Extreme tiolism spelling doom for Assamese: Speaker

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, June 6: Extreme tiolism is responsible for disintegration of the greater Assamese community, Assam Assembly Speaker Prab Kumar Gogoi today said, warning this greater community could be wiped out one day if all the ethnic groups and communities do not join forces.

"Because of this extreme tiolism, many have moved out, resulting in the disintegration of the Assamese community…That is why now we have an identity crisis and the brouhaha over the definition of Assamese," Gogoi said.

He said unity has been a hallmark of the greater Assamese community, borne out  by its history. "Unless we live by those historical and traditiol ideals, we are likely to be wiped out," the Speaker said.

He said the report he submitted to the government on the definition of Assamese "may or may not be endorsed now, but it will continue to be a property of the State Assembly."

"I tried to give a view that is acceptable to all the ethnic groups. If we cannot take along all the groups, the situation may turn worse in future," he felt.

The Speaker today received a shot in the arm after eight indigenous tribal Xahitya Xabhas of the State endorsed his report and said it was a "strong and positive step adopted in the interest of giving socio-cultural, administrative and constitutiol safeguard" to the indigenous people as mentioned in the Assam Accord.

The eight Xahitya Xabhas - Bodo Xahitya Xabha, Karbi Xahitya Xabha, Mising Xahitya Xabha, Dimacha Xahitya Xabha, Rabha Xahitya Xabha, Tiwa Xahitya Xabha, Garo Xahitya Xabha and Deori Xahitya Xabha - however urged the Speaker to replace the words "indigenous, indigenous Assamese" with "indigenous tribals of Assam and indigenous Assamese people".

The eight ethnic cultural bodies also rejected the resolution on the definition of Assamese adopted by the Axom Xahitya Xabha at his February convention and sought its withdrawal.

They also sought protection of the tribal belt and blocks.

In another resolution adopted during its May 10 meet, the Xahitya Xabhas stated that no base year should be fixed for the indigenous tribal people of Assam in updating the NRC and they should be allowed to indicate their respective mother tongue in the column of mother language in the NRC form.