'Axam Xahitya Xabha must go ahead coping with time and driving the new generation'

 Dr Suryakanta Hazarika takes charge as AXX president of upcoming session

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: "The languages spoken by less people become extinct from the world gradually. This phenomenon is called linguicide. In the past, we had several milestones of endeavours, set up by the pioneer literary personalities of the State in the development of the Assamese language saving it from extinction. Now the environment, conditions have changed, but the multi-coloured conspiracies against the Assamese language did not cease," said Kuladhar Saikia, the outgoing president of Axam Xahitya Xabha (AXX) on Friday. Saikia said this while delivering his last lecture as the president of the AXX in the first open meeting of the 76th Narayanpur Session of the pioneer literary body organized in the Monikanchan Kshetra.

In this connection, referring to the withdrawal of the mandatory Assamese language paper from APSC, Saikia said, "A language can stay alive if the language is given the dignity as medium in attaining job or livelihood. No official language can be secured if it is not placed as a subject for the employment of the aspirants. Slow death syndrome will affect such language."

In his lecture, Kuladhar Saikia further said, "Axam Xahitya Xabha believes it firmly that job aspirants must have minimum knowledge of the official language of the State. Assamese is the mother language of the majority people of Assam and the connecting language of the Northeast Region. We believe that the government cannot be successful by ignoring such a language. The Government of Assam should apply the Assamese language in the official works as per recommendation of the Assam Official Language Act, 1960 and should appoint those who know Assamese in government jobs for the sake of implementing the said Act."

The first open session was held under the management of AXX secretary Jadav Sarmah. In his lecture, Kuladhar Saikia further highlighted the achievements and works of the AXX done in the past three years' session led by him. He also said that the literary body had been working hard to get the Assamese language tagged as classical language in addition to working hard to establish the Assamese script in Unicode. He said that the AXX must go ahead coping with time and driving the new generation. "Everyone must honour the democratic principles of the literary body," he said.

In the event reception committee president Dr. Amiya Kumar Bhuyan delivered the welcome address. In the written lecture, Bhuyan presented an account on geography, demography, cultural, literary heritage and history of Lakhimpur as well as Narayanpur. He also highlighted the tremendous contributions of a number of noted personalities of Lakhimpur, from spiritual icon Mahapurush Sri Sri Madhavdev, Aniruddhadev to first president of AXX Padmanath Gohain Baruah, including Panidra Gogoi, who were born in the district and heralded a new era in their field of work. Then one minute silence was observed to pray for the departed souls of the AXX presidents, vice-presidents, executive members, literary figures-intellectuals of the State.

In the same event, Kuladhar Saikia ceremonially handed over the charge of the AXX to newly-elected president Padma Shri Dr Surjyakanta Hazarika as per constitution of the literary body. Speaking on the occasion, the newly-elected president appealed to the people of the State to extend their cooperation to turn the literary body more dynamic in the upcoming session. While highlighting his agenda as the newly-elected president of the upcoming session, Hazarika said that he would leave no stone unturned in order to give a neo-status, shape to the literary body.

On the other hand, newly-elected vice-president Girish Hundique said that the AXX would be strengthen from the grassroots level, economic transparency in it would be ensured in every reason and no other personalities, except literary figures, would be invited to its events in the upcoming session. Attending the event as guests of honour, AJYCP president Polash Changmai, former AXX president in charge Biswa Baruah, former vice-president Dr Hemanta Kumar Baruah, presidents of Karbi, Mising Xahitya Xabhas and other indigenous communities of the State, former AXX vice-president Mrinalini Devi delivered lecture in the event.

Also Read:   Axam Xahitya Xabha is the entity, identity of the State: Kuladhar Saikia

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