Man who drew All Bodo Students’ Union emblem, Indra Mohon Koch wants socio-cultural unification

Our Correspondent

Kokrajhar: A unique figure of the Boro and Rabha community, Indra Mohon Koch, who drew the emblem of the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), said that socio-cultural unification was very important among the indigenous communities and should be sustained.

A group of reporters from Kokrajhar on Sunday visited the residence of Indra Mohon Koch at Magurmari Part - I to unearth his contribution to the society. He shared his past experiences on how he worked for cultural unity and integrity.

Retired art teacher of Kendriya Vidhalaya, Indra Mohon Koch told mediapersons that he worked together with his fellow Bodos to make art and culture flourish. He said he drew the emblem of the ABSU at the advice of Mohini Mohan Brahma and other intellectuals of the society. He recalled Nilkamal Brahma, Hiramba Narzary, Arup Gwra Basumatary, Jagadish Brahma, Daniram Basumatary, Samar Brahma and Sameswar Basumatary who used to sit together at Tribal Rest House in Kokrajhar to think about the growth and development of the society. He also said to promote the cultural aspects, they used to stage drama, song, art and paintings in different places which helped the Bodo open theatre to bloom.

Koch said the emblem of the ABSU combined with dahal and thungri (sword and shield) was prepared way back in 1964 and it took some years for final recognition. He also said it was earlier Goalpara Boro Chatra Sanmelan but later became the ABSU in 1967. He served as one of the members of the ABSU while he composed the emblem at the request of the then cultural secretary of the union, Sameswar Basumatary.

Responding to queries, Koch said he had attended a number of programmes on art and culture as resource person. He said cultural unification should be revived by holding joint cultural exchange programmes for integration among the indigenous people. He also said that cultural unity would strengthen the bond of social cohesion among the youths.

Koch, who retired from Missamari Kendriya Vidhalaya in 2010, was born at Magurmari in Kokrajhar district on December 1, 1950 (1943, actual year of birth). He started his schooling in Kokrajhar Government HS &MP School and took the degree of art and painting from Gauhati Art College where he got inspiration from the then Principal of the college, Dr. Sabha Brahma. He joined Kendriya Vidyalaya at Tura in Meghalaya in 1974 and spent a long time in Tura. He has received several awards and has been felicitated by different organizations and cultural bodies, including BTC in 2012. The father figure of the Koch community who is above 80 years of age, has the willingness to combine e art and culture among ethnic tribal communities.

Also read: Assam news