UDALGURI, Feb 2 ? Renowned historians like Surya Kumar Bhuyan wrote Assams history ignoring the Rabhas, one of the important tribes of Assam and that is why people of Assam remained ignorant of the Rabha people and their art and culture, according to Sarbeswar Rabha, the vice president of All Rabha Students? Union (ARSU).
He was speaking at the main session of 12th biennial, 6th biennial and 17th joint conference of Darrang district committees of All Rabha Students? Union (ARSU), All Rabha Women?s Council (ARWC) and All Rabha National Council (ARNC) respectively here at the Bishnu Rabha Kristi Sangha premises in Udalguri on Saturday.
In the open session chaired by Dandi Rabha, outgoing president of Darrang unit of ARSU, the vice president of the Rabha students? organisation remembered the vital contributions of tribal leaders like Bhimbar Deuri and regretted that the then Congress government led by Gopinath Bardoloi and Union government at Delhi suppressed the tribal sentiments of Assembly awarding tribal belts and blocks.
He also expressed happiness over the formation of BTC and hoped that the Bodo leaders would give justice to all other ethnic tribes in the BTC area. Rabhas want that the Rabha Hasongs be included under the 6th schedule for their all-round development like the Bodos.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Tankeswar Rabha, president of ARSU criticised the present Congress-led State government and said that the Congress leaders only look into problems related to their party, but do not try to understand problems of the Rabhas, and that is why, we remained still ignored.
He also warned all other political parties and said that the Rabhas can change the fate of political leaders during the forthcoming general election if they are ignored by them. The ARSU president also appealed to the Bodo leaders of BTADC to understand the emotions and feelings of the Rabhas living in BTC area by according them due honour, otherwise adverse situation may arise in near future.
Speaking on the occasion as distinguished guest, BTADC-interim council executive member Mitharam Basumatary said that the Bodoland Territorial Council is not only for the Bodos, but it would equally look after the non-Bodos including the Rabhas living here. They Rabhas would be afforded equal status, dignity like the Bodos in the BTC area.
He further said that the Rabhas are now not backward, as they have too got their autonomous council. Basumatary expressed faith that a scientific and balanced arrangement in the BTC area would expedite developmental process. Among many others, the open session was attended by K Basumatary, MLA of Panery LAC, Khirod Rabha, vice president of Rabha Hasong 6th Schedule Demand Committee and many other Rabha leaders.
Earlier, Tulashi Manash Rabha, adviser of All Rabha Students? Union said ?the Rabhas of Assam have their own art, culture, language and they too are burdened with dozens of problems, so to get rid of such problems and for the greater interest of all round development of this ethnic tribe, they demand the Rabha Autonomous Council under the Sixth Schedule Provision of Constitution of India.?
He was speaking at the seminar on the topic ?relevance of more autonomy for the development of ethnic tribes of Assam? on the second day of the conference.
Rabha regretted that the then Congress govt in Assam and Delhi ignored the importance of tribal leaders like Bhimbar Deuri and the Congress did not allow him to represent the tribals in those crucial days. Expressing satisfaction on the Bodo peace accord and formation of BTC, Rabha asserted that the Bodos should have been granted such autonomy 50 years ago. He also expressed confidence that the Rabhas too would soon be granted sixth schedule and in fact all other existing autonomy councils be awarded the Sixth Schedule.
Padma Rabha, former vice president of ARSU also expressed satisfaction over formation of BTC. Lwmshrao Daimary, adviser of All Bodo Students? Union (ABSU) taking part in the largely attended seminar said that if good and ideal governance is practised, nobody can stop the development of the tribals. He also hoped that the problems and demands of Rabha people will soon be redressed by the concerned government.
Earlier to this, the seminar was inaugurated by Biren Totala, secretary of Sixth Schedule Demand Committee for the Rabhas and was conducted by Dr Anil Rabha, adviser of ARSU.