Bodo language teaching-learning programme to start in North Bengal University

Local NEWS : A month-long workshop-cum-Bodo (Mech) language teaching-learning training programme is scheduled to be held from May 1 to 29 for the 12+ or above students at North Bengal University, Siliguri in West Bengal.

In a press meet held at Kokrajhar Press Club the Coordinator of the programme Rajen Basumatary said the programme would be organized by the department of Bengali, North Bengal University in association with Bodo Writers’ Academy and assisted by the Department of Education, BTC to make students capable in writing and speaking in Bodo (Mech) language.

He said the inaugural function would be started from 10 am on May 1 at the University where Dr Dipak Kr Roy has been chosen as the chief coordinator.

He also said the Deputy Chief of BTC Kampa Borgoyary who is also the in-charge of Education Department, BTC will attend the inaugural function. Basumatary said as many as 95 students have enrolled their names for the Bodo language teaching and learning course. He said the Bodo language has already been included in 32 nos of LP schools of North Bengal as language subject since 2015. He also said the Bodo medium is likely to be introduced in school curriculum in West Bengal where the Bodos have sizeable numbers as the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) has moved for it and approached the West Bengal government. He further said a new award titled “Asha Mashahary Memorial Literary Award” would be given for the first time from 2017 for the best creative writers.

This would be the first award from the Bodo Writers’ Academy; he said adding that the husband of Asha-Sarada Prasad Mashahary who is also a noted writer has given Rs. 2 lakhs to the Bodo Writers’ Academy for presenting the award annually. Donor Sarada Prasad Mashahary said his wife Asha Mashahary belonged to Bengali community but despite this fact she always maintained best social integrity and was associated with the society together.

Asha (Chakravarty) Mashahary who was born on March 29, 1954 got married to Sarada in 1967. She retired on March 31, 2014 from the school and expired on 22 September, 2014 after prolonged illness. (ST)