SUALKUCHI, Feb 2 - Taking over the reins of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, newly-elected president of the apex literary body of the State, Kuladhar Saikia today said that the spectre of �language death� could soon be looming over the Assamese language if timely steps are not taken for incorporating apt terminology for popular English words that tend to infringe upon the regional language.
Presiding over the open session of the 75th session of the Sabha at Atul Chandra Baruah Mancha in Jyoti Kshetra here, Saikia said there was a need to enrich, update and popularise the vocabulary of Assamese language so as to find an answer to the increasing inclination towards use of English words in day-to-day conversations. �If timely steps are not taken, we might lose the unique identity and expansion of our language without even realising it,� Saikia said.
He further said that it was very unfortunate that the Assamese language is not used in the day-to-day work of government offices and this is something one needs to lay stress on. �In the current scenario, if someone relates us as a xenophobic society, it simply implies they are not at all aware of the history and civilisation of Assamese people,� he said.
�...The Sabha has made clear its opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in unequivocal terms by associating itself with the widespread anti-CAA movement across the Northeast,� he opined. Saikia further said that there was a need to create an environment where people, especially the younger generation, draw self pride in reading, writing and speaking Assamese language.
�As things stand today, we have not been able to establish the rich status of our language in the bigger milieu as a result of which we, from time to time, are pitted against questions about the uniqueness and history of our language. We also tend to face difficulty in achieving rightful recognition as was the case when it came to acknowledgment by Unicode,� the Sabha president said.
Earlier in the day, outgoing Sabha president Dr Paramananda Rajbangshi, while speaking during the ceremonious unfurling of 101 Sabha flags in unison, said that the Sabha, like in previous years, would continue to reflect the hopes and aspirations of the people of Assam, besides delivering in the time of crisis.
As part of Sabha�s agenda, more than 50 writers and individuals from different spheres of public life were honoured and awarded. The award ceremony was preceded by various customary rituals, including swahid tarpan and smriti tarpan.
The Sahityacharjya Syed Abdul Malik Memorial First Open Session held at Atul Chandra Baruah Mancha in Jyoti Kshetra was inaugurated by former Sabha president Rong Bong Terong. Another former president of the apex literary body Dr Dhrubajyoti Borah was also present in the open session.
Noted writer from West Bengal Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay was the chief guest of the open session. Newly-elected office-bearers of the Sabha, including its vice president Mrinalini Devi and secretary Jadav Sarma were also present in the open session.
