Bodo Sahitya Sabha celebrates 71st Boro Thunalai Sun
Kokrajhar: Primary and district committees of Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) celebrated Boro Thunalai Sun (Bodo Literature Day) in Assam and West Bengal to mark its 71st foundation day with various programs on Thursday. BSS was formed on November 16, 1952 at Basugaon in the then undivided Kokrajhar district, now in Chirang district. BSS was formed on the orders of Late Satish Chandra Basumatary, who presided over the formation meeting of BSS with Jaybhadra Hager and Sonaram Thaosen as President and Secretary respectively. Since Jayabhadra was less active in the House, Satish Chandra Basumatary was the one who took over the entire responsibility of the Speaker for many years.
In Kokrajhar, Kokrajhar Primary BSS celebrated its 33rd foundation day at the temple complex of Brahma Dharma in Baganshali, Kokrajhar town with two-day programs on 15th and 16th November. As part of the programme, on Thursday morning Kokrajhar President Primary BSS Supen Chandra Brahma hoisted the flag of the Sabha, while Vice President Sabendra Brahma paid floral tributes to the BSS martyrs, followed by Kokrajhar Municipal Board (KMB) Chairperson Pratibha Brahma and Brahma Tree plantation was done in the premises of the temple of religion. Martyr Niranjan Narzari Memorial Delegate Hall inaugurated by Dr. Rupam Kr. Former Principal of Brahma Kokrajhar Girls College. A Kavi Sammelan was also organised, which was presided over by renowned poet Dr Sunil Phukan Basumatary, while Kokrajhar District BSS General Secretary Dinesh Chandra Borgoyari inaugurated the representative meeting.
An open meeting on the topic “Bodo Literature and Responsibility of Bodo Students” was inaugurated by MLA Lawrence Islari and presided over by Supendra Chandra Brahma, President of Kokrajhar Primary BSS. Before this, Chairman of the Welcome Committee Sarada Prasad Mashahari gave the welcome speech. On the first day, there were literary, culture and art competitions for school children and seminar on socio-cultural heritage and social reforms of Baganshali village, which was inaugurated by Benudhar Basumatary, President of Boro Somaj.
Speaking to media persons, Kokrajhar Primary BSS President Supendra Chandra Brahma said that it is because of Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) that Bodo medium has come to this level through education in Assam. He said BSS has state and district committees not only in Assam but also in West Bengal and other parts of the country. He said that Bodo language has been included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution and has become the associate official language of Assam, which has been possible only because of BSS. Bodo language was declared the medium of instruction in Assam in 1968 and now Bodo language has become the second largest spoken language in the state apart from the large population of Bodo speakers in North Bengal, Nepal and Bangladesh, he said. Said that parents and all literate Bodo people should enroll their children in Bodo medium for the development of Bodo language and literature.
