Separate Barak Demand Committee applauds Himanta Biswa Sarma's statement

FROM A Correspondent

Silchar, April 20: Members of Separate Barak Demand Committee have welcomed Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s decision to let students in Barak Valley and tribal areas opt for Bengali language and Bodo respectively with open arms. Addressing the media-persons at a press-meet held on Thursday at the office of the Committee, senior jourlist Atin Das said, “We heartily welcome Himanta Biswa Sarma’s decision. Those who are unwilling to take Assamese will be allowed to choose Bengali or Bodo language. The Constitution of India which is a sacred document of our country states that a child up to the age of 14 is entitled to receive education in its own mother tongue. Right to learn in one’s own mother tongue has also been incorporated in the Intertiol Charter.”

 Atin Das further said that the number of Bengali schools in Goalpara was 252 and now there are hardly 3 such schools. The language and education policy of the country is not to the mark. “People of the country are rootless and roving. There is a feeling of statelessness among various sections of people. The whole country is in the rat race for staging herself on the world stage by forgetting her own identity and language. Such things should not be allowed to seep in,” he added. Subhadip Dutta, general secretary of the Committee too has applauded the decision.

 “A drastic change took over the children of the country. Before 1961, they used to address their mothers and fathers as Maa and Baba respectively. Now, Maa has become mummy and Baba, daddy, said Atin Das. He also said that in the next few decades, the number of readers of Bengali books and newspapers will diminish at an alarming rate. “All should enjoy equal rights with regards to their mother tongue, be it a resident of Manipur, Dima Hasao or any other place. We have kept our fingers crossed for the Bill. It is expected to be passed in the month of August 2017,” said the senior jourlist. The example of Kartaka’s Raichur area and Kerala is indeed worth mentioning.

 “Their respective state governments have provided all the facilities for people belonging to Bengali community. There are only 25000 Bengali people in Raichur and even then all facilities have been provided for them. Himanta Biswa Sarma should take note of this example also. According to the Linguistic Minority Act, 10% of people settled and speaking the same language in any place should be provided with the facility to follow their own mother tongue. This applies to people belonging to all communities. The Bill will come into being in August and till now all seems well. The steps have been taken in the right direction,” Atin Das added.