TURA, Jan 20: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma released the Meghalaya State Anthem on Saturday after 52 years of statehood.
The anthem is a well-thought-out attempt to carefully capture and respect the shared identity of the land and its people, Commissioner and Secretary for Arts and Culture, Frederick Roy Kharkongor, said.
Meghalaya was carved out of the then-combined Assam on January 21, 1972, following the Hill State Movement during the tenure of Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister.
The anthem, anchored by Arts & Culture Minister in-charge Paul Lyngdoh and coordinated by the Commissioner and Secretary Arts and Culture, along with the Arts & Culture team, steered the efforts of the State Anthem Working Association (SAWA), which culminated in Meghalaya getting its state anthem after 52 years of statehood.
The anthem was composed by (L) Neil Herbert Nongkynrih, the founder, conductor, and mentor of Shillong Chamber Choir. With indigenous instrumentation laid down by Shillong-based folk-fusion band Summersalt and NOKPANTE of the Garo Hills, the anthem captures the aspirations of the people, crisscrossing the past, the present, and the future.
“The anthem gives equitable lyrical representation of the Khasi and Garo people with fair creative structural space to each group entity,” Kharkongor said.
The English lyrics were drafted by Neil Nongkynrih, after which a group of writers, especially Arts and Culture Minister Paul Lyngdoh, gave them fine touches.
The Khasi and Garo lyrics were drafted by Kit Shangpliang of Summersalt and Mrs. Iris Watre Thomas, respectively, after which input from the team, especially the Minister in Charge, was incorporated.
“The anthem as a whole is based on the indigenous rhythms, using the Ksing shynrang of the Khasi people together with the Dama of the Garo people. choicest of local words and fusion of melodies climaxing,” Kharkongor said. (UNI)
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