KALIABOR, Feb 1 � The Pandit Atmaram Sarma Kshetra of Mouchanda Pathar at Kaliabor, which witnessed increasing footfalls today, hosted the Asam Sahitya Utsav with the theme being �Asamor Rajya Bhasha aru Khilanjia Matribhasha: Astitwar Sankat aru Bhabishyat.�
The speakers decried the role of the State Government in failing to implement the State Language Implementation Act, 1960, even after five-and-a-half decades.
The meeting was preceded by a book release function, where books by Upendra Barkataki and Kusum Bora, and a volume edited by Jayanta Kumar Bhuyan, Gautam Bora and Jatin Saikia were released by folklorist Dr Nabin Chandra Sarma.
A host of scholars including Dr Satish Chandra Bhattacharya, Dr Charu Sahariya Nath and Prafulla Pran Mahanta participated.
Noted Marathi writer and Sahitya Akademi winner Bhalchandra Nemade, who addressed the function as a distinguished guest, dwelt on the similarities between the Marathi and Assamese literatures and cultures, and said that learning one�s mother tongue was as important as learning English.
�If we look at nations like China and Japan, we will see that they attach a lot of importance in learning and cultivating their mother tongues. Assamese language is also imperative for facilitating better interaction with the many ethnic communities inhabiting the State,� he said.
Later, addressing the function, Dr Paramananda Rajbongshi, vice-president of Asam Sahitya Sabha, said that Assamese had tremendous importance as the link language in the region and that the Sabha would continue with its efforts to promote the Assamese language and literature.
�We also reiterate our appeal to the State Government to ensure proper teaching of Assamese language in all the English-medium schools of the State,� he added.
