Shillong, Aug. 19: The Church of North India has raked up the old issue of the Northeast not finding mention in the national anthem.

“Our country has a national anthem in which all four corners of the country are mentioned. But regrettably, the Northeast has been left out. Perhaps there were reasons for its omission at the time of composing the national anthem, but today there is no reason why the Northeast should not be a part of it,” Bishop Purely Lyngdoh said in a letter to Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang.

The Church leader also made a case for making Hindi a compulsory subject upto the matriculation level. This, he said, would reduce the sense of alienation that often tends to distance the Northeast from the rest of the country.

“My personal opinion is that when these factors are seriously addressed and appropriate steps are taken, then Northeast India would, in course of time, be fully integrated and a sense of patriotism and national pride will be present in all citizens.”

Bishop Lyngdoh, who is also the chairman of the Khasi Jaintia Church Leaders’ Forum, urged the Meghalaya chief minister to back the proposals “for the good of the region”.

The Khasi Jaintia Church Leaders’ Forum has been entrusted with the responsibility of mediating between the government and the militant Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council.

Describing the omission of the region from the lyrics of the anthem as “the missing link”, Bishop Lyngdoh said Delhi should consider “a review” and “amend it”.

“A small committee consisting of experts may be constituted for the review,” he said.

Justifying his insistence on making Hindi a compulsory subject for schoolchildren in the Northeast, the Church leader said it was necessary to fuse the country’s “unique cultural, social, ethnic, linguistic and economic characteristics” through a common medium. He urged Lapang to take the initiative in making Hindi a compulsory subject in schools across Meghalaya.

“In 10-12 years’ time, we shall have a new generation of children and young people who speak and understand the common language of the majority, which is Hindi. Our people have willingly chosen not to learn or study Hindi. Even today, most of our schools are not equipped to teach and not encouraging our children to learn Hindi,” Bishop Lyngdoh said.