Re: [Assam] Plea to change name of State to ‘Aso m’-AT

[Rajen Barua]

Rrevised as was sent to Assam Tribune: I am sending a copy to Shantikam with a request to push its publication. May be he will also write something. You and others may also write an addendum with their own perspective please. Barua   Letter to the Editor:   The Assam Tribune:   Dear Sir, I am writing this letter in reference to a newsitem published in your paper where the ex President of Asom Sahitya Sabha was suggesting to change to name of Assam to Asom in the megazie 'Gariyashi'. I completely oppose the suggestion. I am not opposed to change of place names. But let us keep things in perspective. The only reason for name change is to make sure that others  'pronounce' the name of a place the way the natives pronounce. That is the only reason. Therefore the world has gone through a cycle of name change of places specially where the strong headed British named the places as their wish. So we reasonably changed   Peking to Beijing Bombay to Mumbai Dacca to Dhaka Calcutta to Kolkata Madras to Chennai Ceylon to Srilanka Gauhati to Guwahati Cittagong to Sttagram etc.   In the same line we should do some more changes to the following names, if we want to. Sapekhati to Xapekhati or Chapekhati Sibsagar to Xiboxagor or Chiboxagor Sankardev to Xongkordeb Sharma to Xorma or Chorma Saikia to Xoikia or Choikia Parishad to Porixod Nogoan to Nogaw Jorhat to Jwrhat etc because that is how we prononce these words.  The other alternative is to leave these place names as they are. (Please note that the Assamese X sound is also pronounced by the letters 'ch' in some languages as we find German word 'Bach', Scottish word 'Loch', or the place names like 'Zurich' etc.  ) etc.   Now when it comes to place names like Assam, Bengal, Singapore or India we should think very deeply and see what we are trying to do. The words Assam, Bengal, Singapore and India etc have their own historical background of development.   In fact the word Oxom and Assam was developed, we may say, in parallel. Although the word Oxom was used since 13th century, during the British days the words Oxom and Axam both were used interchangeably. At the same time word Assam was developed separately by the British from the word Axam. Now during these almost two hundred years, the word Assam become like a international 'brand name' with Assam Tea Company, Assam Company, Assam Oil Company, ART Company, etc so much so that today Assam has its own recognition simply from its name Assam. During the second waorld war also Assam got its prominence for which it has earned a great goodwil from the name.   Now if we want to change the name Assam, first, we must realize that we are going to loose that international recognition, an issue which we Assamese so much complain of. Second even inspite of that we want to change the names the way we pounce then let us change to the right spelling Let us Change Assam to Oxom. India to Bharat Bengal to Bangla Singapore Singhapur etc Before Asom Sahitya Sabha suggests changing the name of Assam to Asom, let us suggest that let Asom Sahitya Sabha change its name to Oxom Xahiytya Xobha. Also may we suggest that the name of the Assamese megazie 'Gariyoshi' should be changed to its Assamese pronunciation: Gorioxi. We would have liked to see Asom Sahitya Sabha and Gariyashi would a take leadership role in these sphereas. But before that they need to reform their own houses. Assam has too many problem, nut let us not try to create new ones. Otherwise we will have to start a new slogan Tej dim kintu Assam nidiw. Rajen Barua, Houston, USA Plea to change name of State to 'Asom' By A Staff Reporter  GUWAHATI, Feb 8 – Learned circles have called for restoration of the original name of the State, 'Asom,' in place of the existing 'Assam,' as they feel the former alone can truly represent the unique culture, heritage and history of the State. The name of a place is not just something that has a simple, insignificant association with it. More often than not, it reflects the history, culture and heritage of the land and the people inhabiting it. The name is the key that holds the identity of the place and unveils its past, often transcending history and going back to the days of myths and legends. And Asom is no exception to this rule. That the roots of the name Asom lie in ethnicity is all too evident. Eminent litterateur and former Sahitya Sabha president Chandra Prasad Saikia, has been among the ardent votaries of Asom. In the editorial of the literary magazine Gariyoshi's February issue, Saikia says that continuing with the name Assam is against the ethos and spirit of Assamese nationalism. "It is perfectly desirable that the name by which a particular people identifies their State should also be the name of that State for all purposes," he says. "The name Asom will also be able to convey best the wishes, aspirations and sentiments of the people at the national as well as international level," he adds. Saikia also opposes the spelling 'Asam' for the original name, as it would be more or less similar to 'Assam.' The British had effected changes in the original names of many places of the country. This was primarily to suit their convenience and without giving any regard to local history and culture or to local sentiment. However, after India's independence, many States restored the original names – Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, Kolkata, etc., being a few of these. In Assam too, the British 'Gauhati' was changed to Guwahati, 'Nowgong' to Nagaon and very recently 'Sibsagar' to Sivasagar. Saikia is also optimistic that the different ethnic communities of the State will not oppose reinstating the name Asom. "The word Assam in no way helps the growth of their language, literature and culture. Although the word Assamese originates from Asom, Asom – which stands for 'the unmatched' — has an exclusive meaning," he says. Urging the people to lend their voices to the cause, Saikia says that as the first step, the State Government should begin with using the word Asom in the place of Assam in all official exercises. Next, it must mount pressure on the Centre to circulate Asom at the all-India level. Moreover, it is time the various organizations related to the State's cultural and educational spheres put up a united and forceful stand on the issue. It may be mentioned that the State Government had issued a circular for using the word Asom for all official purposes but its implementation has not at all materialized.

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