Shillong, Sept 26: In a significant move towards preserving the rich heritage of the Khasi community, the Research and Development Committee of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) convened its inaugural meeting on Monday.
The committee aims to inspire and support researchers and scholars in studying and research deeper into the traditional, cultural, and historical aspects of the Khasi community.
MDC Charness Sohshang, the Chairman of the Research and Development Committee and the Executive Member (EM), announced that the Committee will call for applications from researchers keen on exploring various facets of Khasi tradition and culture.
The research endeavors will encompass a wide array of topics including the roots of Khasi religion, traditional marriage customs, the evolution of Khasi language, the genesis of Khasi Clans, cultural practices, historical and contemporary Khasi administration, customary etiquettes, superstitious beliefs, land rights, weekly markets, traditional music and songs, noteworthy historical sites and monoliths, inheritance practices, traditional craftsmanship, traditional medicinal practices, as well as an exploration into the life and contributions of the late Rev JJM Nicholas Roy and other revered Khasi freedom fighters.
The EM disclosed that the committee has allocated Rs. 1 lakh for the researchers, with an additional incentive of Rs. 10,000 upon successful completion of their projects. The researchers will have a four-month window to conclude their work.
The Council has earmarked Rs 50 lakhs for the entire research initiative.
The committee is set to release applications for scholars and researchers interested in this endeavor. The committee will thoroughly review the chosen research topics before the commencement of the research work.