Indigenous people should protect faith, culture, says Dr. Gyanendra Barman

Our Correspondent

Diphu, April 12 (EMN): Professor of Cotton University, Guwahati, Dr. Gyanendra Barman on Tuesday said that indigenous people should be strong to protect their own faith, belief, culture and language.

Addressing a one-day tribal Conference organised by Janajati Faith and Culture Protection Forum, East and West Karbi Anglong District Committee held at Diphu Govt. Boys Higher Secondary School playground, Dr. Barman said, “We have been offering sacrifices to Hemphu, Mukrang and Rasinja as our deities. The indigenous people are deprived from government facilities and for this especially the women community should be aware of it.”

The Forum organised the conference to support the amendment of Para-2 of Article 342 of the Indian constitution for protection of tribal religion, culture, customs, traditions and tribal faith & belief system and support Scheduled Tribes to safeguard the constitutional rights.

He also said “The persons who have neglected their own indigenous faith and belief have become MLAs and ministers, they are benefiting from the tribes quotas, whoever rejects his/her own mother tongue and accepts another language as his/her mother tongue, whoever rejects his/her own faith and culture cannot enjoy the ST status which is clearly mentioned in Paragraph 2 of Article 342 of the Indian constitution. They cannot contest either in Assembly and KAAC elections.”

He further said the indigenous communities should get all benefits as per Article 342 for protection of their faith, culture, language and tradition.

Chief Executive Member (CEM), Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram Ronghang said all tribes and communities are living peacefully in Karbi Anglong.

He said the core demand of the people of the hill districts of Assam is Article 244(A) of Indian constitution for granting Autonomy. It is not to divide Assam as it is a state within the state and urged the Forum to extend their support in the demand.

He also said the indigenous faith, culture, language and tradition of the indigenous communities should be preserved.

Various indigenous communities from different parts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong have participated in the conference.