50% course at primary level in Barak to be in Assamese! Congress leader Tamal Banik condemns the move

Oct. 1: The only heavy industries in Barak Valley, the HPC Mill at Panchgram was shut down for good by the present political dispensation in Assam for reasons best known to them. The much assured flyover in Silchar too turned out to be a blank promise! This list of deprivation for the people of Barak Valley can be multiplied. And now, it’s the decision of the state government to introduce 50% course content in Assamese at the primary level in Barak Valley. This was highlighted by Congress leader and former Municipal Chairperson Tamal Kanti Banik while criticizing the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government ‘in augmenting linguistic aggression in the valley.’

A 10-member delegation of Group ‘C’ team of Assam Legislative Assembly led by MLA Paramananda Rajbongshi came to the tour of Barak Valley in Assam. The team went around the three districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi, where they interacted with various groups linguistic groups and tribes. On Thursday, while interacting with the media, the team leader, MLA Paramananda Rajbongshi laid stress on expansion of Assamese language in Barak Valley. He further said that students at the primary level shall have to answer 50 percent of their course content in Assamese language and rest 50 percent in Bengali. Now, this has evoked a great controversy among the people of the valley.

Expressing his views, Congress leader Tamal Kanti Banik said, “It is easy to miss the region’s decades old history of quiet struggle. It was in 1960-61 that Bengali was made the official language of Barak Valley following the Bengali Language Movement in which 11 persons attained martyrdom at Silchar Railway Station. When even the New Education Policy speaks of imparting education, especially at the primary level in one’s own mother tongue, the Assam Government is contemplating to impose Assamese! This is indeed strange!”

“Such attempt of linguistic aggression can give rise to social unrest. A valley whose official language is Bengali has got no reason to compulsorily learn Assamese at the primary level, added Mr Banik. It needs mention here that while interacting with the media on Thursday, MLA  Rajbongshi said, “The government has showed its respect to the people of Barak by making Bengali the official language of the valley. In a similar tone, the state language Assamese should also be given equal weightage by the people in Barak Valley.” Responding to this, Tamal Banik said, “Language is the medium of communication. There lies no harm in learning any language, but when attempt is made to impose any language with an intent of hurting the sentiments of a community it is illegal.”

MLA Paramananda Rajbongshi also stated that while interacting with various linguistic communities in the 3 districts of the valley, he has come to the conclusion no intimate steps were taken for their all-round development. He said that on returning back to Guwahati, he will give a detailed report in this connection to the Chief Minister of the state. Reacting to this, Mr Banik stated, “Since this press statement by MLA Rajbongshi, more than 24 hours have elapsed, yet our elected MLA of Silchar uttered not a single word in support of his mother tongue Bengali! He ought to have explained to the Group C Committee about the history of the language movement of 1961 in Barak, but unfortunately, he preferred to remain silent.”

Meanwhile, Tamal Banik informed that he will submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar on Saturday wherein he would urge upon the CM to respect the Official Language Act of the State and not to impose Assamese language at schools and colleges of Barak Valley. He said, “Any such attempt would amount to insult the language martyrs of the valley who are held in high esteem in Barak.”