GUWAHATI, July 4 - While paying rich tributes to Swahid Ranjit Barpujari, the first martyr of the language movement in the State, the All Assam Students� Union (AASU) and the Asam Sahitya Sabha (ASS) stated that not enough was done by the successive State governments to give Assamese the status of State language.
It was on this day in 1960 when Ranjit Barpujari, a brilliant student of a pre-university course in Cotton College (now Cotton University), was killed in police firing in his college hostel. Those were the times when the language movement was at its peak in Assam and the students� community in the State was playing a tremendous role in it.
A tribute event was organised today near the Swahid Bedi of the Swahid Ranjit Barpujari Hostel in Pan Bazar, where Barpujari fell to police bullets.
Speaking during the event, AASU chief advisor Dr Samujjal Bhattacharyya lamented that the students are yet to find the right kind of environment, where they feel confident and secure about pursuing their studies in Assamese medium or in other regional languages.
ASS president Paramananda Rajbongshi said unless the knowledge of mother tongue is made mandatory for all kinds of jobs in Assam, no major change can be expected in the status quo.
�With all due respect towards Hindi, the Assam Sahitya Sabha suggests that Hindi can be the fourth language of the State but Assamese and other regional mother tongues must get a priority. Though the Southern State of the country has sent the message loud and clear on the three language formula under the draft National Education Policy (NEP), we are lagging behind on this front,� Rajbongshi mentioned.
The Sabha president also said the apex literary body wants to start an award in the name of Ranjit Barpujari in association with Cotton University. The award would be for organisations and individuals having a significant contribution towards the promotion of Assamese language.
Dr Bhattacharyya said the State government must take steps to revive the government and vernacular schools and create a right ambience for the students to study Assamese and all other regional languages like Bodo, Rabha, Mising, Karbi, Tiwa, etc.
Professor Bhabesh Chandra Goswami, Vice-Chancellor of Cotton University, while speaking on the occasion, said Cotton University was going to have its first multistorey hostel in the name of Swahid Ranjit Borpujari. The surroundings of the memorial constructed in his name would be converted into a park.
�The project worth approximately Rs 6 to 7 crore is likely to get completed in the next 15 months,� he added.
A number of academicians from Cotton University, including its registrar and academic registrar, members of the Asam Sahitya Sabha and members of different wings of AASU took part in the meeting.
