Mon stylo

Х Jan. 31, 2006 - 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 letтАЩs sell it in Assamese. But, for godтАЩs sake letтАЩs 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 LachitтАЩs heroics a la Mangal Pandey.

By the way, how many bloggers here can read and write in Assamese?

:: Send to a Friend!

Х Feb. 1, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

I read similar concern/discussion at AsamNet: http://assamnet.org/pipermail/assam_assamnet.org/2006-January/003926.html

Permanent Link

Х Feb. 1, 2006 - Good to see you back...

Posted by Anonymous

Hey Arhan,

I was kinda missing you, buddy. It's good to see you back.

By the way, I have been educated in one of the best convents, but I still read, write and speak fluent Assamese!

It is because, long long ago when I was a kid, my parents instilled on me the need to identify myself as an Assamese first, and an Indian later. Though I hated doing it, I was asked to pore over a "kuhipat" at a very tender age. When I was away from home, my parents responded to my letters only when I wrote in Assamese, though they were fluent in English themselves.

I remember my mother referring to my Texan drawl as "dhong" (in khati Oxomiya). My father would say,"Jotey nujuwa kiyo, tumi jodi tumar nijokey oxomiya buli sinaki dibo nuwara, tumak kuneywo xonman nokorey. Every individual has to belong somewhere, and you better be proud of where you belong to"

So, Arhan more than TV and the media, it is the Assamese parents who have to ensure that their wards respect the Assamese language and culture. As they say, education should start from home...

Hope you agree with me

Permanent Link

Х Feb. 1, 2006 - Exactly

Posted by Anonymous

Dear anonymous,

Agreed friend. I salute your parents, but not all are like them. I have come across many parents taking pride of the fact that their kinds cannot read and write in Assamese. So, what do we do about them?

Media can make Assamese look hot and happening, full on rocking....Just borrowed phrases from Neal n Nikki.

Arhan

Permanent Link

Х Feb. 1, 2006 - I agree with anonymous...

Posted by swapnalee

It's the duty of all assamese parents to raise awareness among their kids about their motherland and mother-tongue. Many parents teach their kids english before teching them their own language. Media can definitely raise some awareness. But as they say, education starts from home.

Permanent Link

Х Feb. 1, 2006 - That's OK

Posted by arhan78

Agreed to what Swapnalee has to say. But we know our parents did not teach us about Bryan Adams or Sonu Nigam. We know them because of Media (TV, music, movies included). What about a remix of Deepali Borthakur?

Permanent Link

Х Feb. 3, 2006 - Remixes...

Posted by Anonymous

Coming up with a catchy remix takes a lot of talent, creativity, not to mention money. And then, we have to depend upon someone else to do it, as it in not possible for all of us to get involved in creating remixes, soaps, and so on. Moreover, for this to happen the Assamese artist community must drive the effort...

What we can do, at a grassroot level, is to educate our kids about the need to identify ourselves as Assamese. We need to tell them confidently that "It is cool to be Assamese" and that people of other communities/countries will respect us for our individuality and for our heritage only if we show a fierce pride on it ourselves.

Permanent Link