Ratnapal Shetra (Assam): On the foundation day of Assam’s apex literary body, Asam Sahitya Sabha, 10,000 literature lovers on Sunday sang its theme song here in Sonitpur district where Sabha president Dr Dhrubajyoti Bora assured that equal priority would be given to all indigenous languages in the state.
The congregation sang ‘Sira senehi mur bhasah janai’ (My eternally beloved motherland) under the flag of the literary body here as the Sabha stepped into its 99th year on Sunday.
Addressing a massive gathering for the open session of the mega event, the apex literary body’s president said that the Sabha would follow the concept of tri-language formula and would always give equal priority to all indigenous languages.
Stating that folk culture and literature were the backbone of the development of a nation, Bora said that taking every indigenous community of the state, including Boro, Mising, Karbi and others, the Sabha would work in the best interest of society.
Emphasising the need to strengthen brotherhood among the indigenous communities through exchange of language, he said that the Sabha would publish three magazines — in the Boro, Karbi and Mising languages — while translations of world literature would also be included.
The Kawoimari area, known for its contribution during the 1942 Quit India Movement, when 12 persons here were martyred as they fell to British bullets, on Sunday wore a festive look with 99 Asam Sahitya Sabha flags unfurled by as many renowned personalities, including litterateurs.
Along with them, the heads of various organisations, senior leaders of literary organisations, including ethnic literary bodies, and artistes sang the state anthem, ‘O mur apunar desh’ (O my mother land).
Attending the open session, Tripura minister Bhanulal Saha said there was no literary body in India as old as the Asam Sahitya Sabha. (PTI)
