Girl attempts suicide after rebuke for speaking in Assamese

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.”

Gogoi rules out further division of Assam

Guwahati Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday ruled out further division of the state and creation of a separate state as demanded by different tribes of the state.

Addressing the open session of Bodo Sahitya Sabha at Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar district, the Chief Minister said there will be no separate states carved out of Assam but ''we want to live together and create a greater Assamese society''.

''There are demands and grievances of different communities and we will consider their genuine demands earnestly,'' he said.

All problems can be resolved through discussion and the government was keen to resolve all issues, including insurgency, through negotiations and within the democratic framework, Gogoi said

The government was also keen to develop the language, literature, art and culture and for this purpose a separate directorate would be soon set up, he added.

‘Bodo language has made much progress’

SRIRAMPUR, Jan 30 – The Bodo lamguage has developed to a great extent as far its grammar and phonetics are concerned, said the Governor of Meghalaya, Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary while inaugurating the ‘History cum literary session’ at Daori Pwthar, Gossaigaon today the second day of the 49th annual conference of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha. Mooshahary was speaking on the subject ‘The need of compiling a comprehensive Bodo History.’

The programmes on the second day started with Dr Kameswar Brahma, president, BSS hoisting the Sabha flag at 7.30 am. This was followed by paying of homage to martyrs by Rajen Khaklary, VP, BSS. A souvenir was released by Haribhushan Brahma, retired principal of Gossaigaon College. This was followed by release of at least 37 other books on different topics.

The award presentation and felicitation ceremony was also held where as many as eight persons were felicitated for their outstanding contributions to art, literature and culture. Bipul Basumatary, a student of Mainao Cherang High School who secured the highest mark in Bodo MIL, was also felicitated on the occasion.

The history cum literary session was chaired by MP, SK Bwismuthiary. BSS general secretary Kamala Kanta Mochahary made the keynote

address. The programme was attended as chief guest by Kanak Sarma, vice-president of Asam Sahitya Sabha.

The Meghalaya Governor regretted that Gossaigaon sub-division was the worst ‘bandh’ affected sub-division in Assam. He also said that the English language became rich by borrowing words from other languages.

Kanak Sarma lauded the BSS for introducing an important topic like history and literary session which he termed as appropriate. He also said that literature reflects the socio-economic and cultural scenario of a nation.

The programme was also attended by Jt Registrar, GU, Kokrajhar Campus, Uttam Bathary, Assistant Director (R) i/c NERC Indian Council of Historical Research and NK Devbarma from Tripura among other dignitaries.

AGP to contest BTAD elections

GUWAHATI, Jan 29 – The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has decided to take part in the ensuing BTAD elections joining hands with all the anti-Congress-BPF alliance parties, including the BPPF. This decision was adopted by a well-attended meeting of the party’s central executive committee at Bongaigaon yesterday.

The party’s executive committee has also decided to gherao the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd’s (ONGCL’s) Nazira headquarters on February 8 in protest against the alleged move of the Corporation to convert its Assam Asset into a subsidiary company.

Disclosing this, AGP chief spokesman Atul Bora told this newspaper that the party executive committee has also decided to gherao the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Dhemaji at a later date on the issue of the mega hydel dams proposed for the NE region.

The party will also send a memorandum to the Prime Minister of the country on the issue, through the Deputy Commissioner.

It needs mention here that the party recently made an appeal to the Union Government to keep in abeyance the mega hydel dam projects proposed for the NE region until the comprehensive studies on their socio-economic, downstream impacts etc are completed.The party also demanded that the Lower Subansiri Hydel Project should be scrapped.

AGP leaders and activists will stage demonstration also in front of the NF Railway headquarters here in protest against the railways depriving the local candidates in Grade-III and IV jobs at a later date.

Besides, the members of the women’s wing of the party Asom Mahila Parishad, will take out procession in protest against the abnormal rise in the prices of the essential commodities. The date of the procession, along with the dates of the other two programmes mentioned above, will be finalized later on, said Bora.

Jagaran Yatra: The much publicized Jana Jagaran Yatra of the party started today with a huge rally at Bongaigaon. Around 30,000 people from various parts of Lower Assam districts took part in the rally, Bora said.

The central rally, meant for the Lower Assam zone, was presided over by party working president Phani Bhusan Choudhury. It was addressed by party president Chandra Mohan Patowary, former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, former president ofthe party Thanewar Boro, party vice-presidents Swarup Upadhaya and Apurba Bhattacharjee, former Ministers Atul Bora, Rekharani Das Boro and Hiranya Konwar and MLA Liaqut Ali Khan, among others addressed the rally, Bora said.

The AGP has planned the Yatra in five zones and for the Upper Assam zone Jorhat has been named as the place for a central rally, while for the central zone, Nagaon and for the north bank zone Gohpur have been named as the places for such rallies.

The South Assam zone planned for the purpose includes Karbi Anglong, NC Hills and the Barak Valley districts. Several meetings at local levels are also planned at various places of the State under the Yatra, Bora said.

Assam people annoyed over repeated bomb attacks by militant groups

assam people

Guwahati, Jan 27 : Repeated grenade blasts have created an atmosphere of insecurity across Assam provoking anger among people.
Militants are trying hard to disrupt peace and normalcy, which is gradually returning to Assam.
Earlier this month, two motorcycle riding militants threw a grenade in a busy market place in Udalguri district.
A person was killed and 11 others were injured in the incident.
Security agencies suspect the involvement of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
All of the injured were initially treated at the Mangaldoi Civil Hospital, but were later moved to different hospitals for further treatment.
Various social ands pro-people organisations have condemned the act and have demanded the immediate arrest of culprits.
“They are coward; I just want to say this only. (Insert) If you want to do something, come in front and then do, disguising yourself as common man and throwing bomb in a marketplace is sheer coward ness,” said Raju Hazarika, a victim
“If terrorists want something, they should come out and sit together and have a dialogue. What good they can get from killing innocent citizens,” said
Pradeep Shutradhar, another victim.
On January 16, security agencies gunned down a NDFB militant in Udalguri district and arrested a top United liberation Front of Assom (ULFA) commander in Shillong.
Police recovered live ammunition from the dead militant who is suspected to be responsible for the bombing in Udalguri.

Assam, Tripura celebrate Bihu festival

Guwahati / Agartala, Jan 27 : It’s festival time in India as the sun starts its northward journey, marking the beginning of the end of winter and the coming of spring.

This is a time of the year when Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Lodhi or Bihu is observed to signal the joyous beginning of the new harvest season.

Bihu or Makar Sankranti signifies the day when the sun begins its ascendancy and enters into the Northern Hemisphere, the Tropic of Capricorn.

Bihu is the most important festival in Assam and occurs thrice a year. In April, it is called Rongali or Bohag Bihu, in October November Kati Bihu, and in January, coinciding with Makara Sankranti, it is called Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu.

Bhogali Bihu is celebrated immediately after the winter harvest. The word ‘bhogali’ comes from bhoga, which translates to ‘feast’, and the festival is essentially one of thanks giving and merry making after a good harvest.

Traditional games form a part of this centuries old festival.

Buffalo fight is one of favorite games of the people of the region that begin with the sound of trumpets and village priests performing rituals.

Bulbul fight is another tradition that Assamese people follow during Bihu.
The festival is also marked by a brisk and a joyous dance by young men and women in their traditional attires.

In Tripura, people took a holy dip in the River Gomati at the Tirthamukh fair.

Devotees also prayed to the Sun for prosperity and happiness.

Special security measures and other arrangements were made for the devotees.

“The importance of this mela is increasing every year. The lighting and security arrangements are properly done. There is no problem and everyone is enjoying,” said B K Roy of Tripura Police

The festival is not only a reminder of the culture and traditions of Assam and Tripura, but also is a story of civilization whose foundations were built on agricultural and pastoral life.

Governor appeals Assam insurgents to give up violence

Jan 26


Assam 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.