President Kovind says promotion of local languages is government's responsibility

President Ram Nath Kovind said the promotion of local languages is the responsibility of society and the government. He added that the National Education Policy 2020 also emphasise the promotion of regional languages.

He was speaking at the valedictory function of the 61st annual conference of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS), a regional language literary meet, in western Assam's Tamulpur. He added that in the past seven decades, the BSS has contributed greatly to strengthening the Bodo language, literature, and culture.

The President noted that literature and languages unite people and expressed joy in works from other languages being translated to Bodo. "Such translated works will provide Bodo language readers an opportunity to get acquainted with other Indian languages and international literature".

Speaking about the Bodo language and culture, the President noted that 17 Bodo language writers have been awarded Sahitya Akademi Awards and 10 of them were for poetry. He commented on the natural inclination Bodo writers have towards poetry.

Thousands of delegates from India and abroad have arrived for the three-day conference organised by BSS. A large number of people speaking the Bodo language live in Assam, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tripura, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and West Bengal.

He further said many women are writing in different genres of Bodo literature but they need more encouragement as only two of the Sahitya Akademi Award winners are senior women. "The participation of the younger generation is very important to keep any literature alive and relevant".

Ram Nath Kovind is the first President to attend the BSS meet. He has been familiar with the Bodo language since he was a member of Rajya Sabha and recounted that Bodo language was incorporated in the eighth schedule of the Constitution when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister.

The Assam government recognised the Bodo language as an official language of the state in 2020 after signing the Bodo peace accord between the Centre, Assam government, and four Bodo militant outfits. The Bodos were a dominant race in the northeast.

President Kovind commented on the efforts of the founder-president of the BSS, Joy Bhadra Hagzer and General Secretary Sonaram Thosen to bring recognition to the language. The BSS was formed in 1952 to preserve the Bodo language.

Assam Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, and Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang were also in attendance.