SHILLONG, SEPT 14: Meghalaya assembly speaker Abu Taher Mondal on Thursday asked the Minister in-charge of Arts & Culture RV Lyngdoh to fast-track the proposal to officially recognizing Rev Thomas Jones as the Father of the Khasi Alphabets.
“I request the minister to fast track the matter,” Mondal said while intervening when opposition HSPDP member Phlastingwell Pangniang questioned the failure of the state government to do so during the assembly session.
Pangniang pointed out that even the Speaker besides state education minister and others in a souvenier to mark the 176th death anniversary of Thomas Jones have expressed that he may be considered as Father of the Khasi Alphabets.
In his reply, Lyngdoh informed the house that the issue is still being examined by the state government.
However not satisfied with the reply, the opposition member insisted to know when the government is contemplating to officially give the recognition keeping in mind that all have accepted that Rev Thomas deserved the acknowledgement.
The minister informed that the Khasi language was first put into writing by William Carrey as early as 1824 and later in Bengali script adding Thomas Jones only introduced the Khasi Alphabets in 1841.
“Now suppose we decide on one of them then controversy may crop up later that may say William Carrey introduce Khasi language though it was in Bengali script that is why I assured the member that the government will study and examine the matter and take a decision to ensure there is no controversy later on,” he replied.-By Our Reporter
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