KOKRAJHAR: The primary and district committees of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) on Thursday observed Boro Thunlai Sun (Bodo Literary Day) across Assam and West Bengal to mark its 71st foundation day with various programmes. BSS was formed on November 16, 1952 at Basugaon in the then undivided Kokrajhar district, now in Chirang district. The BSS was formed at the behest of late Satish Chandra Basumatary who chaired the meeting of formation of BSS with Jaybhadra Hagjer and Sonaram Thaosen with president and secretary respectively. Since Jaybhadra was less active in the sabha, Satish Chandra Basumatary was the person who took the entire responsibility of the president for several years.
In Kokrajhar, the Kokrajhar Primary BSS observed its 33rd foundation day in the temple premises of Brahma Dharma at Baganshali in Kokrajhar town with a two-day programmes on November 15 and November 16. As part of the programme on Thursday morning, the president of Kokrajhar Primary BSS Supen Chandra Brahma hoisted the flag of the sabha while vice president Sabendra Brahma paid floral tribute to the martyrs of BSS followed by plantation of trees in the premises of temple of Brahma Dharma by Pratibha Brahma, chairperson of Kokrajhar Municipal Board (KMB) and inauguration of martyr Niranjan Narzary memorial delegate hall by Dr. Rupam Kr. Brahma former Principal of Kokrajhar Girls’ College. A poet meet was also held with Dr. Sunil Phukan Basumatary, noted poet in the chair while Dinesh Chandra Borgoyary, general secretary of Kokrajhar district BSS inaugurated the delegate meeting.
An open meeting on the topic, “Bodo literature and responsibility of Bodo students” was inaugurated by MLA Lawrence Islary which was chaired by the president of Kokrajhar Primary BSS Supendra Chandra Brahma. Earlier, the president of reception committee Sarada Prasad Mashahary gave the welcome address. On the day 1, there had been literary, culture and art competitions for the school children and seminar on socio-cultural heritage and social reformation of Baganshali village which was inaugurated by Benudhar Basumatary, president of Boro Somaj.
Talking to media persons, the president of Kokrajhar Primary BSS Supendra Chandra Brahma said the Bodo medium could come to this stage with medium of instruction in Assam because of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS). He said the BSS had state and district committees not only in Assam but in West Bengal and other parts of the country. He said the Bodo language had been included in the 8th schedule of the Indian constitution and has become associate official language of Assam which was also possible because of BSS. The Bodo language was declared as medium of instruction in Assam in 1968 and now the Bodo language has become the second largest spoken language in the state besides sizeable population of Bodo speakers in North Bengal, Nepal and Bangladesh, he said adding that the guardians and all literate Bodo people should enrol their children in Bodo medium for the sake of development of Bodo language and literature.
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