People throng a Dergaon road to watch the cultural procession organised by the Asam Sahitya Sabha on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos

Dergaon (Golaghat), Feb. 3: The Asam Sahitya Sabha today rooted for Assamese as the language of development since it is the connecting tongue between various ethnic groups in the state.

Speaking at the open meeting on the third day of the sabha’s 71st biennial session here, sabha president Rong Bong Terang said since he took over as the president at the Dhemaji session in 2009, he has travelled extensively across the state and most of the neighbouring states.

From his experiences he gathered that Assamese is not only a link language but a force that binds all groups.

“What I have come to know from my Sadhbhavna yatra is a reaffirmation of an age-old practice of all groups of the state and the region maintaining cordial ties, which has been possible by the use of Assamese language,” Terang said.

He said Assamese may not be the mother tongue of all ethnic communities but without it there was no other alternative for uniform development of all communities.

Calling for closer ties between all groups of Assamese society, Terang said Assamese has been the medium of exchange of ideas and thoughts among different indigenous groups.

Besides, the language, too, has been enriched by incorporations from various mother tongues.

At the same time, the sabha president, who belongs to Karbi tribe, said the literary organisation would never try to impose Assamese language on other communities.

He also spoke about the dissatisfaction among several communities because of issues relating to survival of mother tongues and that has resulted in divisive tendencies.

While inaugurating the open session, internationally acclaimed Hindi writer Rattan Singh urged writers to concentrate on subjects which benefit the society.

“Good literature is something that highlights the problems of the human society and helps improve the quality of life,” Singh said.

He also called for more translations of Assamese literature.

Bengali poet Aloke Ranjan Dasgupta, who is an expert in German, Marathi poet Satish Kaleshkar and Malayalam short-story writer Paul Jakaria addressed the meeting as special guests.

Earlier in the day, people of various ethnic groups took part in a cultural procession at Dergaon.

A special vehicle designed as a swan led the procession, followed by Terang on another vehicle designed as a japi (traditional Assamese hat).