President Ram Nath Kovind on May 4 said that the promotion of local languages is the duty of the society and the government, and that it is also emphasised in the National Education Policy 2020.
Speaking at the 61st annual conference of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha in Tamulpur in Assam, the president said that the sahitya sabha has made a tremendous contribution in developing the Bodo language, literature, and culture over the last 70 years. Kovind noted that out of the 17 writers who have received Sahitya Akademi Awards for their works in the Bodo language so far, 10 have been honoured for poetry, demonstrating the natural propensity for poetry among Bodo writers.
“Many women are composing Bodo literature in a variety of genres. However, just two women have been identified among senior writers who have earned the Sahitya Akademi Award for original work,” the president stated, encouraging the BSS to support female authors.
The engagement of the younger generation, according to the president, is critical in keeping any literature alive and relevant. As a result, the Bodo Sahitya Sabha should provide special support to young writers.
He expressed his satisfaction that works in other languages are being translated into the Bodo language with tremendous enthusiasm, saying that literature and languages brought people together. Kovind expressed hope that such translated literature will allow Bodo language users to get familiar with other Indian languages as well as foreign literature. The president urged the Assam government to work to develop the Bodo language.
Since he was a member of the Rajya Sabha, Kovind has been familiar with the Bodo language, he informed the audience. He said that while Atal Bihari Vajpayee was prime minister, the Bodo language was included in the Constitution’s eighth schedule. The president praised Joy Bhadra Hagzer, the BSS’s founder-president, and Sonaram Thosen, the BSS’s general secretary, for their work in promoting Bodo language recognition.
The three-day Bodo Sahitya Sabha conference began on May 2, with thousands of participants from throughout the country and overseas in attendance.
