Tai Khamyang scholar Deben Chowlik passes away
Renowned Tai Khamyang scholar, 84-year-old Deben Chowlik, passed away last Wednesday due to age-old ailments at his residence situated in Bhittor Powai, Powaimukh, Margherita, Tinsukia . He was an expert in the Tai Khamyang language from the great Tai Khamyang community and had been struggling to keep this language alive as one of the knowledgeable members of the Tai Khamyang community in Powaimukh Tai Khamyang village under 124 Number Margherita Constituency of Tinsukia District.
He was one of the very few people who could speak the Tai Khamyang language, so his death is a irreparable loss not only to the Tai Khamyang community, but to all of us. He has a vast storehouse of traditional knowledge of the community. I was fortunate to have worked with him closely during my effort to document this language in the process. I was able to record some stories and narratives that he spoke in his mother tongue. There was always so much more to learn from him.
As the old man passed away, there were only a few elderly people in the community who were still holding on to their language. This is a stark reminder of how fast language endangerment is happening fast. Unless and until the young members of the indigenous communities make conscious efforts to keep their languages alive, we will lose many languages along with their cultural, traditional and other indigenous knowledge/ information in the coming days. Manash Pratim Gogoi, Journalist of Margherita said.
With every language lost, the world becomes poorer with regard to linguistic and cultural diversity and knowledge of high value, said a scholar.Bhaskar Sharma MLA of 124 Number Margherita Constituency is the son-in-law of Tai Khamyang scholar Deben Chowlik. He left behind his wife, five daughters, son-in-laws, grandchildren and many relatives. Margherita Journalists Association, Margherita Senior Citizens Association, Purvanchal Bhikkhu Sangha and many other organizations of Margherita condoled the death of renowned Tai Khamyang scholar Deben Chowlik and conveyed deep condolences to the bereaved family members.
Random Stories
6 Nov 2008 - 4:39pm |
editor
Diabetes has a unique impact on the lives of adolescents and requires constant monitoring of blood sugar levels, medication and balancing the effects of food and activity. With careful management...
6 Jul 2017 - 4:58pm |
Shajid Khan
The statue of Indian freedom fighter Durga Malla was vandalized by some unknown miscreants at Khourang on Tuesday night. Ramesh Dahal, the president of Udalguri district committee Assam...
16 Aug 2010 - 11:52pm |
Juthika Das
The 64th Independence Day was observed at Barpeta also along with the rest of the country on Sunday. Unfurling the National flag at the Govt HS school premises the deputy commissioner of Barpeta...
29 Apr 2016 - 10:13pm |
AT Kokrajhar Bureau
Altogether 78 aids and appliances were distributed among differently abled persons at a programme held at Choto Molandubi in Kokrajhar district on Friday. The aids and appliances, included wheel...
Other Contents by Author
Local people in Digboi has punished one local BJP worker for posting hate comments in facebook. Teja Dey of Bogapani Gaon and a ward member posted communual comments against Assamese commmunity. Locals forced Teja Dey to stand with a big poster that read, “Joi Aai Axom. I am a BJP leader from Digboi. I oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. I am sorry for my comments.”
Activists of Margherita Regional Student Union staged dharna and burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday in front of the residence of Margherita MLA Bhaskar Sharma. The protesters shouted various slogans against Modi, Sonowal and Sharma for the controversial Citizenship Amendment (2016) Bill. During the bandh on Tuesday called by AASU along with several other organisation, Margherita remained closed.
Protest against the Controversial Citizenship Amendment (2016) Bill staged in Margherita as part of state-wide protest. The local unit of Margherita AASU burnt copies of the Bill at NH 38, Segunbari tiniali, Margherita and observed Black Day at Margherita. The AASU activists shouted various slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and BJP-led Government both at the Centre and State for not cancelling the controversial citizenship Amendment(2016) Bill. Similarly, in Tinsukia, activists of AJYCP, CMSS, KMSS and other Organisations went for a nude protest and shave their heads as part of their protest against the bill.
MARGHERITA: Margherita AASU unit submitted a memorandum to Margherita SDO(civil) expressing grave concern over the steep rise in the rape incidents in the sub division. AASU leaders Chintu Gogoi and Prashanta Gogoi said that growing crimes of drug addiction has helped the anti social elements to rear ugly heads in many pickets and that this has directly or indirectly been responsible for the non stopped incidents of sexual crimes. Prashanta Gogoi said,” we demand immediate arrest of the rape accused for trial in the Fast Track Court.”
MARGHERITA: Yet another gangrape incident rattled Margherita where police nabbed two youths in this connection triggering huge anger and demand for stringent punishment. The incident took place on April 16 when Bikash Sharma and Rikesh Pradhan, both residents of Balukhad area in Namdang Tea Estate gangraped a minor girl and asked her to keep silent. But the family members defied the threat and moved the Margherita Police Station with the complaint who arrested the perpetrators under Case No 103/18 US 6 of POSCO Act at Margherita Police Station. Many organizations and individuals have condemned the incident and demanded stringent punishment of the perpetrators.
MARGHERITA: The Margherita police arrested a person on Friday a day after the 55 year old allegedly molested a 7 year old girl. The incident took place in Lajymgaon on Thursday and her parents moved the police with a formal complaint and acting the complaint, they arrested the accused Ainul Haque (55) who has been sent to jail.
MARGHERITA: Margherita MLA Bhaskar Sharma distributed cheques to the men-elephant conflict victims at a brief function in the town on Friday. The beneficiaries who received cheques at the Margherita Block Conference Hall under CSS Project Elephant under the forest department, include the family members of nine people who lost their lives in elephant attack at Khatangpani Forest in Doomdooma. Three others who sustained injury in these incidents also received the cheques from Sarma amounting Rs 9,35,700. Prabin Mahanta, the head of Khatangpani forest office was present in the cheque distribution function.
MARGHERITA: A tussle between guardians and students with VKV NEC authority over fee hike keeps the school campus on the boil in Baragolai on Friday. The situation took an uneasy turn when a section of the guardians called on principals Pranoti Roy and Hritick Chakraborty opposing sudden fee hike. The principals said that those who oppose the hike are free to withdraw their students triggering protest and anger among the guardians. Some of the guardians started shouting slogans against the principals. Margherita AASU President Chintu Gogoi and General Secretary Prashanta Gogoi said that NEC VKV Baragolai is one of the best institutions. But the sudden increase...
MARGHERITA: More than 100 AASU leaders and workers staged a 3 hour long sit in Margherita on Tuesday alleging the uncertain fate of Assam Women University. With play cards the agitating students thronged North Margherita Rangamancha where they held the protest for three hours demanding immediate measures to restore the varsity. Talking to www.assamtimes.org, local AASU leaders Dipankar Borgohain and Bulbul Saikia said after the BJP Government has adopted a slew of anti people policies. “We are fed up with the uncertain fate of Assam Women University- the only university of the kind. But we have learnt that education minister Himanta Biswa Sharma wants to degrade the varsity...
MARGHERITA: A Legal Helpline Cell has fetched huge hope for the people of Margherita. Courtesy Legal Awareness Network Centre Margherita which opened up the venture on Monday. Talking to www.assamtimes.org, the NGO officials said the main objective is to give free legal advice to the rural people in Margherita and its neighbouring areas. The speakers in the opening ceremony hoped that the cell would be of immense benefit for the rural people. Papu Sah. President of Margherita Legal Awareness Network Centre urged the rural people to avail of legal advice whenever required.
Add new comment