World Art Day 2026 was celebrated with cultural fervour in Shillong on April 15, blending the global artistic legacy with a tribute to 150 years of Vande Mataram, in a programme that brought together artists, scholars, and policymakers
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said Wednesday that the state government is taking up concerns over the singing of Vande Mataram at official functions with the Centre, even as he clarified that the practice follows a standing order issued by the Government of India.
The Khasi Students' Union (KSU) is all set to stage protest at schools and government functions where the full six‑stanza Vande Mataram is sung, arguing that later verses invoke Hindu deities and amount to “a process of assimilation” contrary to Khasi traditions.
