Raphael Warjri

Shillong, November 15, 2023: Along with the rest of the country, Meghalaya today celebrated
Jan Jatiya Gaurav Divas (Tribal Pride) at U Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong to honour the brave
tribal freedom fighters. The celebration was graced by the august presence of the Minister i/c
Arts & Culture, Bah Paul Lyngdoh as the Chief Guest and Deputy Chief Executive Member,
KHADC, Bah P N Syiem as Guest of Honour.
15 th  November is the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, an iconic freedom fighter, social
reformer and revered tribal leader of the country.
In his speech, Bah Paul Lyngdoh said that as we celebrate Tribal Pride Week, we should
celebrate the pride of belonging to the soil and we should keep in mind that the soil and the soul
are one integral part of a tribal. While watching the live streaming of the speech of the Prime
Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, Bah Paul said that he noticed the PM is donning the
gamcha of Assam. This shows that the North Eastern Region has finally registered itself in the
national consciousness, he added.
Referring on the recent visit to the United Kingdom, Bah Paul Lyngdoh informed that when he
visited the Stonehenge, he was surprised that the Stonehenge is more or less dated around the
same time that we have the Geological Age called the Meghalayan Age. It is a matter of pride for
us that the world has decided upon the name of Meghalayan age as a Geological Age 4200 years
ago till 1950, he said.
Bah Paul Lyngdoh said that when we talk of the brave hearts of Meghalaya, one major and
distinct factor is the fact that the Khasi Resistance Movement led by U Tirot Sing in 1829 was
far ahead of the Great Revolution against the British Rule of 1857 and that is a fact that should
be fully absorbed by those scripting our history books. “We should no longer be just a footnote
in history but we deserve an entire chapter of our own,” he said.
As we celebrate our roots, origin, we should also acknowledge the son of our soil, Rev J J M
Nichols Roy who was a member of the Constituent Assembly and who has articulated the need
of the tribal people of this region that today we have a space and capacity to protect, promote and
perpetuate our interest within India, Bah Paul Lyngdoh said.
Therefore, he called upon everyone to celebrate with a sense of pride and also celebrate with a
sense that we should not be only be proud of our past but also do our bit so that future generation
will be proud of today’s generation.

Others who spoke on the occasion were Deputy Chief Executive Member, KHADC, Bah P N
Syiem and Commissioner & Secretary, Arts & Culture, Shri. F R Kharkongor who delivered the
welcome address.
As part of the celebration, various awards were given away by the Chief Guest.
Cash prizes were awarded to the winners of the Inter School Traditional singing competition
where in the solo category, Meghalaya Police Public School bagged the 1 st prize, St. Edmunds
School 2 nd prize and Pariong Presbytery HSS the 3 rd prize. In the Duet category the 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd
prizes went to St. Mary’s HSS, Shillong, Meghalaya Police Public School and St. Edmunds
School and in the group category, St. Edmunds School, Seven Set HSS and Jowai Public School
bagged the 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd prize respectively.
Awards were also given to best performing SHGs and VECs upon completion of PMAY-G
Scheme and MGNREGA. The Social Welfare Department also gave away awards for best
performing Anganwadi Workers and Helpers.
Earlier in the day the Meghalaya Chief Secretary, Mr. D P Wahlang flagged off the cultural
procession and march on tribal pride by artists, cultural troops and cultural associations, from the
Meghalaya Assembly premises at Khyndai Lad. Floral tribute to the brave hearts was also laid at
the life size statue premises.
The dignitaries also flagged off the Vikshit Bharat IEC Vans earlier in the day.