Steps to preserve Tiwa language mooted

RAJA CHUTURSING KSHETRA (Ulukunchi, Karbi Anglong), March 13 ? The president of the Tiwa Mathonlovi Tokhva (Tiwa Sahitya Sabha) Sri Balai Ram Senapati stated that the age old language of the Tiwas is presently in a state of being forgotten by the majority of this ethnic tribe. Addressing the open session of the Tiwa Sahitya Sabha, Sri Senapati said that the larger chunk of this tribal populace has for various reasons opted for taking Assamese as their medium of studies in school and colleges. The language in actual form currently in practice only in some areas of the hills of Karbi Anglong and Meghalaya beside in a few other places of the plains, he said.

Appreciating the interest being shown by a large section of them to come in to the mainstream of life even by adopting the Assamese language as the medium of learning, Sri Senapati advocated some fresh measures in preserving the Tiwa language. He suggested that those of the community who do not speak Assamese as a means of communication in their general life, adoption of English and Tiwa languages in their educational curriculum. In such a case, he however advocated making Assamese a subsidiary language. The rest of the Tiwas may continue learning Assamese and English while adopting Tiwa language in addition. In his speech, the outgoing president also traced the history of Tiwa Sahitya Sabha, the need of which was founded by a conscientious section of the Tiwa people way back in 1980 in the mode of forming an organisation called ?Tiwa Language Development Committee?. Earlier, the outgoing president, Sri Balai Ram Senapati was brought to the sabha venue in a colourful cultural procession which included several folk dance groups.

Newly elected president of Tiwa Mathonlai Tokhra, Sri Tulsi Bordoloi inaugurating the open session said, some of the small languages have been gradually disappearing due to lack of patronage. Speaking on the occasion as guest of honour, Sri Hem Prakash Narayan, education minister, Assam in his speech assured, the Tiwa language will be introduced in the session 2003-2004 at the primary level of Tiwa dominated areas in the State. While inaugurating Thurang, a house of journal of Tiwa Mathonlai Tokhra, Sri Sibnath Barman said that, not a single language or society is alone. The president, reception committee, read out the presidential report. In his speech, he gave a brief description of the historical background of the Tiwas residing in the hill areas of the country. The Lalung Darbar which founded in 1967 was the first formal socio-political organisation of Tiwas said that the organisation latter split in to various organisations namely, All Tiwa Students? Union, All Tiwa Women Association, Autonomy Demand Struggling Forum, Tiwa Cultural Society etc.

Resolution: The Tiwa Sahitya Sabha session which concluded recently, demanded that the State government grant autonomy to Tiwas under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The three-day long general conference also demanded from the State government implementation of Tiwa language accord immediately. The Sabha session decided to constitute a national trust in the name of Ratna Kanta Bordoloi for the development of art, culture and language of the Tiwas. The session welcomed the proposed constitution of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) for Bodos. The conference demanded the state government to construct a Tiwa-cultural auditorium at Morigaon.