From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: A controversy is brewing in Assam following a demand from the World Bodo Historical Society (WBHS) for a ban on centuries old poetic compositions in Assamese , Kirtan Ghosa and Naam Ghosa’ of Vaishnavite scholars Srimanta Sankardeva and his disciple Sri Madhavdeva, alleging that there are some derogatory comments in those composition against the Bodo tribe community.
The WBHS has demanded a ban on ‘Kirtan Ghosha’ and ‘Naam Ghosha’, a compilation of poetic works by the two great scholars, and revered by the Assamese people.
Bodoland People’s Front’s (BPF) Lok Sabha member and WBHS leader S K Bwiswmuthiary has claimed that certain verses in those two urged the people to wage war against the Bodo (Mlech) people.
The Bodo tribe leader stated that the word ‘mlech’ as mentioned in those popular religious books of Vaishnav community referred to Bodo community in the State.
Terming such verses defamatory and against secular spirits, Bwiswmuthiary urged the government of Assam to impose ban on circulation of the defamatory verses.
However, the apex Bodo literary body, Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) has already distanced itself from the view of WBHS in this regard. The president of the BSS, Kameswar Brahma said , “Mlech means someone who is untouchable. Bodos in the past used to identify themselves as Mech, but it is different from Mlech,” he said.
The influential All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) too have preferred to maintain a safe distance from the controversy with a senior leader of the students body said thet he was not competent enough to comment on it as he had never read those verses.
Paramananda Rajbongshi, secretary general of Asam Sahitya Sabha, the apex literary body in Assam , said the word ‘Mlech’ has been interpreted in a different way.
Srimanta Sankardeva who was born in 15th century , is credited with bringing about a mass cultural, religious and literary movement on Brahmaputra Valley in Assam. He was instrumental in spreading Vaishnavism in the State and sowing the seeds of refoms in the spheres of religion, culture and literature to uplift the masses.
His famous disciple Sri Madhavdeva is also a revered personality in Assam for his timeless contribution socio-cultural reforms process initiated by hi Guru Srimanta Sankardeva.