'Koch Rajbongshis should preserve their culture and tradition'

a Correspondent

TANGLA, June 19: The annual cultural conference of AKRSU Udalguri district committee concluded here at Bengbari with a two-day long programme. The programme was organized jointly by Bengbari and Panery regiol committees of the students’ body. On the concluding day on Sunday, the programme was iugurated by Jayanta Rabha, secretary of Nikhil Rabha Students’ Union. Delivering the iugural speech, Rabha said, “The people of the Koch-Rajbongshi community should put efforts to preserve one’s own culture and tradition.  Koch -Rajbongshis have a unique culture and tradition as tribal but yet we have not been granted ST status.” Attending the programme as chief guest, president of AKRSU, Hiteshwar Barman, said, “I am elated by the secularism of the people of the area. The greatest revolution of every community is preservation of their own culture as it gives them unique identity in the eyes of the world. If we can be successful in preservation of our culture, then we can be successful in contributing to our own tribe. I exhort the Koch-Rajbongshi people to put every effort to keep our own culture, dress, dance, rituals and folk-songs intact and to keep up our unique identity. Culture comes first as it gives one’s identity.  We had more than 150 rites and rituals during the early days but very few are prevalent today.” Coming to ST status to Koch-Rajbongshi and Kamatapur separate state issue, Barman said, “Our constitutiol right, our legal demand of ST status should be given at the earliest.  Our delegate team is having talks with the Union Government and we are heading to New Delhi on June 22. We are putting every effort to get the ST status.  If the government delays our ST status demand then we will be bound to come out on the streets.” Hemanta Borah, assistant general secretary, Udalguri district committee, said, “Koch Rajbongshis should be given ST status at the earliest as it is our legal and constitutiol right.” The programme was also attended by Koch Rajbongshi Royal Family general secretary Prab rayan Dev, members of various student organizations, members of AKRSU from Kokrajhar and Chirang. Various cultural troops also performed on the occasion and delighted the audience.