Boros' forgotten History of language struggle and it's rise and fall

History: Bodo language was first put to writing through Roman Script in the year,1884 by Rev.S.Endle, it is known fact to all in the modern era. This Script was introduced first for teaching of Bodo children in the year, 1904 (Cacari Reader,1904 - published by Govt. of Assam).It was used first teaching Bodo in Goalpara District in 1931.Till 1663 about 40 L.P. Schools used Roman Script.The teaching of Bodo in mixed Assamese-Bengali Script started functioning only from 1963.

Bodo writing in pure Bengali Script in about 1928 (Sibsa ar Aroj' by Modaram Brahma) was also found.

Bodo Sahitya Sobha got its birth on 16th November,1952 at Basugaon in the District of erstwhile Goalpara.Since then, the Script question arose- (a) Roman thought and (b) Assames-Bengali Script thought and via media decision was taken only to develop the language through writing and creating Bodo literature in those Scripts.

Formal introduction of Bodo medium in the L.P schools was started on experimental basis in the Kokrajhar sub-division by holding an inauguration function on 18th January,1963 at Kokrajhar Higher Secondary & Multipurpose School with the guests of honour- Debakanta Baruah Education Minister and Rup Nath Brahma Forest Minister,Assam subsiding the previous Assam Govts' approved 'Cacari Reader, 1904'written in Roman Script replacing it by 'Mokhojennai' a Bodo Primer written in Assamese Bengali Script by Rajeendra Lal Narzary of Shillong.

At first, in 1965 while holding the 7th Annual Session of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha the Script issue reached at the zenith of debate and the resolution No.1 was passed for adoption of a suitable Script for Bodo Language.

[ Note: This article or a note was extracted from book called Roman (English) Script and Bodo Sahitya Sabha published in December 1993 ]