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Bodo Sahitya Sabha preparing scientific, technical vocabulary

By Shambhu Boro

TEZPUR, Nov 24 - Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS), considered to be the apex literary body of the Bodo people of the region, observed it�s 66th establishment day on November 16.

As in the past, district and primary committees organised different programmes, including quiz, literary and cultural competitions among the Bodo medium students to mark the day, thereby ushering in the spirit of obligation towards the Bodo language, culture and literature.

Meanwhile, during observance of it�s foundation day, the BSS supremo Toren Boro while recalling the history of establishment of the Bodo literary body, mentioned that BSS which has been working with untiring effort since it�s inception for the promotion of Bodo language, literature, culture, heritage and unity of the Bodo and other tribal people was founded under the presidentship of Joy Bhadra Hagjer at Basugaon in Kokrajhar district on November 16, 1952. It consisted of representatives from Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Nepal.

Mentioning how and at which juncture Bodo Sahitya Sabha was formed, Toren Boro also mentioned that script or font is an inseparable part and ornament for a language. Every modern language across the globe has it�s own typescript. Language which has no script can never be a perfect one. Dating back almost four decades, Bodo language had no fixed script for which the educated section of Bodo people used Assamese, Bengali or Roman scripts for practising literature.

In such a confused state, i.e., during November 16, 1952 at Basugaon in Kokrajhar, the literary body was formed. �Since it�s inception, it has been involved in dealing with the issue of it�s own script. However, amidst many a threadbare debate, the Roman script was considered convenient for articulating Bodo language and literature because the Bodo intellectuals believed that the Roman script would surely be the best suited as from the angle of use, technical point and universality, the Roman script is on a high pedestal.

Accordingly, for recommendation of the same, the Bodo Sahitya Sabha placed their demand before the Government, he said, mentioning that the unfortunate thing is that the then Assam Government directly rejected the Bodo Sahitya Sabha�s proposal and suggested to accept the Assamese script for the literary practices of the Bodo people. Moreover, some sections along with a few organisations strongly opposed the Bodo Sahitya Sabha�s move after sensing a separatist movement among the Bodos.

Going deep into the history of the creation of the Bodo literary body, the Bodo Sahitya Sabha president also observed that a section thought that there was an angle of Christian missionaries behind the move.

�However, for the first time in 1963, Roman script was formally introduced in Bodo medium schools, but the Assam Government forcefully tried to implement the Assamese script in Bodo medium schools instead of Roman script, thereby leading to a script-related clash between the Bodo Sahitya Sabha and the Assam Government. While Bodo Sahitya Sabha continued education in Bodo medium LP schools with the use of Roman script, the Government reportedly held up the salaries of the Bodo teachers, besides every legitimate Government aid.

Amidst such a critical and uncertain moment on March 15, 1974, the 15th chapter of it�s foundation day was organised at Khelmati in Bandarmari, falling under the then undivided Darrang district, wherein Bodo Sahitya Sabha adopted a historic resolution to expedite a vigorous movement with the support of PTCA and ABSU to pressurise the Government to recognise the Roman script for the Bodo language.

With the passage of time, the movement took a serious turn and spread to all Boro-dominated areas resulting in spontaneous involvement of one and all. Altogether, 15 people across the State sacrificed their lives in the hands of the Assam Police,� he said, adding that after a prolonged struggle and determination of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha, the Bodo language was introduced as a medium of instruction at primary level in 1963 and then at the secondary level in 1968, and later gained recognition as a Major Indian language in Gauhati, Dibrugarh and North-Eastern Hill universities.

Moreover in 1985, Bodo was recognised as an associated State official language in Assam. Mentioning about the present state of Bodo language, he mentioned that now the language has attained a position of pride with the opening of a post-graduate course in Bodo language and literature in the universities of Gauhati, Bodoland and Kokrajhar.

�Moreover, under the aegis of the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology under the Union HRD Ministry, the Bodo Sahitya Sabha is preparing more than 40,000 scientific and technical terminology in Bodo language.

Further, the Sahitya Academy has resolved to accord �Bhasa Sonman� to Bodo language and literature as an initial token of full-fledged recognition to it. Additionally, �the Central Government in principle has recognised the necessity of inclusion of Bodo language and literature in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India,� he informed.

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