TEZPUR, June 13 - Terming Dimasa language as the first local language of Assam, the Asam Sahitya Sabha said that it will take every possible step for the development of the Dimasa language, culture and its heritage.
The Sabha announced that it has taken up a special agenda in association with Tezpur University for introducing a curriculum of the Dimasa language, preparation of a dictionary and a grammar of Dimasa language etc.
Attending a special meeting to discuss the matter at the university in the presence of expert professors, office bearers of the Dimasa and Asam Sahitya Sabha recently, the chief secretary of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, Dr Paramananda Rajbongshi revealed that Dimasa language is the first language of the region. �We heartily welcome the decision of Tezpur University to take forward the Dimasa language, culture and heritage, as they have shouldered their responsibility by doing this.�
Dr Rajbongshi added that through Tezpur University, the Asam Sahitya Sabha will introduce a curriculum of spoken English for students who are weak in English. These students face problems in facing interviews conducted by multinational companies, he said. The apex literary body also demanded that the Sarbananda-led new State Government frame a policy so that question papers are set with 50 per cent questions in the mother tongue and the rest in the State language for examinations for any job under the Assam Government. �If this is done by the Government, then the local language of the State will never die,� Rajbongshi said.
In the meeting, it was decided to give training to the teachers on spoken English and Assamese between December 15 to 25 of the current year. The apex literary body decided to introduce the programme across the State from January 17, 2017. He further said that the one year diploma course will be of two semesters. He added that the course on Dimasa language will not only be for the Dimasas, rather it will be for the people of every community living in the region. Likewise, for the non-Assamese people living in the BTAD area, through the KK Handique Open University the course on Boro language will be introduced in Udalguri from July 3. �The matter will be informed to the Education Minister, Government of Assam,� he said
The meeting held at the University guest house began with a welcome address by the registrar of the University, Dr Biren Das. It was graced by the vice-president of the Dimasa Sahitya Sabha, Kalijoy Seng Yung, general secretary of the tribal literary body, Ringpendra Nunisha and executive member Surya Thousen, Professor, Department of English and Foreign Languages, Dr. Madhumita Barbora, Professor, Assamese Study Centre, Dr Juri Dutta, Prof Gautam Bora, Dr Debasis Mahapatra, Professor, Centre for Indigenous Languages, Monali Longmaili, Professor of Department of Hindi, Pragjyotish College, Guwahati, Chandrakola Devi and Daisy Kalita, Department of English from the same college, Barnali Saikia of Tezpur College from Department of Assamese, convenor of centenary celebration of Asom Sahitya Sabha, Jadab Chandra Sharma, secretary of the Tezpur Sahitya Sabha, Pankaj Baruah among others.
