Guwahati, Dec. 22: The All-India Tribal Literary Forum today requested the Centre to include Bodo, Khasi, Santhali and other tribal languages in the Eighth Schedule.
The forum passed this resolution at a regional meet it organised here yesterday. The meeting was attended by delegates from the Northeast and Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Delhi.
Addressing a news conference here today, members of the forum said the tribal languages should be included in the Eighth Schedule for protecting them and preserving their identity. Tribal scholar and former Ranchi University vice-chancellor Ram Dayal Munda presided over the meet.
The forum urged the Centre as well as state governments to allocate sufficient funds for translation of tribal literature to Hindi and other languages of the country.
Delivering the inaugural address at the regional meet, Assam Speaker Prithibi Majhi said all the other major languages in the country have their foundation in tribal dialects.
Majhi expressed regret over the fact that literary works by tribal writers have not yet gained due recognition despite having rich vignettes of tribal culture and tradition. The delegates from Assam included Majhi, Dileswar Tanti, Karendra Basumatary and Anil Boro.
Majhi said imposition by non-tribal writers of major Indian languages has deterred the development of tribal languages, adding that the phenomenon of imposition has even been witnessed in cultural fields.
Ramanika Gupta of Ramanika Foundation, who is the founder of the All-India Tribal Literary Forum, said it has helped the tribal writers gain a common platform where they can assemble together to mutually exchange views.