Long live Axomiya
Today I was reading about an article by one of my favourite Assamese writers and was really sad to understand his apprehensions about the future of Assamese and Assamese language.
Most of the talented Assamese youngsters who have come out of Assam have lost touch with their mothertounge. Even I have not read a single Assamese novel in last three years. Those who are still shaping their future in Assam, hardly care about reading anything Assamese. Forget those convent kids, even those who study in Assamese medium schools are not very keen about Assamese literature.
10 years later many of us will become parents. Will we be able to teach our kids anything Assamese? Will they be interested?
However, one Assamese thing still sells like anything in Assam- Assamese newspapers.
The way Hindi newspapers sell in Delhi, though I hardly seen anyone reading Hindi novels. And people watch Hindi movies and Hindi channels. In fact, non-Hindi speaking people like us have learnt Hindi from TV and movies only.
Can we repeat it Assam? Imagine if someone launches quality Assamese private channels showcasing Assam in a better way. Let them show saas bahu serials if that sells, but let’s sell it in Assamese. But, for god’s sake let’s not make documentary a la Doordarshan Kendra, Guwahati. People still read Assamese newspapers and they will watch Assamese channels and movies, one can offer quality product.
If Hindi can still be the medium of entertainment in India, Assamese can do the same in Assam. And soon convent kids will also talk about Lachit’s heroics a la Mangal Pandey.
Most of the talented Assamese youngsters who have come out of Assam have lost touch with their mothertounge. Even I have not read a single Assamese novel in last three years. Those who are still shaping their future in Assam, hardly care about reading anything Assamese. Forget those convent kids, even those who study in Assamese medium schools are not very keen about Assamese literature.
10 years later many of us will become parents. Will we be able to teach our kids anything Assamese? Will they be interested?
However, one Assamese thing still sells like anything in Assam- Assamese newspapers.
The way Hindi newspapers sell in Delhi, though I hardly seen anyone reading Hindi novels. And people watch Hindi movies and Hindi channels. In fact, non-Hindi speaking people like us have learnt Hindi from TV and movies only.
Can we repeat it Assam? Imagine if someone launches quality Assamese private channels showcasing Assam in a better way. Let them show saas bahu serials if that sells, but let’s sell it in Assamese. But, for god’s sake let’s not make documentary a la Doordarshan Kendra, Guwahati. People still read Assamese newspapers and they will watch Assamese channels and movies, one can offer quality product.
If Hindi can still be the medium of entertainment in India, Assamese can do the same in Assam. And soon convent kids will also talk about Lachit’s heroics a la Mangal Pandey.
posted by Writwik | 7:19 pm
1 Comments:
What paralyses Assamese language is the uneven school system of Assam.Its almost an issue of fashion nowadys to educate their children in posh publich schools.I don't have problem with that,if that can provide quality education,so be it;but why the hell the people don't relise that these schools don't even have Assamese as an option in the board level,if not as a compulsory subject.
To top it all,Assamese as a subject is not even available in the Class XII level of the humanities stream in all the CBSE schools in Guwahati.Lets not go far,nearby West Bengal has Bangla as a subject and that to a popular one in schools.Even though the students can't actually talk about the feminisation of history in Jibanananda or the representation of subalterns in M.Devi's novels,they at least know about their existence as well significance.And off course,its always not necessary to have a literray knowledge.What is important is the association with your own culture.
When they(the new generation Assamese) don't even know about the language and culture of their own state which can be learnt only through learning Assamese as a subject,how can then we expect them to be the vangaurd in resolving matters of Assamese interest in near future?
SAD....
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