Highlights are mine.
Some questions/comments
though:
"Inferiority complex has made the
State's people opt for English instead of their own language in all
spheres of their life."
I think people learn English because its
useful. Does knowing English, give one a 'superiority' edge? I don't think
so.
"He also clarified that the Asam
Sahitya Sabha had not indulged in the recent controversy concerning the
definition of the Assamese people"
One would have thought that a body like
the Sahitya Sabha would be the right body to define who is an Assamese if
need be.
an how about this one below?
"He also asserted that any arrangement
for autonomy
without a provision for percolation of power down to the grass
root level was meaningless. Such arrangements for autonomy
creates a new type of oligarchy and the common people continue to languish
as usual"
Await readers' comments.
Expand base of Assamese society -
AT
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI,
Feb 16 — Asam Sahitya Sabha president Kanaksen Deka today made an
appeal to the people to wage an all out battle against inferiority complex
that is afflicting the life of the State's people . He also urged
upon the people to expand the base of the Assamese society by making the
society assimilate all the new elements and also to become self-reliant
engaging themselves in trade and commerce. He was addressing the fourth
special annual session of the Asam Sahitya Sabha at the Belsor Sarat
Chandra Goswami Kshetra in Nalbari district.
Inferiority
complex has made the State's people opt for English instead of their own
language in all spheres of their life. This complex is luring the
guardians to send their wards to the English medium schools. This is
against the basic doctrines of education, which speak of imparting
education at the primary level through mother tongues. This inclination
towards English is a product of the hangover of our colonial past, Deka
said.
However, he clarified that he was not campaigning against
learning English. The Sabha wants the people of the State to earn
expertise in English too. But there is no justification to treat the
English medium schools as superior to the Assamese medium schools. Most of
the owners of the English medium schools are interested only in making
money, they are less bothered to improve the standard of education, he
said.
The inferiority complex of the State's people is affecting
their life in other areas also. They readily give up their time-tested
clothes, cookery and snacks etc for the others'. They are also demanding
reservation for themselves in many spheres. But the weak people, who are
shy of competing with others, only raise the demand for reservation. This
demand will spell doom for the peoples of the State in the coming days, he
warned.
He also clarified that the Asam Sahitya Sabha had
not indulged in the recent controversy concerning the definition of the
Assamese people. The issue came to the Sabha platform when there
arose a need to define the Assamese people in the process of
implementation of the Assam Accord. The definition was sought to be
evolved at the platform of the Sanmilita Sahitya Sabha. But some of the
partners of the Sanmilita Sahitya Sabha did not like the idea of bringing
their respective ethnic groups to the frame of Assamese and rather opted
to identify their groups as sons of soil or indigenous groups. This
resulted in the controversy. As, a well-accepted definition of the
indigenous groups or sons of the soil is still illusive, he said.
He also made an appeal to all the peoples living in the State to
consider their newly found aspiration for recognition as nations against
the background of globalisation. The concept of nation is taking a back
seat even in Europe and the concept of a European Union is gaining ground
instead amongst the European nations nowadays. It was in Europe that the
concept of nation had sprung up following the Industrial Revolution, he
said.
Grant of autonomy to many ethnic groups has also led to
social conflicts in many areas of the State. This is due to the
contradiction among the dominant ethnic groups the general population
living in these autonomous areas. All such conflicts should be resolved
through steps to promote amity among the people living in these areas, he
said.
He also asserted that any arrangement for autonomy without a
provision for percolation of power down to the grass root level was
meaningless. Such arrangements for autonomy creates a new type of
oligarchy and the common people continue to languish as usual.
But
for the maladies of terrorism, group conflict and the like confronting the
State's society, he said, economic backwardness was the main factor. The
apathy of the Congress has resulted in alienation of the people and also
in the isolation of the party from majority of the State's people. The
people of the State once treated the party as their very own one. It is
now discarded by majority of the people here and is now banking on the
votes of the 'Alis and Kulis' to be in power, he said. He also called upon
the people to raise their voice against all cases of atrocities on women.