SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR: Of late a sort of misinformation campaign has been in circulation by some vested circles that there is a plan to merge the premier Assamese medium Tarun Ram Phukan High School here with Bengali medium school. This is bound to create misunderstanding between the people of Barak and Brahmaputra valleys as if the conspiracy is being hatched here to put at stake the very existence of Assamese medium school. In all, there are ten such Assamese medium schools in Barak.
In order to have an on the spot study of the present status of Tarun Ram Phukan High School, Pradip Dutta Roy, chief convener of Barak Democratic Front, visited the institute on Monday and interacted with the authority concerned. The school once humming and buzzing with students and teachers in its most eco-friendly location with trees around in its sprawling campus is now just a replica of its not so long ago glory and pride. The school has at present 31 students and 5 teachers.
Why this poor roll strength which continues to decline? The school authorities have no plausible explanation for that. Dutta Roy could understand the parents and guardians. Officers and employees of state and public- establishments, prefer to get them admitted in English medium schools like Don Bosco, Holy Cross, Collegiate School, DPS, Maharshi Vidya Mandir and a lot more. "If our Assamese brothers and sisters can't show respect to their own mother language, then where lies the fault." Pradip Dutta Roy asked.
BDF has respect for all languages and wants their promotion and development. It strongly opposes the merger of Assamese medium schools with Bengali medium schools. The State government has initiated the move to merge Assamese schools with depleting roll strength with Bengali schools in Barak. In the same way, Bengali medium schools with declining students are being merged with Assamese medium schools in Brahmaputra Valley. Whatever might be the move of the State, BDF wants continuation of Assamese medium schools.
Pradip Dutta Roy requested Axom Xahitya Xabha and school authorities not to spread misinformation which has its own ramification to damage the growing understanding between people of both the valleys. After meeting the principal and teachers, he addressed a press-conference to clarify and dispel the confusion that has been generated in public mind.
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