Noted educationist and public activist Deven Dutta said even after 58 years of the official adoption and declaration of the Assamese language as the State language by the Assam government, its objective is yet to be achieved in true spirit.
“Non-implementation of the Assamese language as the State language is a threat to the existence of the culture, tradition and language in Assam,” remarked Dutta.
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Dutta said this while speaking at the open session of the Asom Sahitya Sabha (ASS) at its 74th edition of the Burhidehing-Bordumsa conference.
The open session on the second day of the conference, being presided over by the newly-elected President of the ASS, Dr Paramananda Rajbongshi, was attended by a host of dignitaries including poets, writers, philosophers and academicians on the dice.
Dutta underlined some of the potential but detrimental factors acting on the way of the developmental and preservation of rich Assamese culture and its language in Assam.
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He was of the opinion that every socio-economic, commercial and educational and governmental institution should adopt and use Assamese as the official language laying significant stress on English language too but as a means of effective communication as an international language.
According to him, the IPS and IAS officers, Chief Minister and Chief Secretary in Assam should inspire the common people to educate their children in Assamese language to promote the cause.
While stating that the Assamese identity and their composite culture under constant threat irrespective of the political parties in power, Dutta said that a powerful force has been active to eliminate the Assamese culture and tradition in the wake of some of the ambiguous socio-political development in the State that favours Assam to be a grazing ground for anti-Assamese forces.
As such, urging all the leaders of different communities sharing the dice from across the State to work for the preservation and promotion of their respective cultures and tradition for the greater and composite cultural cause of Assam, Dutta pinned hope that the newly-constituted body of ASS under the leadership of Rajbongshi would act accordingly embracing all the communities alike and deliver its best for the best cultural interest of the State.
Meanwhile, Rajbongshi in his presidential address said that there is need for all the communities of Assam to work, promote and protect the indigenous identity of the Assam, particularly when there are threats for the very existence of Assam and its culture.
“Support from the grassroots level to the government machinery must realise the essence of the rich Assamese culture,” said Rajbongshi.
Earlier, as a part of the 5-day-long conference, various socio-cultural and literary activities were simultaneously carried out in the auditorium of the Singpho Heritage Centre at Borsumsa in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Programmes including ‘Kuhi’, meant for the children of undivided Dibrugarh district and Arunachal Pradesh were held while ‘Akash, meant for the women, was organised under the presidentship of Chitraleka Bora, the former president of Digboi Sahitya Sabha.
Haribhakta Katuwal and Meghraj Karmakar memorial poetry session was also held.
While at Ritupather, irrespective of pain, hardships and sufferings caused due to ineffective planning and faulty management of the organizing committee in its arrangements, the guests and visitors were on high spirits thronging different stalls, exhibitions and fairs.
The security personnel suffered due to electricity disruption, non-availability of drinking water, lack of refreshments and shelter-related issues.
The organisers on the Arunachal sides lambasted the reception committee for its indifferent attitude in respect of finance, which according to them have been causing great humiliation after the vendors, hotels and restaurant owners have been chasing for current bills.