Guwahati, Feb 1 A Class 8 girl student of an English medium school in this Assam city Guwahati Monday attempted suicide by jumping from the second floor of the institution, alleging humiliation and punishment by teachers for speaking in Assamese.
Teenaged Nabanita Das is now in the intensive care unit of a city hospital with back and limb injuries, although doctors said she was out of danger.
The girl said she was immensely humiliated by the vice-principal of the Gurukul Grammar Higher Secondary School for speaking in Assamese with some of her friends inside the school premises.
“I was punished by my vice-principal - asked to kneel down outside, then I was asked to write down in English 1,000 times that I would never speak in Assamese again. Also I was asked to learn English from Class 1 students….I felt so humiliated in front of my friends that I decided to end my life by jumping from the second floor of the school,” Nabanita told journalists from her hospital bed.
Parents and relatives complained that the school authorities behaved rudely with them when they went to enquire about the incident.
“No teachers cooperated with us and refused to say anything about how the incident took place. The security guards present in the school simply tried shoving us out from the campus as if we are criminals,” Gautam Das, elder brother of Nabanita, told IANS.
School authorities refrained to make any comments on the incident.
A guardian said: “We were simply shocked and stunned by this incident of a teacher forcing a student to take this extreme step.”
Jan 26Assam Governor Janaki Ballav Patnaik appealed to the insurgent groups to give up violence and come to the table for settlement of all their problems.
The Governor was addressing the people at the main function of the Republic Day after unfurling the national tricolour at the historic Latashil Field in Guwahati Tuesday morning. He said concerted efforts are on to bring ULFA, NDFB and other militant groups to the negotiation table. He said the law and order situation has improved significantly in the State and people have come to realize the futility of violence.
Calling upon all to pledge to carry out the task of nation-building, the Governor said Assam has marched ahead with rest of India during last six decades of the Republic. Mr. Patnaik informed that a major thrust has been accorded towards modernization of police force and equip them with sophisticated weapons to face the challenge posed by underground and extremist elements. The Governor also highlighted different developmental schemes launched by the State Government for overall benefit of the common people and the poorer section.
Earlier, the Governor inspected an impressive parade and took salute at the march past by forces and school children. The function was marked by cultural display by different communities of the State.
AIR Guwahati Correspondent Ramani Kanta Sharma reports that despite a boycott call and general strike by several North-East militant groups, including banned ULFA, the 61st Republic Day has been celebrated across the State peacefully and in a befitting manner. No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere in the State during the Republic Day functions held amidst tight security.
