ITANAGAR, Apr 19: The Nyishi Elite Society (NES) President Bengia Tolum has urged state government to vehemently oppose any move by the central government to impose Hindi language in the state. Talking to the media here on Monday Tolum said Hindi is slowly engulfing the indigenous tribal languages and is posing a big threat to the existence of tribal languages.
“Hindi is endangering our local languages. Today people are speaking in Hindi in homes too. Hindi should not be further promoted in the state,” said Bengia Tolum. He called upon the state government to protect the dying tribal languages.
“It is the duty of the state government to make efforts to save tribal languages along with partnership of tribal bodies. Children should first learn their own language after that learn Hindi and English,” he added.
He also cited examples of anti-Assamese agitation to oppose imposition of Hindi.
“In 1972 we agitated to oppose the imposition of Assamese language in the school and after that CBSE syllabus was introduced. Similarly imposition of Hindi also should be opposed,” said Bengia Tolum.
Earlier the NES president along with Nyishi minister, MLAs, bureaucrats and public participated in the Nyishi day celebration held at NES Secretariat, Jullang. Nyishi day is celebrated every year on 19 April as on this day that the parliament recognized Nyishi as a tribe.
Addressing the press, the NES president Bengia Tolum recalled the contributions of all, and spoke on the way forward for the community. He said that the formation of various social organizations has played a leading role in the socio-cultural and educational development in the society.
Tolum informed that the demand for renaming the tribe as Nyishi started during the second ANYA conference held in Yazali in 1978, following which a representation was submitted to the then chief minister Gegong Apang after the third ANYA conference held in Naharlagun in 1980.
“The constitutional amendment for change of nomenclature to Nyishi was finally done in 2008,” Tolum said, adding that it was “a glorious and historic moment.”
