Thousands throng Rabha Sahitya Sabha session

BISHNU RABHA KSHETRA (Tamulpur), February 4: The insurgency ridden Tamulpur area wore a festive look today as thousands of people thronged the Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha Kshetra, the venue of the 27th Bebak Rabha Kraurang Runchum (All Rabha Sahitya Sabha) despite an Assam bandh call given by ULFA and NDFB jointly. The open session of the sabha held this afternoon was presided over by Jagat Kama, the president of All Rabha Sahitya Sabha. Earlier, the president was brought to the stage with a cultural procession from the Tamulpur inspection bungalow located three kilometres away from the venue which was led by two elephants traditionally decorated in the cultural procession. Various cultural troupes of Bodos, Rabhas, Santhals, Nepali, Assamese bihu participated. More than 5000 people with their traditional dresses took part. Addressing the open session as chief guest, State Education Minister Thaneswar Boro said that the State government has decided to appoint 100 Rabha teachers in different educational institutions and the Rabha Sahitya Sabha's demand for another 300 posts is under consideration. Boro further called upon the people to respect all language dialects equally. He assured that the State government would give adequate funds if the Rabha Sahitya sabha decided to publish books in Rabha language. He requested the Sabha to chalk out plans to develop the Rabha language and its culture. The secretary of the All Bodo Students' Union Nathu Ram Bodo has called upon the Rabha people to launch a struggle for their identity as the Asam Sahitya Sabha is doing nothing for the development of the Rabhas. He further said "We should not sacrifice our own rich Rabha culture in the name of composite Assamese culture as the tribal people were not backward. The government policies compelled us to stay underdeveloped." Earlier, inaugurating the open session Pandav Rabha called upon all concerned to work for the development of language and culture of the tribal community. The meeting was attended among others by Padum Bahadur Chauhan, former Minister of Assam, Ganga Raj Rabha, former president of ARSU, Priolata Rabha, general secretary of All Rabha Women Council and Babul Rabha, former president of ARSU. It may be mentioned here that the Governor Lt General (retd) SK Sinha was to attend the meeting but he cancelled his programme due to the visit of Union Home Minister LK Advani.