Convention of tribal literary bodies on April 19 to filize Assamese definition

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, March 22: A meeting of different indigenous Sahitya Sabhas was held at JB Hagjer Bhavan in Guwahati on Sunday to discuss the definition of Assamese. The meeting was presided over by Bisweswar Basumatary, vice-President of the BSS. The purpose of the meeting was explained by Kamala Kt. Mushahary, general secretary of BSS. Representatives of the indigenous tribal Sahitya Sabhas that included Karbi Sahitya Sabha, Mising Sahitya Sabha, Dimasa Sahitya Sabha, Rabha Sahitya Sabha, Tiwa Sahitya Sabha, Deuri Sahitya Sahitya Sabha and Bodo Sahitya Sabha took part in the meeting.

Mashahary said after that serious discussion the Sabhas resolved that the spirit of resolution adopted in the year 2005 should be kept intact in letter and spirit. The resolution adopted by the Axam Xahitya Xabha (AXX) and the definition of the term Assamese was not acceptable to indigenous tribal people of Assam and the meeting vehemently declined to accept it. They also resolved that the AASU and 25 organizations should be asked to clarify regarding their minutes and modalities that had been accepted in their joint meeting held on March 20 on the definition of indigenous Assamese people.

The indigenous Sahitya Sabhas decided that a tiol convention of different indigenous tribal Sahitya Sabhas would be organized on April 19 at Bathoupuri Cultural Complex, Garchuk, Ahomgaon in Guwahati to discuss and find out a consensus definition of the term indigenous and Assamese as desired by the Speaker and AASU along with 25 other organizations. For this purpose, a convening committee was formed with Kamala Kt. Mushahary as chief convenor and general secretaries of Karbi Sahitya Sabha, Mising Sahitya Sabha, Dimasa Sahitya Sabha, Rabha Sahitya Sabha, Tiwa Sahitya Sabha and Deuri Sahitya Sahitya Sabha as convenors.

In case of NRC update, no base year should be fixed for indigenous tribal people of Assam, the release said, adding that along with this no foreign tiols should be enlisted and NRC should be updated within a stipulated time frame set by the Supreme Court of India. They said the immigrants after 1951 and as per the Assam Accord 1985, people coming before March 25, 1971 could be regarded as Indian citizens but in case of inclusion for the constitutiol safeguard, as per clause-6 of Assam Accord, the indigenous tribal people of Assam opposed it. They also said implementation of clause 10 of Assam Accord 1985 should be executed in letter and spirit and all tribal belt and blocks must be protected. No harassment should be meted out to any indigenous tribal people in the me of NRC update they said, adding that the indigenous tribal people should be allowed to fill up their respective mother tongue in the column of mother language.