<div dir="ltr">
<h1 class="gmail-heading1"><span>Sabha push for Assamese, local tongue in CBSE schools</span></h1><span><a target="_blank" class="gmail-auth_detail" rel="author" href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toireporter/author-Kangkan-Kalita-479220587.cms">Kangkan Kalita</a></span><span class="gmail-time_cptn"> | <span><span>TNN</span></span> | <span>Sep 27, 2018, 09:24 IST</span></span><div class="gmail-leftsocial"><div class="gmail-toiwidgets_social"><span class="gmail-fb gmail-show_sprite gmail-toishare"></span><span class="gmail-twitter gmail-show_sprite gmail-toishare"></span><span class="gmail-gplus gmail-show_sprite gmail-toishare"></span><span class="gmail-linkedin gmail-show_sprite gmail-toishare"></span><span class="gmail-pinterest gmail-show_sprite gmail-toishare"></span><span class="gmail-comment-slider gmail-show_sprite gmail-toishare" style="background-color:rgb(202,202,202)"></span></div></div><div class="gmail-topsocial gmail-actions"><div class="gmail-toiwidgets_social"><span class="email gmail-show_sprite gmail-toishare"></span><span class="gmail-print gmail-show_sprite gmail-toishare"></span><span class="gmail-fontd gmail-show_sprite gmail-toishare"></span><span class="gmail-fonti gmail-show_sprite gmail-toishare"></span></div></div><img src="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-65974821,imgsize-355162,width-400,resizemode-4/65974821.jpg" alt="Picture for representational purpose only." title="Picture for representational purpose only."><span class="gmail-img_cptn">Picture for representational purpose only.</span><div class="gmail-article_content gmail-clearfix"><span><div class="gmail-section1"><div class="gmail-Normal">GUWAHATI: The <a class="gmail-key_underline" href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Asam-Sahitya-Sabha">Asam Sahitya Sabha</a>'s
demand to make Assamese and other regional languages compulsory in
CBSE-affiliated schools has met a positive response from the board's
officials in the state.
<br>The Sabha's demand to make Assamese compulsory in all schools of the
state is a long-standing one. Earlier this week, CBSE officials and
Sabha members held a meeting to discuss the matter. "We got a positive
response from the director of CBSE's Guwahati regional office, KK
Choudhury," a statement issued by the 100-year-old apex literary body on
Wednesday said. Choudhury told TOI he has assured the literary body
that their demands can be met as soon as the board gets the Centre's
approval.
<br>
<br>The Sabha will now approach the Centre with its demand. "We will move Union HRD minister <a class="gmail-key_underline" href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/prakash-javadekar">Prakash Javadekar</a>
about our demand to teach Assamese and other local languages in the
state's CBSE-affiliated schools on a mandatory basis, as talks with top
CBSE officials on the matter were held in Guwahati," the statement
added.
<br>
<br>The Sabha also appealed to all
CBSE-affiliated schools to help promote Assamese and regional languages.
"Sahitya Sabha is emphasizing on compulsory teaching of Bodo, Rabha,
Mishing, Tiwa, Karbi, Dimasa and other local languages spoken by the
ethnic tribes and communities as well as Assamese in every
CBSE-affiliated school in Assam," the Sabha said. "These schools must
impart lessons on Assamese or the primary local languages of the areas
where the schools are located. A 50-mark exam in Assamese or other local
languages has to be introduced," the statement added.
<br>
<br>Several regional organizations in the
state have backed the demand, saying that while English and Hindi get
due importance in the state's CBSE-affiliated schools, the decline in
use of regional languages in schools is a matter of concern.
<br>
<br>To take the proposal ahead, CBSE
sources said, there is a need to bring the NCERT on board. "NCERT will
play an important role in this - it has to publish books on various
ethnic languages of Assam if the demand is met," sources said. As per
the language policy, every CBSE school needs to teach three languages
compulsorily up to Class VIII, while two languages have to be taught on a
mandatory basis in Classes IX and X.
</div></div></span></div>
<br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+<br><br> Harold F. Schiffman<br><br>Professor Emeritus of <br> Dravidian Linguistics and Culture <br>Dept. of South Asia Studies <br>University of Pennsylvania<br>Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305<br><br>Phone: (215) 898-7475<br>Fax: (215) 573-2138 <br><br>Email: <a href="mailto:haroldfs@gmail.com" target="_blank">haroldfs@gmail.com</a><br><a href="http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/" target="_blank">http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/</a> <br><br>-------------------------------------------------</div></div>