SILCHAR, May 20: The Martyrs’ Day on May 19 which was celebrated with
all serenity and solemnity in Barak Valley districts of Cachar,
Karimganj and Hailakandi in sacred memory of 11 brave hearts including a
young girl Kamala Bhattacharjee for sacrificing their lives for the
cause of their mother language Bengali 51 years ago in 1961 has been
completely glossed over by the Kolkata media, both print and electronic.
West Bengal and Tripura are the two Bengali dominated States in the
country which have closer affinity with Barak Valley, linguistically and
culturally.
Quite ironically, when some litterateur, journalist, writer or persons of eminence in art and culture visit the valley as distinguished invitee at a seminar, discussion or function on related subjects or themes, they are often found to be ignorant of the historic movement and the day. In recent past, Somnath Chatterjee, former Lok Sabha Speaker who was here to deliver Kamini Kumar Chanda memorial lecture, a revolutionary figure of the region, recalled his father, renowned lawyer of the time, N C Chatterjee, who headed an unofficial inquiry committee to probe the causes behind the police firing that claimed 11 precious lives. Once back at home at Bolpur, it becomes a forgotten chapter.
The leading Bengali dailies Ananda Bazar Patrika, Bartaman, Aajkal or Pratidin or the satellite channels Sananda TV, 24 Hours, Akash, ETV Bangla, Zee Bangla and DD Bangla have not even made a passing reference to the event. Even an event that has become a turning point in the linguistic and cultural history of Barak Valley does not deserve any mention in the Kolkata media. Nor is there any information that any function to commemorate the day has been held in Kolkata, regarded as the cultural and linguistic centre of Bengalis. English dailies of the city like The Telegraph, The Times of India and The Asian Age have been equally conspicuous in ignoring the event. It is for nothing that the Union Home Ministry has refused to rename Silchar Railway Station as Bhasa Sahid Station, terming the sacrifices of the 11 martyrs as local patriotism.
In glaring contrast, February 21 celebrated in Bangladesh as International Language Day to commemorate the victory of the people to get recognition of their mother language Bengali in 1952. The massive movement jolted the repressive Pakistani Government which had designed to impose Urdu as the official language and the medium of instruction for the people of then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The revolt and rebellion caused five lives. But, the people’s movement got UNO recognition and February 21 was declared International Language Day. The day and its celebration gets the widest coverage in Kolkata media.
It is indeed a paradox. Is it the geographical distance and isolation of Barak Valley being located in the extreme corner of Northeast that denies it the media glare of Kolkata? This has definitely changed the mindset of the people of the valley to patronize the State newspapers increasingly and discard that of the big metros.
source: http://www.sentinelassam.com/cachar/story.php?sec=2&subsec=12&id=118059&dtP=2012-05-21&ppr=1#118059
Quite ironically, when some litterateur, journalist, writer or persons of eminence in art and culture visit the valley as distinguished invitee at a seminar, discussion or function on related subjects or themes, they are often found to be ignorant of the historic movement and the day. In recent past, Somnath Chatterjee, former Lok Sabha Speaker who was here to deliver Kamini Kumar Chanda memorial lecture, a revolutionary figure of the region, recalled his father, renowned lawyer of the time, N C Chatterjee, who headed an unofficial inquiry committee to probe the causes behind the police firing that claimed 11 precious lives. Once back at home at Bolpur, it becomes a forgotten chapter.
The leading Bengali dailies Ananda Bazar Patrika, Bartaman, Aajkal or Pratidin or the satellite channels Sananda TV, 24 Hours, Akash, ETV Bangla, Zee Bangla and DD Bangla have not even made a passing reference to the event. Even an event that has become a turning point in the linguistic and cultural history of Barak Valley does not deserve any mention in the Kolkata media. Nor is there any information that any function to commemorate the day has been held in Kolkata, regarded as the cultural and linguistic centre of Bengalis. English dailies of the city like The Telegraph, The Times of India and The Asian Age have been equally conspicuous in ignoring the event. It is for nothing that the Union Home Ministry has refused to rename Silchar Railway Station as Bhasa Sahid Station, terming the sacrifices of the 11 martyrs as local patriotism.
In glaring contrast, February 21 celebrated in Bangladesh as International Language Day to commemorate the victory of the people to get recognition of their mother language Bengali in 1952. The massive movement jolted the repressive Pakistani Government which had designed to impose Urdu as the official language and the medium of instruction for the people of then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The revolt and rebellion caused five lives. But, the people’s movement got UNO recognition and February 21 was declared International Language Day. The day and its celebration gets the widest coverage in Kolkata media.
It is indeed a paradox. Is it the geographical distance and isolation of Barak Valley being located in the extreme corner of Northeast that denies it the media glare of Kolkata? This has definitely changed the mindset of the people of the valley to patronize the State newspapers increasingly and discard that of the big metros.
source: http://www.sentinelassam.com/cachar/story.php?sec=2&subsec=12&id=118059&dtP=2012-05-21&ppr=1#118059
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