South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai, who is on a visit to New Delhi, met with India’s representative to the United Nation’s cultural arm, UNESCO, to seek his support to accord intangible cultural heritage status to Kongthong village in Khatarshnong area of Sohra.
Shullai met with Prof J S Rajput in Noida on March 5, a press release stated today.
The MLA also requested Rajput to visit Kongthong for himself.
During the meeting, Rajput assured Shullai that he will raise the matter with UNESCO through the Union Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
Kongthong is famous as the ‘whistling village’ where individuals have unique whistling tunes given to them at birth, which enables others to call out to them from great distances.
Shullai also met Rajya Sabha MP Rakesh Sinha in New Delhi to thank him for ‘adopting’ Kongthong.
Sinha assured all possible help to the village and pledged a sustainable livelihood programme to boost self-employment while promoting cultural heritage.
