Bodo Language Rights: ABSU Demands Equal Status in Government Notifications

ABSU Champions Bodo Language Rights in Assam

In a significant push for linguistic equality, the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) has firmly demanded that all government notifications, including the crucial electoral rolls for the upcoming BTC elections in September, be made accessible in the Bodo language, alongside Assamese. This pivotal call was articulated by ABSU President Dipen Boro, who, speaking on Sunday, underscored the student union’s unwavering commitment to the proper implementation of the Assam Language (Amendment) Act, 2020. The core of their demand revolves around ensuring the seamless integration and use of the Bodo language in all official government orders and notifications throughout the state.

Boro passionately emphasized the constitutional significance of Bodo, highlighting its recognition as an 8th Schedule language of India. Furthermore, he reiterated its status as an associate official language of Assam. These distinctions, according to ABSU, unequivocally warrant the equal and comprehensive use of Bodo in all official communications. The union’s stance is clear: Bodo is not merely a regional dialect but a language with a strong constitutional standing that deserves parity in public administration. This proactive approach by ABSU aims to bridge the linguistic gap that often marginalizes speakers of the Bodo language, ensuring that vital information reaches all citizens in a language they understand. The push for these fundamental Bodo Language Rights is seen as a move towards greater inclusivity and democratic participation.

Expanding Bodo Language Rights to Judicial Services

Beyond general government notifications, ABSU’s comprehensive demands extend into the realm of the judicial system, signaling a broader vision for the recognition of Bodo Language Rights. The student body has called for the mandatory inclusion of Bodo in the Assam Judicial Service examination. This critical demand aims to ensure that aspiring legal professionals from the Bodo-speaking community have an equitable opportunity to enter and serve within the state’s judicial framework. By advocating for the examination to be available in Bodo, ABSU seeks to remove linguistic barriers that might disproportionately affect Bodo candidates, thus promoting a more diverse and representative judiciary.

In a related vein, ABSU has also pressed for the inclusion of Bodo in the examination for the recruitment of Junior Administrative Assistant grade-III positions within the District Judicial Service. This particular demand targets the administrative backbone of the judicial system, advocating for Bodo speakers to fill crucial support roles. Complementing these examination-related demands, ABSU has insisted that all advertisements for these judicial positions be published in the Bodo language. This ensures that information about job opportunities reaches a wider Bodo-speaking audience, preventing potential candidates from being unaware of openings due to language barriers. The ABSU President issued a stern warning, stating that the student body would not hesitate to launch a democratic movement if the judicial system continues to exhibit disregard for the Bodo language. This resolve highlights the seriousness with which ABSU approaches the protection and promotion of Bodo Language Rights across all sectors of governance.

Widespread Implementation of Bodo Language Rights

The ambition of ABSU’s advocacy for Bodo Language Rights extends beyond specific notifications and judicial services. Dipen Boro has urged the state government to implement the use of the Bodo language alongside Assamese for all official purposes, as meticulously stipulated in the Assam Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2020 under Section 5A. This significant legislative provision mandates the use of Bodo in districts and sub-divisions of Assam that possess substantial Bodo populations.

Critically, ABSU is pushing for this implementation not to be confined solely to the BTR Sixth Schedule areas, which already have a degree of linguistic autonomy. Instead, their demand emphasizes a broader, state-wide application wherever Bodo communities are prominent. This expansive vision for Bodo Language Rights aims to ensure that official communication, public services, and administrative functions are truly bilingual in relevant areas, fostering a more inclusive and accessible governance system for Bodo speakers across Assam. The union’s insistence on this comprehensive approach demonstrates their dedication to securing linguistic justice and ensuring that the Bodo language is recognized and utilized as a vital medium of communication throughout the state’s administrative machinery. This long-standing struggle for linguistic recognition is steadily gaining momentum, propelled by the persistent efforts of organizations like ABSU, ultimately striving for the full realization of Bodo Language Rights.