The general secretary of the Kalita Janagosthi Sanmilan, Assam, Dr Ramen Kumar Kakati, said that the Kalita janagosthi community numbering around 70 lakhs in Assam stands as the one of the most deprived community.
“The other indigenous communities of the region utilized the valour, might, wit and intellect of the Kalita community on different occasions, and took the opportunity to enhance themselves and leaving us ignored,” said Kakati.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
He further said right from the historical period of king Bhagadutta, Maniram Dewan, Mukunda Kakati and till recently Khargeswar Talukdar, the first martyr of historic Assam agitation launched in 1979 by the All Assam Students’Union (AASU), many youths and patriots of the community sacrificed their lives for the sake of their motherland.
Despite such sacrifices, the community has been deprived of their rights and privileges, he lamented.
Dr. Ramen Kumar Kakati said this while addressing the Padmakanta Sahariah memorial open session at the Bishnu Rabha Kristi Sangha premises, which was christened as Dr Banikanta Kakati Kshetra for the two-day 13th biennial Udalguri conference of the Kalita Janagosthi Sanmilan, Assam that concluded on Monday.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Dr Kakati elaborated on the reasons as to why scheduled tribe status should be first awarded to this community and then only declare the State as the Sixth schedule State for the cause and protection of the indigenous people of the region.
In his speech as the appointed speaker, the general secretary of the organization informed that 50 per cent of the martyrs of the historic Assam agitation belonged to the Kalita community including the first martyr Khargeswar Talukdar.
He also said that the Kalita community in the BTC is the third largest community.
“Even though the BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary assured to protect the land rights of the non-tribal people living in BTC region in the Tamulpur conference of the organization held two years back, but he is yet to keep up to his assurance ,” Dr Kakati further said.
The open session chaired by the president of Kalita Janagosthi Sanmilan,Dr Bhaben Chandra Kalita was also addressed by MCLA of Bhairabkunda constituency, Ripen Daimari among others.
Chief adviser of National Rural Development Agency, Dr Phanindra Deka released the souvenir ‘Kulota‘ on the occasion.
The last day of the conference got underway with a cultural procession flagged off by Deputy Comissioner of Udalguri, Dilip Kumar Das.
Gitali Kakati, a popular singer, enthralled the large audience with her songs in the cultural evening.
It is to be noted here that after the last executive meeting of the organization held on January 27, a new body of the organization was formed with Dr Bhaben Chandra Kalita of Guwahati as president, Dr Pabindra Nath Talukdar of Guwahati as working president, Dr Ramen Kumar Kakati of Tamulpur as general secretary, Joysurya Borah of Tinsukia and Kajal Borah of Sonitpur as vice presidents, Dalim Bayan of Udalguri, Dipak Kalita of Morigaon and Pradip Borah of Jorhat as secretaries and Akhil Kalita of Udalguri as publicity secretary respectively.