'Fixing of the Assamese definition is a tricky matter'

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, March 12: Senior citizen Dhirendra th Chakraborty on Thursday said that if somebody speaks and writes the Assamese language well, that person can’t be treated as true Assamese.

Talking to reporters here, Chakraborty said, “As many Indians can speak and write English much better than the Englishmen but these Indians can never become Englishmen. Similar is the case with the real Assamese,” adding, “People whose hearts bleed for the problems of the State and who sentimentally protect the interests of the State are real Assamese. So, fixing of the Assamese definition is a tricky matter.”

According to him, the clauses of the Assam Accord which put stress on the protection of Assamese identity and its unique cultural heritage should be effectively used to protect the State from the impact of increasing influx of outsiders. “Three decades have passed but it is really unfortute that we haven’t yet fixed the definition of the word Assamese so far.”

The size of Assam and its population is bigger than many countries of the world and so the people living in the State should have an identity, he said. “There are 30/40 communities in the State, who have embraced the Assamese culture, language and its way of living and so they deserve to be identified as Assamese,” he added.

Chakraborty further said, “The tea labourers who have been living in the State for generations are Assamese. Person and cultural stalwart like Jyotiprasad Agarwala became a true Assamese, who made the State proud. But a section of traders in the Fancy Bazar area of the city are living in the State only for the purpose of trade and they are not true Assamese.”