NAGAON, March 11 – Noted journalist and litterateur Prabhash Joshi, while inaugurating the open session of Asam Sahitya Sabha’s special annual conference urged the people of Assam to protect their literature, language and culture, which he termed as priceless. “All of you together with the Asam Sahitya Sabha have to guard your language and literature from the onslaught of globalisation.”

“After all, in the near future only those words and things would survive, that can be sold or bought in a capitalist world,” he said.

Joshi, the founder Editor of Janasatta, addressing a huge gathering stated that the Assam was fortunate as her people celebrate literature and language in a mass movement like the Asam Sahitya Sabha.

Striking a note of regret over reports that regional languages were being threatened in the new global order, the senior writer mentioned the need of more cooperation among languages like Assamese, Bengali, Oriya and others. “Together they would be able to withstand the forces which threatened their existence.”

Joshi appealed to the people of Assam to maintain their abiding love for their literature so that values like love, understanding and trust remained alive.

Citing reports by the UNESCO, Joshi noted that in the next hundred years, more than half of the world’s languages would become extinct. “If that happens in our country we will become infinitely poorer,” he said.

Conspicuous by his absence in today’s meet was the Chief Minister who was scheduled to deliver a lecture. A letter from him sending good wishes to the conference was read out by State Tourism and Forest Minister Rockeybul Hussain.

Hussain as the president of the reception committee of the special annual conference described the event as a matter of pride for the people of Nagaon. His speech mentioned the long association of the region with Assamese art culture and literature. He mentioned a number of seminal figures who made immense contributions to the growth of Assamese cultural and social life, who either had roots in Nagaon or had spent time in the region. He hoped that the worthy people of Nagaon would continue this tradition.

Earlier in the morning, a lively cultural procession was brought out by the conference organizers. Girls in traditional attires led the more than a kilometre long procession that contained representatives from more than a dozen communities of Nagaon and adjoining areas.

Today’s programme attracted the largest number of people to the Sankar-Nanak-Azan Peer Khetra. Both the book exhibition and the open exhibition witnessed large crowds throughout the day.

By The Assam Tribune, 12th Mar".2008