From our Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, March 31: The 59th birth anniversary of ‘Bodofa’ Upendra th Brahma was observed as the Students’ Day by the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) centrally at Thulungapuri, Dotma in Kokrajhar district on Tuesday.
As part of the programme, ABSU president Promod Boro hoisted the flag of the organization at Thulungapuri, the burial place of Bodofa UN Brahma, followed by rich floral tribute paid by elder brother of UN Brahma, Sameswar Brahma. People from all walks of life and students from various educatiol institutions participated in the programme and paid respect to Bodofa by paying floral tribute at the statue of Bodofa. An open meeting was held with the speaker of ABSU, Jayanta Basumatary in the chair.
In his speech, ABSU president Promod Boro said, “Bodofa, as a student leader, had brought about remarkable changes in the lives of the downtrodden people through the Bodoland movement.” He said Bodofa was a leader not only for Bodos but also for the students and the underprivileged communities. “He dreamt of a literate society. He is among the greatest visiory leaders of the Bodoland movement and an icon of leadership, sacrifice and unity,” he said. He said the Bodos should follow his ideology, philosophy and principle that brought a new hope for the neglected and downtrodden people through total revolution.
When asked on the sideline of the meeting as to why the Bodo leaders who had been involved in the movement with Bodofa kept away from the programme, Boro said it was very unfortute that the movement leaders, especially those who had joined political parties, had forgotten the contributions, philosophy and ideology of Bodofa. He said the leaders should not forget his dedication and relentless work of Bodofa for the people.
Boro said the ABSU had been demanding half holiday on the birth anniversary of Bodofa UN Brahma and proposal had been sent to the Government of Assam and BTC but none of them had taken initiative for the same. He expressed his anguish over the Government of Assam and BTC for failing to include the birth anniversary of Bodofa in the holiday list as the ABSU observed March 31 as Students’ Day every year.
On the occasion, the ABSU felicitated the Bodo medium students of Class X and IX who obtained highest marks in the 1st Talent Search Examition, 2014 conducted by the Central Talent Search Examition (CTSE) under the ABSU. The CTSE started conducting talent search examition since 2014 in three subjects, English, Mathematics, General Science and General Knowledge. The three students of class X who secured highest are Padmini Basumatary, student of UN Academy, Barpeta Road, Bigrai Basumatary from UN Academy, Mushalpur of Baksa district and Birphung Mashahary from Jwngma Residential Bodo Medium School, Bijni in Chirang district. The Class IX students who were felicitated were Kan Kan Baro from UN Academy, Bhakatpara, Udalguri and Anja Rani Boro from Bathou Ashram High School, Dhamdhama, Baksa.
The open meeting was also addressed by the Director of UN Academy, Kokrajhar Krish Gopal Basumatary, Principal of Gossaigaon B.Ed. College Ajit Kr. rzary, Assistant Professor of Kokrajhar Government College Berlao K. Karjee and was attended by leaders of different organizations.