AHOM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL:

    We can hear busy footsteps along corridors of Assam Secretariat following government's announcement of formation of Tai Ahom development Council which would be given some financial power to implement developmental projects for the community. A good proposal no doubt, but people suspect it to be a subversive tactic to lure the movement away from scheduling .

    Whatever it is, the community is greatly disappointed by the leaders who quarrel for power in stead of devoting themselves to the cause of the community. Just greed for power and money, there had been divisions in the leading organizations like ATASU or recently the Ban Ok Pup Lik Mioung Tai . People shake their heads in shame when these so called leaders issue statements over the newspapers alleging each other or the young boys physically fight with each other on issues of leadership. And the newspapers in Assam publish these horrifying news in great detail while the constructive works taken up by the community are hardly published. The people in general just grumble, but can do nothing.

    Recently, the Ban Ok Pup Lik Mioung Tai or the Purbanchal Tai Sahitya Sabha was divided into two factions., one under Manoranjan Phukan and the other under Dr. J. N. Phukan. Actually, Manoranjan Phukan was allegedly misappropriating an amount of Rs. 10 lacs granted by the  Assam Government for publication of an Ahom dictionary. He was formally ousted by delegates in a meeting convened at Sepon following news of this misappropriation, and a new committee was formed under chairmanship of Jibeswar Mohon. However, there was a brief period of relief when both the factions agreed to work united in Rajgarh conference where Dr. J. N. Phukan was selected as a new President of the Sabha, the Manornjan group abstaining the meet. The Manoranjan group never gave an account or audit report to the people regarding the utilization of the fund. Does this mean that our leaders go Scot free even after misappropriating public money ?  Lack of clarification from the persons concerned is likely to confirm the allegations.

    We appreciate the leaders' contributions to the revival of  literature or history of Tai Ahoms. We do not want any division among the Tai Ahom organizations. But when it matters money, they are required to be more transparent. Then only can they expect to gain peoples confidence and respect. Unless this fundamental rule is followed the busy foot steps along the corridors of Dispur ahead of formation of Ahom Development Council are likely to raise brows of suspicion among the community lovers.

08/04/2008