JORHAT, March 7 � Trying to give a broader definition of �Assamese people�, Asam Sahitya Sabha president Dr Dhrubajyoti Bora said at the Chandrakanta Handique Bhaban here today that the definition should include all residents of the State who speak Assamese language as mother tongue or either their second or third language, irrespective of the places of their origin.
�We should have the courage and confidence to accept the Bengalis, Nepalese or Hindi speaking people and others residing in the State as Assamese people if they speak Assamese language either as their first, second or third language. Irrespective of their places of origin, we will call them Assamese,� said Dr Bora in his address to a gathering of local litterateurs, intellectuals and representatives of various organisations.
According to him, the State witnessed major demographic changes since the inception of the Asam Sahitya Sabha in 1917 and several communities of other states immigrated to Assam for various industrial and job prospects.
Narrating his plans for initiating mega projects of translation and historical studies and analysis on the indigenous tribes� cultural and political histories, the president of the largest literary body of the State said that people of the State should not feel apprehensive about their identity if the definition of Assamese people includes all those Assamese-speaking residents of the State.
Citing the instances of welcoming over 60 per cent of their doctors, nurses and many other job-holders by Gujarati people from other States, Dr Bora said that people of the State should be confident about accepting the process of assimilation with the immigrants from other Indian states who have already chosen Assamese as their mother tongue or the language of second or third preference.
JORHAT, March 7 � Trying to give a broader definition of �Assamese people�, Asam Sahitya Sabha president Dr Dhrubajyoti Bora said at the Chandrakanta Handique Bhaban here today that the definition should include all residents of the State who speak Assamese language as mother tongue or either their second or third language, irrespective of the places of their origin.
�We should have the courage and confidence to accept the Bengalis, Nepalese or Hindi speaking people and others residing in the State as Assamese people if they speak Assamese language either as their first, second or third language. Irrespective of their places of origin, we will call them Assamese,� said Dr Bora in his address to a gathering of local litterateurs, intellectuals and representatives of various organisations.
According to him, the State witnessed major demographic changes since the inception of the Asam Sahitya Sabha in 1917 and several communities of other states immigrated to Assam for various industrial and job prospects.
Narrating his plans for initiating mega projects of translation and historical studies and analysis on the indigenous tribes� cultural and political histories, the president of the largest literary body of the State said that people of the State should not feel apprehensive about their identity if the definition of Assamese people includes all those Assamese-speaking residents of the State.
Citing the instances of welcoming over 60 per cent of their doctors, nurses and many other job-holders by Gujarati people from other States, Dr Bora said that people of the State should be confident about accepting the process of assimilation with the immigrants from other Indian states who have already chosen Assamese as their mother tongue or the language of second or third preference.
