HS exam on ‘Shaheed Dibosh’: “Bengali test on May 19 is good,” Minister; “Will appeal for a change,” Teachers’ Association

Yesterday, the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) announced the timetable for Higher Secondary Examination. The test starts on May 11, 2020, and concludes with Commercial Mathematics and Statistics/Geography/Geology on June 14.

The examination is generally held in February but the council was forced to delay it by a couple of months due to the outbreak of Coronavirus induced pandemic. However, what has hit many by shock is the fact that MIL/Alternative English examination has been scheduled for May 19, 2021.

MIL or Modern Indian Languages in Higher Secondary offers students to choose one language subject from Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Garo, Hmar, Hindi, Khasi, Manipuri, Mizo, Nepali and Urdu. The tests on May 19 will mean the state’s education council ignoring the sentiments associated with Saheed Dibosh celebrated on May 19.

It was on May 19, 1961, 11 martyrs laid their lives protesting against the Language Bill, tabled in the Assam Assembly. The bill proposed to make Assamese the sole official language of the state while ignoring Bengali which is the second most spoken language in Assam. Also, in Barak Valley, Bengali is the most-spoken language, and the imposition of Assamese would have made the people living in this region suffer miserably.

Since 1961, Saheed Dibosh is celebrated to pay respect to the eleven martyrs on May 19, every year. This year, it collides with Higher Secondary Examination.

“I expect the elected representatives from Barak Valley to intervene and discuss the issue with the Council. The schedule can be altered by a day as this is a matter related to the dignity of a community,” said Krishnendu Roy, Cachar President of All Assam Higher Secondary Teachers and Employees Association.

He added, “In the meeting at Guwahati, on behalf of the association, I will put forward an official demand to the Council to reschedule the examination. I am hopeful that the elected representatives of all political parties will support our demand”.

The only minister from Barak Valley in Sarbananda Sonowal’s cabinet, Parimal Suklabaidya does not see an exam on 19th May as a problem. Unlike Krishnendu Roy, Suklabaidya sees this as a positive move. “It’s good. Students will take the Bengali test on May 19,” he said while speaking with Barak Bulletin.

The minister added, “The students will appear for the Bengali examination on May 19. They will take the Bengali test and pay homage to the language martyrs. I don’t see this as a problem. Moreover, the exams are happening across the state and not only in Barak Valley.”

It is clear that the minister and the teacher representing the association in Cachar are poles apart when it comes to their opinion on the examination to be held on May 19. It is also fair to assume that Krinshendu Deb’s demand to reschedule the examination won’t get support from the ruling political class, at least from the minister.