including Lyngdoh gave it the final touches. The Khasi and Garo lyrics were drafted by Kit Shangpliang of Summersalt and Iris Watre Thomas respectively.
The anthem is based on the indigenous rhythms using the Ksing Shynrang of the Khasis and the Dama of the Garos.
The celebration was attended by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, cabinet ministers, officials and others. Governor Phagu Chauhan graced the function virtually.
The Governor said Meghalaya is emerging as a business and investment-friendly destination. He urged the citizens to work together in creating a happy, progressive and drug-free society with sustainable development.
“Improving connectivity is essential to building the future of the state. Efforts are underway to upgrade and construct roads and bridges in various districts of the state,” he said.
Informing that the government is setting up a number of infrastructures related to health care, he said that Meghalaya should take pride that it is the third state in the country and the first state in the North-East to have a comprehensive policy on mental health and social care.
The Chief Minister said that the state expenditure has doubled in the last five years that was resulted in transformative changes in various key sectors like roads, health, education, sports and youth affairs.
He highlighted development in roads and said, “In the years before 2018, 1695 Kilometres of PMGSY roads were constructed and from 2018 till today we have constructed close to 2526 Kilometres of PMGSY roads connecting 600 villages as in contrast to the previous 70.”
Sangma said that the allocation for improvement of all block offices for have been made with the process making considerable changes and that the government has sanctioned funds for construction or renovation of buildings for 2500 government schools.
He laid emphasis on how the government has given special focus to farmers, women and youth of the state in the form of self help groups, music, entrepreneurship and sports.
Pointing out that the three of the five Meghalaya Games were held after 2018, the Chief Minister assured that the sporting event would be an annual affair that would be held in different regions on rotation with upcoming infrastructures to be setup in different districts.
Fifteen employees were awarded the Chief Minister’s Police Medal for Outstanding Service, six for the Chief Minister’s Disaster Response Medal for outstanding service and 21 were awarded the Meghalaya Day Excellence Awards 2023, during the occasion.
