SIVASAGAR, Dec 16 - In a bid to give final shape to the newly formed regional political party and to prepare a road map for future course of action, the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) held its first state convention in the historic Boarding Field here on Wednesday amid much enthusiasm among followers from different corners of the State.
Showering blessings on the newly formed political party, writer-journalist Homen Borgohain, while addressing the �Dik Darsan� session in a packed Sivasagar Natya Mandir, said the AJP must have some elementary characteristics to survive that will make it different from others.
Quoting extensively from German philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte�s book The Addresses to the German Nation and describing how the book inspired the young Germans to revive a depleted, destroyed and divided Germany from Napoleon�s aggression into a strong nation, Borgohain urged the new generation of workers of the new party to imbibe the spirit and concept of healthy nationalism.
He said the AJP may not be able to form a government, but it must set a new trend of patriotism, regionalism and politics of value, and its leaders must be truly educated, serious, committed to the people and the land. He censured the national parties that speak of one nation and one language, destroying the cultural diversity of India. He added that for economic revival, the AJP must chalk out a strategy and involve all its followers in the programme.
Former AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi, who entered the meeting hall in the evening amid deafening cheers with a large number of his well-wishers and AJP workers, joined the party formally with his followers. Later addressing the media, Gogoi hoped that the people of Assam will bless the followers of the new political party and give them support to work dedicatedly towards a self-reliant, self-sufficient and prosperous Assam.
�The AASU and AJYCP through hectic parleys of analysis and planning have given birth to this party which will truly be an alternative political solution to solve all the problems plaguing the State,� he said.
The session was presided over by Dr Krishna Gopal Bhattacharjya and Basanta Deka, chief convenors of AJP, who had in the morning hoisted the party flag and paid floral tributes to the martyrs respectively.
Bhikhyu Pragyasen, former Head of Pali and Buddhist Studies, Arunachal University, Namsai, in his address to the session said, � no one else will do our works, we ourselves must do everything, from the base of future society.� He lamented that �we are a forgetful nation� and as an example he said that he had been writing in Assamese but Asam Sahitya Sabha does not know him.
Representing the young generation, Tridiv Bhagawati, a student of Cotton College, Guwahati, said that he expects the new party, like the AIDMK and DMK in Tamil Nadu, would carry on the torch of regionalism with robust economic activity.
AASU president Dipanka Nath, in his speech said that the Assamese as a distinct linguistic community is facing grave danger from another linguistic community in Assam that had created a mayhem in Silapathar, vandalizing the AASU office. He termed the AGP as a party of traitors.
The session was also addressed among others by former AGP MLA Jagadish Bhuyan, journalist Adip Phukan, AJYCP president Polash Changmai, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council leader Chandra Kanta Terang, singer Mahendra Hazarika, AASU general secretary Sankor Jyoti Baruah, Rana P Baruah of AJYCP, All Assam Tribal Sangha president Milan Sonowal, advocate Nekibur Jaman, actor Arun Hazarika, Dibrugarh University professor Dr Pallovi Deka Bujarbaruah, and reception committee president Dr Hemanta Phukan.
AGP founding member and Patacharkuchi MLA Pabindra Deka is likely to join AJP tonight.
A delegation meeting with over 500 delegates from different places will be held later in the evening where the party constitution will be adopted, besides discussion on resolutions. Tomorrow morning there will be another delegation meet, which will be followed by the general meeting and a cultural programme in the evening.
