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the borók
this issue of 'the borók' is dedicated to the ever green memory
of
His Highness Maharaja BirBikram Manikya Bahadur (1908-1947)
on the occasion of his great birth centinary.
the monthly mouth
organ borok kokrwbai bosong (formerly KBSS),
2nd issue, august
2008
log
on our website: www.borokpeople.com phone no.-
0381-2327458
Call of the Indigenous day.
Editorial
the
indigenous peope of Tripura and else where are
suffering from various obligation. till in India
we are not yet recognised as indigenous rather,
we are identified sometimes as tribal and
sometimes as ‘UPAJATI’ (sub-nation),
Banabashi(forest dweller)etc. here i would like
to say these very term Upajati and Banashi are
strictly objactionable and i say
it is a kind of
insult to the indigenous hood.are we subnation(s)
within the Indian fedarel system?are we simply
forest dwellers and head hunters?are we passing
our days without any tradition for thousands of
years? in answer of such questions we must have
to reply a big ‘no’. yes we the indigenous
people, have a cultural hertiage of more than
six thousand
years in this Indian
sub-continant and it is already proved through
the analysis of different anthropoligical and
histrocial works. the Indian authority is aware
of the truth but somehow due to some cunning
polity the union governement (along with its
states governments) we are not recognised as
indigenous. i think with such cunning polity the
Indian authority is violiting our right and at
the same time it a violation of the dicission by
the United Nations. we have to raise the voice
against such polity, because the Indigenous
Forum of United Nations has decleard that all
the nations of the world must recognise their
respective early people(the people who are
residing in a particular land for thousands of
years with a definite culture, ethinic and
linguistic identity) as indigenous people. we
should raise our voice for our right. it is the
call of ‘the borok’ of 9th August,
the ‘International Indigenous day’.
Our reverence to
Maharaja Birbikram
desk the borok
 The
year of 2008 is highly special on the course of
the history of Tripura. 2008 is the birth
centurayof his highness Maharaja BirBikram
Manikya Bahadur Debbarma. On the 19th August of
1908 BirBikram was born, while the world was
repidly changing towards industrial revolution.
Naturally, the influence of industrial
revolution and modern outlook from Europe
changed social and economical pattern of the
Indian sub-continent a lot. This kind of
influence touched the Tripura to
some extant. Maharaja Radhakishore Manikya
Bahadur, the grand father of BirBikram, realised
the changing mood of then world socio-economy,
so he took the primary initiative to mordanise
Tripura both intellectually and
socioeconomically. Maharaja Birendra Kishore
Manikya Bahadur, the father of BirBikram
carried on the mission of Radha Kishore. But
when BirBikram was coronated to the throne of
Tripura the land was moved rapidly towards
mordainity. BirBikram himself was a man of high
intelligentia, an artist, an author, a poet, a
singer and instrmentalist and what not! After
visiting Europe BirBikram planned to mordanised
the capital city Agartala. He had a dream to
design the city like parish and accordingly he
planned to create strait ways with lanes and
by-lanes by himself. The present Agartala is the
reasult of Maharaja’s imagination and dream. But
some how his dream has not yet been realised,
rather there is a kind of divertion from the
earlier orginal plan of this city. However,
BirBikram planned to uplift his own nation
through education and culture. So, he appointed
Mr. Brown, an Europian scholar, as the head in
the ministry of education in his kingdom. He was
eagered to uplift our mother tongue kokborok
also. Once Maharaja ordered for a kokborok
dictinary, but due to his earlier death it was
not realised at that time. Raja desired to open
a university, so to create the infrasture of a
versity he planned for ‘vidyapattan’ by himself.
BirBikram himself designed architectural drawing
for vidyapattan. This vidyapattan is presently
called after his name as Maharaja BirBikram
college. King BirBikram’s works are so versatile
and multipurpose that it could not be discuss in
a simple paragraph or in an essay. In his birth
centuray we need volumes of Books to fold up
Maharja’s life and works as the treature of a
golden age. We need it, because our Raja had
opened the way for our Borok community to
represent us in international level as a nation.
Now a days the Borok is regareded as an
indigenous nation by the United Nation’s
permanent forum. We are proud of our national
heritage and national identity and recognition.
Thus Maharaja saved our nation for ever. This
very very small essay is a tinny flower from the
forest as the token of honour on the eve of the
birth centurary festival of our great Maharaja
BirBikram Manikya Bahadur.
History repeated in Bodo - Borok Authors Meet at
Chengkharu kami of khumulwng
 history
repeats by its own course----- it is not merely
a proverb, but a natural phenomenon, an
universal truth of the human civilization; and
this a very unavoidable phrase has been
reflected in the recently held Bodo/ Borok
writers meet at Chengkharu Kami of Khumulwng
from 28th to 30th June. Actually this writers
meet was a three day ‘seminar
on Bodo/Borok
people’, jointly organised by ‘Bodo writers
Academy’ and ‘borok kokrwbai bosong’(formerly
kokborok sahitya sabha) but finally this seminar
transformed into the emotional exchange of heart
to heart of Bodo and Borok people, not only the
writers and artist, but the common people of all
levels joined in this spontenious relation
making conference which was encouraged by the
inagurator of the seminar Mr. Biswajit Daimary
M.P. of Rajyasaba from Assam. on the conclusive
day of the seminar, Mr. Daimary gave deep
importance on the relation making event in his
speech in session. so, next day, i.e. in the
morning of the 1st July, thousands of people
Bodo and Borok community tied themselves in the
bond of relation. interestingly Mr. Daimary
decleard in his speech if there would be any
marital conversation between a girl and a boy
from both of the communities in the relation
making event the pair would be gifted with Rs. 1
Lakh. however, so, many people from both of the
communities made relation, some body made
friendships, some others tied brotherhood or
sisterhood, many others made different typs of
relationships. Besides the relation making event
Mr. Daimary gave importance on the overall
development of the indigenous people of
North-East India. he said, without proper
education no community or nation would be able
to achieve and receive the pattern of standered
life style, so basic development is depended on
education, healthcare, art of house keeping
etc.etc. as the chairperson of the open session
the persident of the Bodo Writers Academy Mr.
Dinanath Basumatary discussed about the
prosperous future and different aspects of Bodo
and Borok language and literature with distinct
examples.
the persident of the
Reception committee of this conference Mr. Sunil
Debbarma described about the limitation to serve
perfect reception to the guest representative
who came from
Bodoland and other
places outside of the state. Mr. Sunil said the
seminar was organised within a short period, so
there might be some disorders in reception work,
moreover
due to the heavy
shower of July the environment was not in favour
of perfect service. however , Mr. Sunil asked
for forgiveness to the hall and at the same time
he thanked to all
the representatives
in his welcome address. in the open session the
president of ‘borok kokrwbai bosong’(formerly
kokborok sahitya sabha) poet Nanda Kumar
Debbarma said, all the indigenous ethnic groups
of Tibeto-Burman linguistic family should come
together into a common nomanclature and the
people of greater Bodo nation should be
identified by a common identity , and so the
spontenious and regular exchange of culture,
language and
literature among
these groups are very much important. In his
fire band speech Mr. Nanda kumar said, we the
indigenous people should write our own history
by ourselves, now no
other people would
be allowed to corrupt our history and tradition
in the name of fake research work . as the
special guest of the open session the poet said
, now we are enough
conversant and
dignified to deal with the subjects like
history, anthropology, language and whatever
else, so we need no other man from outside to
derail our course of past and future.
the second part of
the open session was exclusively for musical
soiree. in fact , each of the evening of the
three day saminar were reserved for dance,
songs, instrumental music
etc. etc. artists
from both of the communities performed their
exclusive and popular cerations with super
perfection. On the thired day after speeches
from different personalities it was a night long
musical presentation . a drama group from
‘Bodoland’ performed a ‘Jatra’ (traditional
theatre) in Bodolanguage. artists like chakradar
Narjary, Bina Brahma,Gonai Narjary and others
presented Bodo songs. on the otherhand
Surabhi Debbarma,
Rabin Jamatia from Tripura side presented songs
in kokborok. some of artists of Bodoland groups
gifted songs in kokborok and Bangla. above all
the famous lyricist and musician Nandakumar
Debbarma presented a good number of songs from
time to time on all three evenings of the
seminar . even, M.P. Biswajit Daimary also
gifted Bodo song to encourage the audience.
Excepting musical representation dance troups of
different indigenous groups represented their
own art of dance form. the groups presented
Mamita, (Borok), Garia(Borok), Bagrumba(Bodo),
Hojagiri(Borok/Bru), Wangla(Garo), Biju(Chakma).
dance(s) and a santal group also presented songs
and dance on the 3rd evening.
Readers Coloumn
Letter to the Editorial Desk
A
courageous venture with mistakes
First of all I
convey my congratulation and thanks to you for
your courageous venture of ‘the borok’ news
bulletin (1st issue, June 2008). It is as found
that there is no real mouth-piece for one-third
population of the state who are called
indigenous. Once upon a time this people had
rich culture and enjoyed properous life. They
had a land, a map, an emblem and
national flag and
above all they were enjoying soveringnity. But
in course of time they lost their all. Now they
have nothing else. Poverty, deprivation,
exploitation are going on both socio-economic
and cultural spheare. These pathatic happings
are their daily company. Various constraints
created by some vested persons has been placed
in front of their way of
life. If barricaes
prevent them from all sorts of development, than
without the removal of
such blockae the
overall development can not be happened. But
knowing about all these things the Govt. focuses
its developmental propaganda only. This looks
like watring on the plant by cutting its root.
On the other hand no media comes forward or it
can not reach out properly. It is a fact, in
past a few newspapers were brought out, but
could not survive which is truly stated in your
Editorial. You know the weakness of the past and
this will be beaconed for your go-forward tasks.
Because we know ‘failure is the key to success’.
Failure in past will show you the light to go
forward in future. To keep alive ‘the borok’ for
the sake of the existance of Indigenous people
is the demand of time to recollect the task, the
duty and responsibility for ourselves. In view
of that I just share my reflection as follows:
1.The articles of the fast issue are excellent
and thought provoking. But some weakness
specially in proofreading is visual. Hence
spelling mistakes are found and it creats
problem from taking the tastes of those
articles/topics. If possible be careful of it.
2.Formation of Readers group / forum etc. can be
organised. 3.To make understand and aware to the
so called intelligentia / educated persons /
students belonging to the Borok race about the
publication of ‘the borok’ and advertisment in
different media can be given.
4.Some literary
works of Borok/Bodo language can be intruduced.
In that sense the midium of ‘the borok’ will be
multi lingual (English- Kokborok-Bodo and so
on).
5.News of rural
areas of this state and of the Bodoland should
be given first preference in ‘the borok’. At
last I think to do this do’s and don’ts strong
and dedicated person are required. But in this
era of consumarism the number that kind of
persons or people is very rare among us. If my
helping hand have the chance to be acted as
ant’s working (as it was happened during the
time of constrtuction of Setu Samudram in
Ramayana) then I shall be satisfied and I am
ready to do that according to my capablity.
Again I thank by my heart for
your earnestly and
sincerely effort to bring out the nice but
indispensable of ‘the borok.’
Beacuse it says in
our proverb, ‘to begun is a half done’.
Subal Chandra
Debbarma
Chengkharu kami,
Champaknagar
,West
Tripura.
Smuggling of soil of Borok Villages in Brick
form
recently i’ve a
visit for the village under ‘Tripura Tribal Area
Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) named as
Tholibari of Sonamora sub-division. it is a
village of Sonamora here most of the dwellers
are Borok(s) and it’s scinic is very beautiful
with hills and dence greenary. while i was going
towards the village i saw number of brick fields
beside the way. having seen these brick fields i
would tell about it later, however, the main
question is that millions of bricks are being
made with the soil of this borok inhabitant
village, but these are not used in this locality
at all. the population of this area could not
able to use these bricks as because they are
very poor. a brick made house is just a matter
of dream to them. so, naturally these bricks
which are being made with the soil of a Borok
inhabitant village, are shifted to some other
places where monyed men are dwelling.
interestingly most of the monyed men of Tripura
are belonged to the Wanjui society (i.e. the
Bengali
immigrants). in
fact, the Wanjui(s) make the money by cheating
and opressing the Borok(s), and till such
inhumane act is going on against the Indigenous
people. so, thus the soil of the ‘TTAADC’
locality is being shifted to such localities
where the infiltrators are dwelling with force
and cunningness. It is just a very dangerous act
which goes against the borok community. in
reality the soil of the Borok inhabitant
localities is being transported (or in true word
smuggled) to forigen imigrants places through
the brick form. then another question has been
arosed in my mind --- how these bricks fields in
the locality of TTAADC are being created ? who
gives the permission? who allows the brick
traders to make bricks by cutting the hill
slopes, by digging the paddy fields and with the
damaging the greenary of the Borok locality ? i
hope the relevent authority should take strong
measure against the odd brick making traders. it
is an urgent task to save the natural beauty of
our motherland.
Kosom Holong
Hanisa
Kuailwng, Aguli,
Twipura(west).
CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF INDIAN LANGUAGES
Central Institute of
Indian Languages is situated at Mysore. It was
established on 17 july 1969. Until then,it is
working for the improvement and coordination of
Indian languages. It’s main objective is to
develop Indian Languages, to bring about the
essential unity of Indian languages through
scientific studies, promote inter-disciplinary
research, contribute to mutual environment of
languages, and thus contribute towards emotional
integration of people of India co-ordinate
Indian languages. Though there are many
institutes and Universities all over India with
plenty of education options, there is no such
University targeted towards co-ordinating all
the Indian languages. So there is a big need for
an organisation like CIIL. There are multiple
task carried out on Indian languages in CIIL.
Fifteen Indian languages are being taught in
CIIL. About 500 books are being published from
the CIIL. Audio, video cassettes, and CDs are
also published on regional language(s) learing
perspective. Many books targeted towards
teaching one Indian language via another. So,
it’s automatically paves way towards language
integration. In addition, people who are not
native speakers of a particular language can
easily learn their desired language.
CIIL also runs seven
Regional Centers in the various linguistic of
the country to help and meet the demand for
trained teachers to implement the three language
formula and thereby provides assurance to
linguistic minorities. Efforts are taken towards
securing tribal languages by CIIL. Special
drives will be undertaken to promote literary
and other creative
activities in
minority languages of India. The traditional
knowledge bases and learning systems available
in Sanskrit and Perso-Arabic tradition will be
researched into and promoted to make them useful
for application in modern day society by CIIL.
Studies on Indian languages are being done and
documented. A documentation of 118 Indian
languages (including 80 tribal languages) is
available. Various research centers, service
groups are available to feed the l a n g u a g e
- o r i e n t e d requirements. Online teaching
is also provided for Indian languages as
Tamil,Telgu,Bangla and Kannada. It is planning
to
digitalize a number
of publications and produce ebooks for worldwide
distribution. Many centers are established on
important language based fields. Centre for
Tribal & Endangered Languages is one such centre
that completely concentrates on minority and
tribal languages. Various courses are offered
for languages learning and development. Many
workshops and seminars are conducted through the
year on improving various aspects of languages.
There is also, several surveys are being
conducted. Projects like CIIL - KHS Hindi
Corpora project, Validation project and Lexical
Build project are on the process in CIIL. All
these will add many values and power to the
Indian languages. Especially concentration given
on minority and tribal langu ages will preserve
them from being dissolved in the modern world.
Many new initiatives are also happening in the
institution like New Linguistic Survey of India
(NLSI), National Translation Mission, Linguistic
Data Consortium for Indian Languages (LDC-IL)
Development of pali (DP) & Indian Grammatical
Tradition. To learn online courses from CIIL and
know further details visit
www.ciil.org. Apart from online courses, we
can get access to plenty of other related
websites with CIIL.
(Source : internet)
Borok kokrwbai Bosong’s team to
Boro Writer’s Academy Seminar
Deulkuchi, Assam
:the 30th
seminar cum terminating session of the Bodo
Writers Academy has been held at K.B. Deulkuchi
Higher Secondary School, Deulkuchi under Baksa
district of Assam, from 25th to 27th
July with the perticipation of about 500 poets,
authors and artists. after the inauguration
programme in the morning of 25th July the
introductory session was started with the
inaguration of ‘Saithun’and other books. The
introductory session was inagurated by former
Ambassador Upen Boro and it was chaired by
Dinanath Basumatary, President, BWA. on the
seceond day, 26th July, the 1st session was
started with the flag hoisting. in this session
the team leader of cultural deligation from
Tripura Sudhir Debbarma delivered his speech.As
the representative of Borok Kokrwbai Bosong
Mr.Sudhir said ‘it is a great chance for me to
attend the seminar of Bodo Writers Academy, as
we the Boro and Borok are belonged to the same
cultural heritage, so it is the time to come
together for the formation of greater Bodo
nation. The cultural team of the Borok community
also performed world famous traditional Hojagiri
dance with songs in this session. A good number
of Boro Writers attended this seminar, among
them Maheswar Basumatary, Gagendro Boro, Basista
Bodo,Upendra Boro, Dinanath Basumatary, Ramdas
Boro, Madhuram Boro, Katindra Swargiary, Ramdas
Boro, Dharanidhar Wary, Nandeswar Daimary,
Rakhao Basumatary, Indira Boro Narzary, Swarna
Prabha Chainary, Rajendra Basumatary, Orgeng
Narzary, Mongolsingh Hazowary, Dwarendranath
Basumatary, Rita Boro, Prafulla Hazowary and
Anil Boro are special for mention. Another
mention, the gate of the seminar place was
inaugurated by Abhinash Ray, Principal K.B.
Deulkuchi H.S. School.
RAISOK DEBBARMA
ANI SIHLAI HAI MWKHANG
Nini bwskang left -ight,
left-right khlai mahng
Ano nuk khe nwng
khahrmhang
Orna pharasa twihjak
Panshoe juta kah jak
Tei khukchuibo kwchak
khe
Lipstick phuljak
Nono nuk khai
kirimang sabdang bisiram
Kisa phano mwnwi
kwlangya nwng
Laih wi thahngo
bwskang
Nwng ani sihlai hai
mwkhang
Guli hai mokol
Naithokma magazine
hai bukung
Twma wngkha nini
mung
Ang peret khlai
tongphuru mahng
Ganatwih laih wi
nwng
Suchwi tamna
hwnkhebo
Nini baba bwskango
Saichungya kwnwiya
nono hamjaknai
Nono man ya khe guli
chah-ui thwinai
Lama-o busu
kebengmung tong khe
Sihlai kogwi sap
khali rwnai
Twi kupulung laih
man ya hwn khe
Aro bomb khikwlai
rwnai
Sal kisaswk ulo
Chini bwsa achainai
Bono Ak 47 mung
pharnai
OUR DEMANDS
Demands raised in the 37th Seminar
cum conference of borok kokrwbai bosong
(formerly KBSS) :
1.
Roman script for written kokborok
.........(because it is scientifically and
phonetically justified)
2.
Kokborok as compulsory subject in all level of
education in Tripura by 2010. (each and every
state in India the language of its own are being
taught as compulsory vernacular, but sadly the
Govt. of Tripura doesn't follow this norm)
3.
Scientific educational plan for kokborok studies
(without separate board of education for
kokborok and without the perfect plan it is
impossible to run the kokborok studies
scientifically)
The Chongpreng String
Mark Debbarma
Why have you broken the string of my
chongpreng?
Why envied its melodies?
Forgetting about the broken string I sat on a
riverbank
With a joyful heart in a full moon night to play
the chongpreng.
a
strange sound comes out from that broken string;
Whether laughing or moaning, could not grasp by
one.
I
could see, the moon of the sky was floating on
the river!
Will the river current wash away the moon?
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