Jaintia tribe
Context:
- The state government ceremoniously released an official state anthem marking Meghalaya’s 52nd statehood day on January 21 this year.
- The government’s notices ordered that the anthem not be played as the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the same still being prepared.
- This ‘hold’ on the state anthem comes amidst an ongoing controversy over the languages that find a place in the song.
- The two-minute-long anthem features segments in three languages – Khasi, Garo and English.
- Soon after it was launched, the discontent began over the Jaintia or Pnar language for not being represented in it.
About Jaintia tribe:
- The Pnar tribe also known as Jaintia is a sub-tribal group of the Khasi peoplein Meghalaya, India.
- The Pnar people are matrilineal.
- They speak the Pnar Language which is also known as Jaintia language.
- The language belongs to the Austro-Asiatic language family and is very similar to the Khasi language.
- The Pnar people are natives of West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya, India.
- The original tribal religion of the Pnars is known as Niamtre.
- Religious wise out of 4 lakh Jaintias, around 2.4 lakh (60% of the ethnic population) professed Christian faith of various denominations particularly (Protestant and Catholic) & rest remaining 1.6 lakh (40% of ethnic population) practice their original tribal religion which is called “Ka Niamtre”.
