HT Correspondent
MORIGAON, March 23: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the role played by the Tiwa Sahitya Sabha for the development of language and literature of the community since its inception has encouraged the younger generation.
He was speaking at the 13th Central Convention of the 13th Tiwa Mathanlai Takhra (Sahitya Sabha) held from March 21 at Jemon Chandra Bardoloi Kshetra, Aujari, Morigaon.
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Sarma congratulated Harsing Khalak, the newly elected President of the Tiwa Sahitya Sabha and recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Bhasha Samman Award.
The CM said that development of written literature in the Tiwa language started in the 1970s and the newspaper Rinchang of the Sadao Assam Tiwa Yuva Chhatra Sammelan published in 1973 played a major role in this regard.
He said the glorious history, culture, Tiwa language and literature of the tribe were expressed in Rinchang and Rinchang encouraged the writers of Tiwa literature.
“Tiwa Sahitya Sabha was renamed as Takhra on 15 November 1980 by the Tiwa Bhasha Unnayan Parishad and later by the Sadao Tiwa Sahitya Sabha and later by the Tiwa Mathanlai. Tiwa Mathanlai Takhra sessions have been playing an important role in the development of Tiwa language and literature,” CM Sarma said.
He further said that Tiwa Sahitya Sabha has always made efforts to promote the Tiwa language among the younger generation adding that Tiwa people are rich in their heritage and culture.
“The heroic story of the Tiwa king Jongalbalhu and the remains of the Jongalbalhu fort near Raha still remind us of the glorious days of the Tiwa kings,” he said.
He reiterated that the Central Government and the Government of Assam have been making continuous efforts to preserve the language, arts, culture and religious customs of every ethnic group and that the Governor of Assam has already issued a notification to ensure that Tiwa language can be taught up to class V through the National Education Policy.
“The SCERT has already developed textbooks under the initiative of Tiwa Mathanlai Takhra. The state government will make every effort to promote the Tiwa language and culture. Tiwa dance performed by 1,000 artists today would take place at the Sarosojai Stadium in Guwahati,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Morigaon MLA Ramakant Deuri who paid tribute to the sages who have contributed to the preservation of Tiwa language and literature. He stressed on creating awareness among the younger generation for the preservation of Tiwa language and literature. He said the future generations would not forgive us if we do not make efforts to preserve the Tiwa language and literature now. He highlighted the rich Tiwa language, literature and culture and urged the Tiwa people to continue their efforts to take Tiwa culture to the world. The event was attended by Assam Government Minister for Water Resources, Information and Public Relations, Social Justice and Empowerment Piyush Hazarika, Tiwa Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Jeevan Chandra Konwar, Morigaon District Commissioner Devashish Sharma, Tiwa Sahitya Sabha officials and a large number of people.
