Shillong, Aug 15: Three proverbs in Khasi, Pnar and Garo became the soul of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s Independence Day address this year, as he urged the people of Meghalaya to live by the principles of resilience, unity and courage.
Speaking at the state-level celebrations of the 79th Independence Day, Sangma wove these traditional sayings into a call for a stronger and more self-reliant Meghalaya.
From the Khasi wisdom — “Ka Bhalang Ka Imlang” – What you do should be for the common good, encouraging community welfare and a shared social responsibility.
The Pnar proverb — “Tip Bru Tip Blai” – If you want to know God, know man first, indicating respect for a fellow human being and honoring God
And from the Garo heritage — “Bija gita ma.dime, na.tik gita skonge” – Together like the bees, together like the shrimps, emphasizing the importance of unity at the community, state, and national level.
These are not mere words, Sangma told the crowd, but these quotes “reflect our traditional wisdom and the strength of our culture.”
While highlighting government efforts in infrastructure, education, healthcare and rural development, the Chief Minister said these cultural values must be the foundation of progress. He called on citizens to take responsibility for the environment, strengthen community ties and work together so that growth reaches every household.
“Independence is not only about the freedom we earned 79 years ago,” he said, “it is about the choices we make today to build a better tomorrow for our children.”
CM Conrad strongly believes to see every village connected, every household empowered and every child confident about the future.
He urged every citizen to continue this journey together with a shared purpose and commitment to building a better tomorrow for Meghalaya.
