Role of BSS in upholding Bodo aspirations

Dr Nandini Moral Sarma

(HOD, Department of History, Pragjyotish College, Guwahati)

69th birth anniversary of BSS

The consciousness regarding upholding and promoting the Bodo culture and literature which had taken off pre-Independence was given a further push, with the birth of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) which in turn led to a language as well as its script movement. The BSS was formed on 16th November 1952 at Basugaon with an aim to develop and promote the Bodo language and literature.

However, the journey was not a smooth sail initially, as the Bodos had no script of their own. Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha had claimed that in ancient times, the Deodhai script was probably used. Subsequently, with the advent of time, the script was lost. The Christian missionaries had tried to revive the Bodo language with the help of a Roman script. But, eventually, the Assamese script was used to write the Bodo language.

The formation of BSS was believed to be an outcome of the mobilization undertaken by Bodo intellectuals like Modaram Brahma and Gaurikanta Brahma, both residents of Dhubri. It was believed that they were inspired by the intellectual awakening in Bengal and formed a 'Boro Literary Club' at Dhubri in 1950. But, the members realized that their activities, though positive, was limited to Dhubri, hence, they realized maximum emancipation of the Bodo youth would be possible through literary and social activities. Henceforth, they mooted for the formation of the BSS.

One of the first works undertaken by BSS after its formation was to press for the introduction of the Bodo language as the medium of instruction in primary schools of Bodo majority areas of Assam. The first memorandum was submitted by the Sabha to the then Chief Minister of Assam Bishnuram Medhi and accordingly, a delegation comprising Satish Chandra Basumutary and Birendra Brahma met and inform the Chief Minister. But, they could not achieve much success.

There was a time when BSS had collaborated with Axom Xahitya Xabha as can be traced from the annual sessions held across various Bodo-inhabited areas. The BSS which was formed with the aim to promote the Bodo language and culture took a different turn as it entered into agitational politics. However, the passing of the Assam State Language Bill in October 1960 at Shillong made Assamese the only state language. The Bodos just like others (tribes and communities) of the North-East Frontier Province (NEFA) felt betrayed. The BSS had lodged a strong protest against the Bill and demanded the recognition of the Bodo Language as a medium of instruction in schools across Bodo-inhabited areas. As a result, the Assam Government introduced the Bodo language as a medium of instruction across different educational strata's such as at the elementary stage in 1963.

The scripting issue (Devanagari or Roman) had turned into a burning issue by then. The idea to have Roman Script was first placed before the 6th Annual Conference of the BSS held at Malaguri in Goalpara District (1964). Even expert committees were formed to determine the feasibility of using Roman Script. After due discussions, a formal resolution was passed in the 11th session of the BSS held at Mahakalguri, West Bengal (1970) to accept the Roman Script.

As MS Prabhakar opines, in his piece published in the Economic and Political Weekly, the agitation launched by BSS for the adoption of the Roman script for the Bodo language, there was a visible relaxation of tension in Assam. But, the relaxation of tension was more apparent than real, as the issues highlighted by the agitation are yet far from being resolved. He further said that even if the 'script issue' might be decided, through some form of compromise but he warned that such a settlement would not bring an end to the continuing assertion of sub-regional nationalisms in Assam.

His prophecy came true, as, in 1974, the BSS had mooted the idea to introduce the Bodo English Primer Bithorai (printed in Roman Script) in the Bodo medium schools. This marked the beginning of the unrest. The government had stopped grants to those schools which had introduced the new unrecognized textbooks and stopped the payment of salaries of teachers in those schools.

Later on, the movement turned violent. It was followed by protests, and a mass Satyagraha was observed in those 'Bodo Medium Implemented Areas of Assam', followed by mass picketing in schools in the same areas and in government offices. The movement was in fact observed in a phased manner and after the unrest seen in the first phase, the movement was temporarily called off after the second phase. It was done in the wake of the Government of Assam calling up for negotiating with the BSS. But, the memorandum submitted by the BSS did not get a favourable response from the Sarat Chandra Sinha-led government. This further acted as a catalyst for the third phase of the protest movement which observed huge scale violence and participation of thousands of volunteers. Almost 10,000 armed people had flocked into the Deputy Commissioner's office at Bijni. Areas with prominent Bodo presence such as Tangla, Rowta too remain tense. However, the BSS had argued that their clarion was peaceful; the protesters had instead peacefully demonstrated near the deputy collector's office outside Sidli. That, the CRPF had open fire upon an otherwise peaceful demonstration.

Subsequently, the Government had called for the second round of talks, with the then Education Minister Harendra Nath Talukdar. This meeting too did not bore fruits, instead, their demand had been stymied and the Government insisted the Bodos continue with the usage of Assamese script. The Roman Script had turned into a boiling issue as the stakeholders of the Government had attached a separatist and an evangelical tendency with the Roman script.

In fact, the Bodo leaders had approached the then PM of the nation Indira Gandhi on this issue but the PM insisted upon the usage of Devanagari (Hindi) script instead. Again in 1975, the two representatives of BSS Thaneswar Boro and Ramdas Basumutary submitted a proposal to the Union Government, in which they agreed to adopt the Devanagari Script for the Bodo Language. The BSS had ultimately endorsed this decision in its 16th Annual Conference held at Dhing on 25-27 April 1975.

The BSS has always alleged that it has received a step-sisterly treatment in comparison to the Axom Xahitya Xabha. However, it has always played the role of a crusader in pertinent issues such as demanding a Separate Directorate for Bodos, the appointment of Bodo lecturers in colleges of Assam by relaxing UGC norms. In the setting up of educational institutes, one of the major problems of the Bodo population was that it had not updated itself with time which was evident in their lack of exposure. Therefore, the BSS had pioneered the role of setting up a transmission centre of Television and Radio stations at Kokrajhar and Udalguri.

The BSS started functioning from scratch to usher in a new lease of life into the otherwise decaying Bodo language back then. It started holding literary seminars and meetings to encourage the Bodo language and writers. The organization also arranged the publication of Bodo literary work. It was observed that it was the untiring efforts of the organization that the hitherto spoken dialect without any script of its own flourished into a full-fledged literary language.