BJP MLA Taranga Gogoi on May 21 said the use of tribal languages during the oath-taking ceremony of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly reflects a growing effort towards cultural inclusion and better representation of indigenous communities in the state. Speaking during the inaugural session of the newly constituted Assembly, the Naharkatia legislator described the day as an important and memorable occasion, especially after being elected for a second consecutive term. Gogoi said returning to the Assembly with a renewed mandate from the people also brings greater responsibility towards public service and development work. “It feels wonderful to be a re-elected MLA because it renews our opportunity to serve the state and work tirelessly for the people who voted for us,” he said.
The BJP legislator particularly highlighted the use of tribal mother tongues during the oath-taking ceremony, calling it a meaningful development in the functioning of the Assembly. According to Gogoi, the Assembly had earlier witnessed the use of six officially recognised languages during proceedings and oath ceremonies. However, this time, MLAs belonging to tribal communities took their oath in their own native languages, including Rabha and Karbi. “In the past, we saw the use of six officially recognised languages in the Assembly. Today, Rabha MLAs took oath in the Rabha language and Karbi MLAs took oath in the Karbi language,” Gogoi said. He said the move reflects an important structural and cultural shift within the legislative institution and would help strengthen Assam’s social and cultural diversity. Gogoi added that giving space to traditional and tribal languages in the Assembly sends a positive message to indigenous communities across the state.
The MLA further said such steps would help preserve linguistic heritage and improve the sense of participation among different ethnic groups in Assam’s democratic process. During his interaction, Gogoi also mentioned that the Assembly had elected its new Speaker during the opening session. He further stated that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill is expected to be introduced during the ongoing Assembly session.
