Society / Meghalaya

SHILLONG: The first anthology of poetry in Khasi titled ‘Ki Jingkynmaw’ (memories) was released recently at Sohkha, Jaintia Hills.The book edited by well known poet, Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih was released by Shyllong Khonglah, former Headman of the village.

Published by S G R Lanong, a newly launched Khasi magazine for the rural areas, the anthology is a collection of poems written by prominent Khasi writers, singers and composers to commemorate the first death anniversary of Reality Lanong, daughter of Shyllong Khonglah and Lodis Lanong.

Among the poets who feature in the anthology are Dewi...

SHILLONG, Dec 2 ? Meghalaya Community and Rural Development Minister, Maysalin War handed over the 1.33 acre of land for the establishment of an office for the traditional durbar of Hima Mawphlang and protection of the monoliths, which are a rare legacy inherited by Hynniewtrep community about 25 kms from here, reports PTI. Way back in 1964, the durbar of Hima Mawphlang had gifted to the then Assam Government 15 acre of the land in which the Mawphlang block of was established. Now on the request of the traditional institution, the State government returned part of the land (1.33 acre) to...

SHILLONG, June 27 ? With the exception of certain pockets, the entire State of Meghalaya is wet but only for Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). In a peculiar contradiction, brewing, selling and drinking of locally distilled brew is illegal in the State where drinking is a tribal custom since time immemorial. The matter came up for serious debate in the Meghalaya House Thursday during discussions on a cut motion on a demand for grant. Moving the cut motion, BJP member and former Home Minister TH Rangad said, ?everybody knows that the local brew is being produced, sold and consumed despite it...

SHILLONG, June 19 : Meghalaya appears to be fast turning into a major drug producer in the north-eastern region with seizures crossing Rs 1.50 crore worth within the last two-and-a-half months. The latest seizure was made in a remote pine forest in Mairan area in West Khasi Hills district yesterday when sleuths of Customs Preventive recovered 1159 kgs of ganja worth about Rs 24 lakhs. Customs sources said, the contraband, packed in 61 gunny bags were found carefully concealed inside a cave between two giant rocks.

SHILLONG, May 1 ? Matrilineal Meghalaya has all along been showing the predominance of women in various economic activities besides their occupying a position of pride in the family and society. And now the Census of India-paper 3 released here yesterday has established that there are more female cultivators in the State than males. The Paper 3 revealed that female cultivators comprise 51.88 per cent of the total cultivators in the State compared to 44.89 per cent males. Though agriculture is the main economic activity in Meghalaya, only 47.80 per cent of the workers are cultivators. However...

SHILLONG, April 20 ? The dispute over the construction of a church by the Mizoram Salvation Army has ended amicably with the Rangbah Shong (headman) of Madanriting village agreeing to allow the construction, reports PTI. The agreement was reached after a marathon meeting between Pastor Rev Lalrinpuia and the Rangbah Shong, Edmun Syiem on Friday. They sorted out problems relating to the damage to the walls by a group of youths in the presence of officer-in-charge of Madanriting police station, police said here on Saturday. The youths who had charged the church authorities with carrying on...

SHILLONG, March 30 ? A ?Who?s Who in Meghalaya?, a directory featuring prominent personalities and outstanding achievers of the State was released here on Thursday by Sri HP Oflin Dohling, general secretary of the Ka Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong (the apex body of traditional headmen). Dohling applauded the efforts of the publisher Monolith Media Network in bringing out the publication while speaking at the release function at the Shillong Press Club. Rabibul Islam, editor of the volume, informed that distinguished persons from all walks of life have been included in the directory. The next...

SHILLONG, March 29 ? Fifty-eight years since an unknown number of soldiers and villagers laid down their lives at the remote village of Shungshak in Manipur during the Second World War, a War Memorial has finally come up in the village to honour the memory of the forgotten heroes. Shangshak was the witness to one of the bloodiest battles of the Eastern front in March 1944. The onslaught of the 31st Division of the seemingly invincible Japanese Imperial Army was halted in the little-known village for a crucial ten days by the brave soldiers of the Indian 50 Parachute Brigade. The soldiers of 4...

SHILLONG, March 25 ? Four years since the Anti-smoking Act banning smoking in public places in Meghalaya was enacted, the rules are yet to be framed! Making the admission in the State Assembly recently, Deputy Chief Minister DD Lapang, assured the House that the Government would frame the rules at the earliest and strictly enforce the Act. Earlier, replying to a starred question, the Transport Minister said the department have been issuing instructions, from tie to time, reminding the public that smoking in public transportation is banned by law. ?But the Government is dependant on the public...

GUWAHATI, March 20 ? National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous body of the UGC and Government of India, has so far accredited only four institutions of higher education in the north eastern region out of the total 250 universities and colleges certified by it till date. Professor V Rajasekharan Pillai, the Director of NAAC, today informed that another lot of 1025 universities and colleges in the country were in the process of being accredited shortly.

The four institutions from the N-E which have been certified by NAAC are : Gauhati University; Science College...