Shillong, April 26: Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma on Saturday emphasised the importance of recognising individuals by their community and mother tongue rather than by religion, during the graduation ceremony of The Forgotten Folklore Project (TFFP) in Shillong.
“We are often recognised by our religion instead of our true identity, which is wrong,” Sangma said. “I am a Christian, but I should not be known as a Christian. I should be known by my community—Garo. I was born a Garo, and my mother tongue is Garo. Religion is my choice, but my identity is rooted in my community and language.”
Citing Meghalaya’s cultural diversity, Sangma noted, “Although I am a Meghalayan, I cannot speak Khasi because I am a Garo. We are from the same state, but I have my own culture and tradition.” He stressed the importance of unity in preserving distinct cultural identities and warned about the endangered status of the Atong language, spoken by only about 25,000 people in India and Bangladesh. “Our children have stopped speaking this language, putting it on the brink of extinction,” he said.
Commending the organisers of TFFP for reviving traditional storytelling and weaving indigenous narratives into literature, Sangma said, “We have a genesis and origin. The purpose of education, for any academician, is to discover what is inside and unfold it. These are beautiful practices that were almost forgotten.”
Reflecting on his personal experiences, he shared, “I still remember many stories narrated by my grandfather. I wrote some books, read many, but all have been forgotten. Yet the stories my grandfather told me still live in my memory. They are not found anywhere else on Earth. Storytelling is more than just telling stories; it carries deeper meaning.”
He also recalled the vision of the late PA Sangma, former Lok Sabha Speaker, saying, “PA Sangma always emphasised the need to conserve resources and preserve identity for future generations. This initiative is more than writing books and storytelling—it has a purpose.”
The event marked the culmination of a six-month fellowship organised by the Sauramandala Foundation, in collaboration with The/Nudge Institute and StoryWeaver by Pratham Books. It brought together 15 fellows and 7 artists from across Northeast India, resulting in the creation of 20 children’s storybooks rooted in traditional folklore and designed to support Early Childhood Development.
Also launched during the ceremony was The Forgotten Folklore Project Storytelling Handbook, a creative resource aimed at educators and storytellers. Since its inception in 2020, TFFP has published 45 culturally rich storybooks, building a growing library of contextual children’s literature to preserve indigenous narratives.
The celebration, which drew cultural leaders, scholars, and creatives, highlighted the urgent need to protect Northeast India’s heritage, uniting diverse voices to honour the enduring power of storytelling in sustaining cultural identity.
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