Shillong, March 19: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) will protest against mandatory singing of full six‑stanza Vande Mataram in schools and at the government functions.
The KSU general secretary, Donald V Thabah announced this while celebrating 48 years of the Union at Lachaumiere, here on Friday.
Addressing the gathering, Thabah said compulsory singing of the last verses of Vande Mataram, invoking Hindu deities, will lead to a process of assimilation contrary to Khasi traditions.
Thabah said only the first two stanzas speak of the land while the rest praise Hindu deities.
“The Vande Mataram order is like the earlier attempts to impose Hindi, the Citizenship Amendment Act and Uniform Civil Code, which undermined customary practices. If we allow them to direct us to sing…one day we will have to toe their line,” he said.
The KSU leader urged the cadres to report occasions where the song is performed so that protests can be organised.
Recalling detentions of the KSU workers, he said, “The jail always has members of the KSU as young members carry forward what he called the defence of indigenous identity”.
The KSU reiterated demands for stronger anti‑influx laws and warned that younger generations would judge today’s inaction.
“We are committed to serve for the next 50,000 years to show the world that the indigenous community lives,” Thabah said.
KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngnar said the union, formed 48 years ago amid crises, remains determined to resist what he called forces from outside seeking to marginalise indigenous people.
He also urged the youth to keep unity and principles above all.
“Our members used to come out to face challenges with only one objective — that the indigenous community should not be made a slave,” Marngnar told the members stating that jails have repeatedly held KSU members during campaigns on boundary disputes, education and migration controls.
“The government’s jails are not only for criminals; it is a school to encourage members to love and sacrifice for the cause of the indigenous community”, he said.
He recalled that the leaders and the members fell due to government bullets and illegal migrants, while warning that infighting would leave the community overpowered.
“If our mindset is defeated, we will lose the battle against outside forces,” he said.
He appealed to the youth as torch‑bearers to play their part for uplift and security.
The KSU pledged to fight for pending demands, including a stronger anti‑influx law.
“We will serve the indigenous community despite whatever others may say, with its future resting on young people’s commitment”, he said.
