Society wants ST status to be given to Bhumji people

Special Correspondent

SILCHAR: A call has been given from the platform of the conference of Barak Valley-based Bhumij Society on the occasion of its 10th foundation day to accord ST status to the community, a part of the tea tribe. Held at the Gandhi Bhavan here today, Biraj Bhumij, secretary of the Bhumij society, said Bhumij community is one of the important part of the greater tea tribe of this valley. They are spread across different districts, living in peaceful coexistence with other tribes and communities, maintaining their own tradition and culture.

He added to say besides upholding their own distinct identity, the Bhumij community take pride in being engaged in constructive socio-economic activities.

Biraj Bhumij pointed out the Bhumij society also is proud of preserving and continuing the art, culture, language and above all the heritage of their forefathers. It is only on the strength of language, education and literary culture that the Bhumij community believes in making progress. Addressing the members of his community, he exhorted them to carry forward their rich heritage and culture. This is the only way, as he said, to become a part of the modern progressive society.

Ramnath Bhumij, chief guest and secretary All Assam Bhumij Society, laid stress on coordinated and organized efforts to keep up the pace of educational and cultural development and to ensure that nothing can deter them from their path of reaching the declared objective of keeping aloft the fair and great name of Bhumij community.

In the same tone and tenor, Dilip Kumar, Suresh Baraik and Uma Bhumij asked the Bhumij members to continue to work with dedication and commitment in the larger interest of the community. So long, the peace loving and hard working community has kept their celebration on a low profile. It is for the first time that the leaders of the community have come forward to hold their conference under the glare and glaze of this town.

Rajesh Bhumij, organizing secretary, expressed his hope and confidence that the conference held in a most organized and peaceful manner would become a source of encouragement and inspiration to the Bhumij society with its nearly 10,000 population in this valley. On this occasion, the message that has gone out for the members of the tea tribe is to spread education among the youths of the community so that they can move forward and become competitive and resourceful. It is the youths who can charter out a new course of creative and constructive life. From the conference, demand has also been raised to impress upon the state government to declare their annual festival ‘Karna Puja’, worship of nature, as holiday. Others who spoke on the occasion included Dinesh Sardar and Prabir Bhumij. It is relevant to point out that people of Bhumij society were brought to this valley from different parts of Bengal, mainly Purulia, Jharkand and Uttar Pradesh by the British for being engaged in the tea gardens of the region.

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