Defect remained in formation process of Assamese nation

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: “The concept of nation is comparatively a capitalist concept and its leading force is economics. The process of forming the Assamese nation was an externally imposed process rather than being a natural process due to historical factors. Imposition of language was necessary for the ultra-modern Assamese society concept, which was formed by unifying a part of Ahom kingdom, Koch kingdom and Kachari kingdom, each in the pre-British era when no other powerful factor was potent enough to do so. But there was no homogeneity among the people of these three kingdoms and hence defect remained in the formation process of Assamese nation,” said Dr. Raktim Ranjan Saikia in Lakhimpur on Sunday.

The writer-critique and Assistant Professor of Geology in JB College were delivering a research-based lecture as appointed speaker on ‘From Assamese to Indigenous: Searching for the causes of declining in the Assamese linguistic nationalism’ in the open session of the biennial conference of North Lakhimpur Press Club.

As a part of the second-day agenda of the two-day long event, the open session was chaired by NLPC president in-charge Sailen Baruah while secretary Kumud Baruah delivered the welcome speech. It was followed by a special event titled ‘Chintan-Manthan’ on the subject ‘The Lakhimpur media: Optimism, Pessimism, and Observation’. Assistant Professor of North Lakhimpur College, Dr Arabinda Rajkhowa as social representative, AASU central vice-president Chitta Ranjan Basumatary as organization representative, Nitish Kumar Duwarah as student representative, State general secretary of Assam Union of Working Journalist Tutumoni Phukan as media representative delivered lectures analyzing the optimistic and pessimistic aspects of Lakhimpur media analyzing their observations in this event.

In the same programme, ISSF world record holder shooter Hriday Hazarika was felicitated along with journalist-cum-member of NLPC, Priyam Jyoti Phukan who achieved the Duttadev Goswami Gramya Sanbadikata Bota, 2016, conferred by Majuli District Journalist Association. Sarat Hazarika, the father of the shooter accepted the felicitation.

On the other hand, the first-day agenda of the conference began with the unfurling of a flag by Sailen Baruah on Saturday. Former president of NLPC, Debendra Kumar Pandey lit the earthen lamp in the swahid tarpan event while Kumud Baruah paid floral tribute to the martyrs. It was followed by a cordial interaction programme among the journalists of the press clubs in Lakhimpur district.

AUWJ general secretary Tutumoni Phukan along with Lakhimpur District Journalist Association president Majin Sonowal were present in the programme. “The Constitution of India safeguards the interest of journalists and now the Supreme Court has taken an effective initiative to implement various steps for the betterment of the journalist fraternity. The outcome of such initiative will be witnessed in course of time,” said Tutumoni Phukan.

The 19-member NLPC executive committee for the session of 2018-20 was constituted in the meeting with Sailen Baruah as president, Kumud Baruah as working president, Dipen Borah and Priyam Jyoti Phukan as vice-presidents and Karuna Krishna Nath as secretary.

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