GUWAHATI, February 18: The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) is sticking to its gun on the issue of carving out a separate Bodoland state for the Bodos of the state. Even though the additional secretary to the Union ministry of home affairs announced the central governments’ unwillingness to abrogate the Bodo Accord, which provided for the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) on February 11 last in the city, the ABSU, in its 32nd annual conference held at Simen Chapori in Lakhimpur District from February 14 to 16 last, declared its resolve to continue with the movement on the issue of a separate Bodoland state. ABSU president Urkhao Gwra Brahma, while addressing the open session of the conference on February 16, however, made it clear that the attainment of the Bodoland state will help the development of the people, irrespective of caste, creed, religion and ethnic identity, living within its jurisdiction. Hence, a united struggle is a must to attain the Bodoland state, he said, adding, no mutual misgiving should be allowed to crop up among the people living in the area. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; February 19, 2000)

GUWAHATI, February 21: The creation of a separate state of Bodoland is necessary for the development of Bodo language and literature, said the president of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS), Bineswar Brahma. In an interview with The Assam Tribune on the eve of the 39th annual session of the Sabha, which begins at Mainao Nwgwr in Kokrajhar district on February 25, Brahma said that if the separate state of Bodoland is created, the Bodo language and literature would get state patronage, which is necessary for the development of any language. He said that the creation of a separate state would also help in inclusion of Bodo language in the Eighth Schedule of the constitution of India. The Bodo Sahitya Sabha president said that over the years the government of Assam has failed to play the desired role for the development of Bodo language and literature. He pointed out that the Assam government has not provided funds to the BSS for the development of Bodo literature and no step has yet been taken to provincialise the Bodo medium schools. The state government has also failed to take steps for appointment of teachers for Bodo language in the colleges of Assam, he alleged. (R Dutta Choudhury; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; February 22, 2000)

GUWAHATI, February 22: The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU), along with other Bodo political parties and organisations including the Bodo People's Action Committee (BPAC), People's Democratic Front (PDF), All Bodo Employees' Federation and All Bodo Women's Welfare Federation will hold a mass rally at the Judges Field here at 10 am on March 2 demanding the creation of a separate state of Bodoland. The other demands of the Bodo parties and organisations include, creation of an autonomous council for the tribals in the south bank of the river Brahmaputra, inclusion of the Bodo-Kacharis living in Karbi Anglong in the list of Scheduled Tribes (Hills) and inclusion of Bodo language in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; February 23, 2000)

GUWAHATI, February 22: The National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) has opposed the stand taken by the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) to adopt the Devnagiri script for the Bodo language, and urged the students’ body to review its decision. The Bodo rebel group has also urged the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) to take a concrete decision to formally announce the Roman script for the Bodo language in its ensuing session. The BSS president, Bineswar Brahma, however, said the literary body would take a unanimous decision on the issue at the three-day session of the Sabha to be held at Kokrajhar on February 25-27, and would not bow down to diktat of any organisation. In a press statement issued by secretary, information and publicity wing of the NDFB, B Erakdao, the rebel group said that it would follow the opinion of the mass people and therefore would not hesitate to take any course of action of its own to fulfil the cause. The outfit cautioned that if the ABSU and the BSS leaders fail to "honour the hopes and aspirations of the Boro people", another round of intellectual and psychological conflict among the Bodo people would arise soon. Brahma, on the other hand said : "I personally favour continuing the Devnagari script. But a final decision will be taken by the BSS at the Kokrajhar session." The NDFB alleged that the mantra of ‘Hindi, Hindustan, one culture, one religion and one nation’ theory propagated by the Rastriya Swayamsewak Sangha (RSS) and its allied forces including the BJP "seems to be working well in the minds of self-styled Boro intellectuals." Expressing concern over the ABSU's stand, the NDFB statement claimed that introduction of the Roman script was one of the very important demands of the student body until yesterday. The NDFB publicity secretary further alleged that the ABSU leadership failed to keep up to the expectations of the Bodo people, although it could once draw a commendable support as its demands had reflected the hopes and aspirations of the mass people. The ABSU leadership "grossly neglected" the ordinary Bodo people who fought for introduction of the Roman script, he added. (Staff Reporter; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; February 23, 2000)

MAINAO NWGWR (KOKRAJHAR), February 26 — A mini-township has sprung up overnight at Mainao Nwgwr, Simbargaon, in Kokrajhar district, where the three-day 39th annual conference of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha got under way from Friday. Thousands of people from all walks of life, including women and children, have converged on the venue proving, yet again, the importance that the people of the state have traditionally accorded to such literary events. By the look of things it would seem as if all roads in the area, at least for these three days, leads here. The venue itself, is a riot of colour and is awash with decorative lights. Quite appropriately, the venue has been named after Lakhi, the Indian goddess of prosperity. An exhibition-cum-book fair, with particular emphasis on the Bodo people, that has been set up at the conference venue is drawing huge crowds. Today’s programme started off in the early morning with the hoisting of the flag by the president of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha, Bineswar Brahma. It was followed by homage being paid to the Bodo martyrs, the honours being done by former BSS vice-president, Doleswar Boro. A commemorative souvenir was also released on the occasion. (Anujata Talukdar; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; February 27, 2000)

MAINAO NWGWR (Kokrajhar), February 27 — Setting at rest all speculation, the Bodo people have decided to continue with Devanagri as the script for the Bodo language, thwarting attempts from certain quarters to replace it with the Roman script. The decision to this effect was taken by the delegates attending the 39th annual conference of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) which had its three-day session in this tiny hamlet, 14-odd kilometres from Kokrajhar town. The session concluded here this evening. The decision of the delegates was quite bold considering the widespread rumour among the people attending the conference that the banned NDFB was circulating leaflets advocating the Roman script. The delegates had a marathon sitting last night before arriving at the decision. The resolution, passed by them, said that the script issue was thoroughly discussed by the delegates and as the All Bodo Students’ Union had placed their "final and bold" decision for the continuation of Devanagri script foreseeing the "forthcoming merits and demerits" of the Bodo language and as it has been "running" for the last 25 years, it was resolved that Devanagri be accepted and continued as the script. Expressing satisfaction over the result, the BSS president, Bineswar Brahma said that although there was some discussion on adopting the Roman script, there was "no stiff opposition" to the decision to continue with Devanagri "we are all happy," Brahma told The Assam Tribune this morning. He said that the controversy over the issue has been "unanimously resolved" and termed the decision as "final". It will give us the encouragement to develop the Bodo language further," he said. Asked about the reports about the NDFB’s call for the adoption of the Roman script, Brahma dismissed the outfit as "an insurgent group that can’t pressurise us." He hoped that all the proponents of the Roman script will eventually turn around in support of the Sabha’s decision. He also ruled out any retaliatory action by the NDFB saying that they will be "further isolated" if they created problems. Brahma explained that Devanagri is phonetically "more scientific" and therefore it was decided to carry on with it. "After having developed it for 25 years, switching over to another script would have involved several hurdles," he said. He felt that such a decision would have reversed the development of Bodo culture. Brahma said that there will be no future debate on the script issue. Equally pleased was All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) president UG Brahma who expressed satisfaction over the decision. "If the Roman script had been adopted, we would have gone backwards by 30 years and all our past efforts would have gone waste," he said. Brahma said that the Bodo people wanted "stability" on the script issue. He said that opposition to the decision won’t last. On the involvement of militant outfits in the matter, the student leader felt that they should continue to concentrate on their political objectives. "Issues like the Bodo script is the matter of intellectuals and we cannot take into account the views of armed organisations," he said. He further said that there will be "no revival of the issue" nor a review of the decision. (Anujata Talukdar; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; February 28, 2000)