Guwahati: Gauhati University will start a certificate course on Mising and Rabha, the two indigenous tribal languages of Assam, next month.

As part of its various efforts to conserve the languages and other literary assets of the state, the Centre for Language and Cultural Studies of the oldest university of the Northeast, will introduce the six-month course.

A notice, issued by the university, said the admission process will be conducted on February 13, while classes will commence from February end. Candidates, who have completed graduation from any recognised Indian or foreign university, will be eligible to enrol.

"Our aim is to conserve the indigenous tribal languages of Assam and we are very happy that many people have showed interest in the course. The course should have started at Gauhati University much earlier. We are confident that this course will help conserve the two languages," Jyotsna K. Biswal Rout, director of the Centre for Language and Cultural Studies, said.

Rout added that the centre has planned to include another indigenous tribal language, such as Karbi, in the course.

"It's very surprising that many students from the Mising community got themselves enrolled for the course. The course on Rabha is also drawing a lot of attention. These students are very fluent in Assamese but cannot speak fluently in their own tribal languages," she added.

"We have talked to the representatives of the Missing and Rabha Sahitya Sabha to prepare the course module. We will use Assamese scripts for Rabha language and modified Roman script for Mising," she said.