GCDP to start stir for language on 20 Nov

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 13: Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) is preparing for launching an intensive stir demanding Kamtapuri language as the medium of study in educational institutions. Since the majority of people in the proposed Greater Cooch Behar state speak in Kamtapuri it should be used as the language of study medium in the schools, GCDP leaders argue. The decision for commencement of the proposed movement was adopted in an executive meeting of the GCDP a few days ago.

 

GCDP president and the secretary of Greater Kamta United Forum (GKUF) Mr Ashutosh Barma told The Statesman that the executive meeting of GCDP was held on Sunday. In that meeting the leaders decided to start the movement on 20 November. On that day they will submit a memorandum to the state school education minister through the district magistrate of Cooch Behar. In that memorandum they will urge the minister to make arrangement to introduce Kamtapuri language as the medium of study in the proposed Greater Cooch Behar state territory. They will also urge for inclusion of life sketches of renowned personalities of this region in the school curriculum.

 

Mr Barma said the students of this generation should learn about the life and teachings of social reformers like Roysaheb Thakur Panchanan Barma and also the heroic lives of the Maharajas of Cooch Behar State who were very popular among their subjects. The government should include the biographies of Thakur Panchanan Barma and popular Maharajas in the school syllabus, he opined.

 

After submission of the memorandum on 20 November the GCDP will organise demonstrations and rallies in different areas of Cooch Behar to press their demands. They have a plan to spread out the agitation in other districts of north Bengal and lower Assam too.

 

The GCDP president alleged that they are termed as secessionists since they are fighting for recognition of their mother tongue. GCDP activists have to suffer behind the bars for their demands. "But, we will carry on our movement to get recognition of our mother tongue", he vowed. At the first phase they will submit memorandums and organise rallies in Cooch Behar. Later they will spread the agitation in other areas, Mr Barma said. []