by Preetam B C

Kokrajhar: Boro Bejwng Saan or Bodo-medium day was observed in Bodo medium institutions throughout the state of Assam to celebrate the inclusion of Bodo as the medium of instruction in educational institutions.

The day was observed in different educational institutions among the students. As part of the programmes, Sabha flag were hoisted. Special programmes, including seminars, discussions were held in many schools.

It was on this day in May 18, 1963, Bodo language was declared as the medium of instruction in lower primary schools in the Bodo-dominated areas of Kokrajhar subdivision in the then undivided Goalpara district of lower Assam by the then Assam chief minister Bimala Prasad Chaliha. The first batch of Bodo-medium students appeared in the HSLC examination in 1975.

The Bodo language was declared an associate official language in 1985. It is now being taught as a Modern Indian Language in many institutions including at Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University, and Bodoland University. Bodolanguage was listed under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution via the 92nd constitutional amendment 2003.

Ranjit Borgoyary, ex-president of All Assam Tribal Sangha, who was among those who led the movement for implementation of Bodo language as a medium of instruction, said, “It’s a great moment for us that Bodo language has reached this far since it was implemented as a medium of instruction in schools. We had fought hard to achieve this.”

ABSU president Promod Boro opined that the ‘Bodo despite being a 8th scheduled language was not patronized the way it should have been due to the negligence by the government. He said the Bodo medium students are still suffering due to lack of teachers, untimely distribution of text books etc, adding that the Bodo language which is an ‘associate official language in Assam must be implemented by the state government so that it gets it due.

BSS president Toren Boro said that the Sabha, since its inception in 1952, has been working for the development of Bodo language and literature. “There have been lots of achievements but a lot more needs to be done for the development of Bodo literature and every Bodo individual has a great role to play in this”, he said.

He said that Bodo-medium students have to face many problems, including non-availability of textbooks at the right time and inadequate number of teachers. He urged the state government to take proper action to solve the crisis like appointment of teachers and timely distribution of textbooks.