FASS ORGANISED DISCOURSE ON SCRIPTS AT JORHAT
Rajen Barua
Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS) International, an international ‘think-tank’ NGO organized a discourse on the topic , ‘The Uniqueness of the Assamese Scripts – its Historical Background’, at the Chandrakanta Handique Bhavan, Jorhat on Dec 21st, 2011.The main theme of the discourse was presented by two appointed speakers: Sri Rajen Barua from USA and Sri Azizul Haque from Guwahati. The discourse was well attended with participation from representatives also from the Tejpur University besides the local office bearers of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, Jorhat branch. The discourse was conducted by Dr. Basanta Goswami, ex General Secretary of Asam Sahitya Sabha. Many members of Oxom Jatyio Obhidhan also were present.
Sri Rajen Barua who is an engineer from USA and who has in the mean time published several well researched articles on the Assamese language and scripts, gave a lucid analysis of the historical background of the Assamese and the Bengali scripts. During the time of the 'Charyapadas' (7th to 12th century AD) and after, the languages as well as the scripts of Assamese, Bengali, Orissa and Maithili were the same. It is from this common root that later these languages have separated and developed their own separate scripts. So far as the Assamese and Bengali scripts are concerned, with the advent of the modern printing press in the nineteenth century, both the languages are using exactly the same script except for the three identifying letters of Ro, Wab-Bo and Khyo. However, this common script is being called the 'Bengali' script in the National and international level. R.D Banerjee's book written in 1919 ‘Origin of the Bengali Script' is a case in point which stated that Assamese does not have its own separate scripts. Indian national scholars also adopted this line thinking as reflected in the book by Dr. A. H Dani (published in 1961) which also stated that Assamese are using the Bengali scripts. Sadly enough, although Assamese are having various discussion within themselves about unique development of the Assamese scripts, there has not been proper response to the above challenges. As such so far as the uniqueness of the Assamese script is concerned, we are still on a feeble ground not because we don't have a unique and separate script but because there has been dearth of serious and in-depth study and discourses about the evolution and development of the Assamese scripts, especially in relation with the Bengali scripts. This has resulted in great doubts and confusion even among the Indian scholars. Of late, it has also created a problem in Unicode which has smply named simply named the common Assamese Bengali scripts as 'Bengali' scripts. Barua also read out the comments of Dr. D. N. Bezbaruah in the regard.
Thus we have two problems to solve. (a) Firstly to prove on the National level that Assamese has an independant and separate scripts which evolved in parallel with Bengali, Maitheili, Orissa etc. (b) Secondly to come up with some common agreements among the Assamese as to what may be termed as proper acceptable Assamese response to the Unicode.
In his speech, Barua suggested solution for both the above issues.
Sri Azizul Haque explained in detail the problems created by the Unicode in calling the common Assamese Bengali script the 'Bengali' script. He explained that although the scripts of the two languages are the same, there are many differences in phonetics, spelling and alphabets which affect the Assamese adversely in the Unicode. As such he supports having a separate table for the Assamese in the Unicode. He explained that many have written to the Unicode either to rename the scripts to Kamrupi or Assamese-Bengali or to establish a separate table for the Assamese script. He however explained that all the technical issues should be analysed before establishing a separate table.
A lively discussion followed with questions and answers for several participants. The participants for Tezpur University included Dr Arup Nath and Srajana Barua. The local Asam Sahitya Sabha office bearers included Dr Kutubuddin Ahmed, Dr. Jyotirekha Hazarika, Rajasri Hazarika, and others. Participants from Dibrugarh University could not attend due to unavoidable circumstances at the last moment. However, Rajen Barua had similar discussion with the Assamese Deapartment of the University which was attended by Dr Karabi Deka Hazarika, Dr Bhimkanta Barua and Dr Negen Saikia, and they had similar views. IIT Guwahati also expressed their views through email.
In conclusion, the discourse adopted the following resolution unanimously:
a) The root Assamese-Bengali-Oriya-Maitheli sripts should not be called ‘Bengali’ script but should be called ‘Kamrupi’ script based on historical ground. This script should not be called ‘Purbi’ or ‘Pub-Nagari’ script as proposed by some quarters as these have no basis.
b) The name of the present Assamese script should be retained as ‘Assamese’ and in no case should it be renamed with any other names.
c) Unicode should establish a separate table for the Assamese scripts since there are too many dissimilarities between Assamese and Bengali in phonetics, spellings, alphabets, transliteration and others even though both the languages are using the same script.
d) In case Unicode fails to do so, the name of the ‘Bengali’ scripts in the Unicode should be changed to ‘Kamrupi’ and all the problems of transliteration etc should be resolved. Also it should establish the ‘Khyo’ as a basic letter as contained in the 'Kamrupi' Alaphabet.
Rajen Barua
FASS International
Station Jorhat,
Ph 9577532571
Arman Hazorika
It is indeed heartening to see someone taking such pain to clarify to the world what has been 'historical unjust & fabricated status' lent to Assamese as a language by so called linguists of the past due to lack of wholehearted research. Assamese is a much mature language compared to many modern Indian languages and it has unique power of linguistic expression. Also we had learnt during our school days that maturity of any language is judged on the basis of its ability to create prose and not poetry. Assamese (pls correct me if I am wrong) has the distinction of creating the "first prose" among all Indian languages --- which is translation of "Ramayana" by Sri Ananta Kandali.
Your effort is really laudable!
With all good wishes & regards
Arman Hazorika
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