Khasi Authors’ Society (KAS) today celebrated Thomas Jones Day by organising a webinar on “Ka thymmei u Thomas Jones bad u synñiang jong u sha ka jaitbynriew Khasi” (Thomas Jones origin and his contribution to the Khasi society).
The webinar was chaired by Dr. Ailynti Nongbri, Head of Khasi Department, Shillong College.
In his speech, KAS president Prof. D R L Nonglait said that Thomas Jones was a Celt, a community that was defeated by the English.
“The English ruled the Celts with suppression and discrimination. The situation was similar to the treatment that the Khasis received from the Britishers during their rule. But the Celts did not bow down to the English. This was also revealed when Thomas Jones continued to remain a discomfort to the Britishers for the cause of the Khasi people,” Prof. Nonglait said.
KAS general secretary Phrikshon Kharshiing in his speech dwelt on the contributions of Thomas Jones to Khasi alphabets, his role in Khasi literature, education, agriculture and economic uplift of the Khasis.
“The Sohra dialect which Thomas Jones has chosen as a common language of the Khasis has helped in uniting the Khasi tribe as a whole,” Kharshiing said.
The webinar was followed by an interaction between all participants in which it was decided to vigorously pursue the fight for inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Shillong MP Vincent Pala, members of KAS, Khasi authors, university and college teachers, students and prominent personalities took part in the webinar.