TEZPUR, April 23 - Giving a clarion call to people of the Bodo community to sincerely strive to save their ethnic identity, noted social worker, youth organiser and vice president of All Bodo Students� Union (ABSU) Romeo P Narzary said here on Sunday that art, culture, language and heritage reflect the true identity of a nation.
Narzary, who attended a Bihu programme at Saraka Baligaon, a remote rural area some 20 kms away from Tezpur town, mentioned that Bihu is not simply a podium for enjoyment, but a social platform that teaches one to be responsible towards the society and culture.
He felt there was no threat to the mainstream Assamese people regarding loss of Bihu�s identity as different organisations like AASU, Asam Sahitya Sabha and several other local channels were always vocal in organising workshops for keeping the Bihu spirit alive.
�On the contrary, the Bodos are yet to wake up to the hard reality and take appropriate measures before time runs out to save our language, culture and heritage,� he rued.
Until the parents and seniors of the society take care of their next generation with utmost concern, besides stressing on quality education and imbibing work culture among people of the Bodo society, we cannot expect a better future, he speculated.
Urging members of the Saraka Baligaon Yuvak Sangha to organise workshops on Bagrumba and Kherai dance and competitions on Boro traditional food from next year, he added that a sense of belonging and oneness, besides communal harmony carry forward a nation�s identity and dignity, reflecting its overall development.
Attending the programme, the vice president of Sonitpur District Sahitya Sabha Ramen Goswami said Bihu is a festival of unity amidst diversity among the indigenous people.
�Festivals are the recurring moments of special significance celebrated with rejoicing by members of any society to promote unity, friendship and integrity amongst the people of a society. Similarly, Bihu brings forth the joy of spring into each and every household of the different ethnic people of the region. It is a post-harvest festival which is solely related to the social life of the people, thus generating keen participation with full cheer and merriment. Through these festivities, it directs us about our responsibility towards our society, culture, heritage and work culture,� Goswami mentioned.
Two other speakers, namely Mahendra Kumar Nath and Biswajit Boro, noted journalist and writer respectively, spoke on the importance of celebration of Bwisagw or Rongali Bihu and urged the people to play a positive role by keeping the society culturally rich and thereby maintaining communal harmony among the people.
Member for the Bihaguri Zila Parishad Atul Nath and president of Bandarmari Gaon Panchayat Jamuna Basumatary, who were also present in the programme as special guests, conveyed their Bihu greetings to the people of the area and assured to leave no stone unturned to develop the area. The duo also assured to provide necessary funds for setting up a rural library in the village.
The guests were subsequently felicitated with aronai. The winners of the different competitions organised during the Bihu function were presented prizes by the guests.
The Bagrumba and Delaisree dance performance presented in the programme kept the audience glued to their seats. The event, held under the aegis of noted social worker Baluram Boro was also attended by Bodosa Brahma, Coordinator of Bodofa�s Mission for Sustainable Change, Nilkamal Narzary, vice president of North Rangya Anchalick ABSU, Rahul Raj Daimary, vice president of Mazbat Anchalik ABSU and social workers of the area Thanewar Boro and Dimbewswar Boro.
The session was followed by a special felicitation programme christened �dersinkhw sibinai� or �guru sewa� (honour to the seniors) in the evening where the village elders were honoured.
In the cultural night, singer Suraj Boro, Swapna Boro and Rithi Boro kept the audience spellbound with their mesmerising performances.
