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No books in indigenous tongues

Staff Correspondent
Every year, the Amar Ekushey Granthamela commemorates the right established by the language martyrs in 1952 to express themselves in their mother tongue in all spheres of life.
It was their sacrifice which also established February 21 as International Mother Language Day, to promote multilingualism and multiculturalism.
Yet books written in indigenous languages of Bangladesh, other than in Bangla and English, are absent in the fair.
Three years ago, Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad had a stall in the fair and sold books written in Meithei, a branch of Manipuri language.
Chandrajit Singha, vice-president of the organisation, said, "Novels, stories and poems are written in Meithei. But it was very difficult for us to bring the books all the way from Sylhet and run a stall without patronisation for one entire month."
Singha said mainstream publishers did not show interest in publishing books in indigenous languages, as they did not want to take the risk of low turnover.
"We publish literature from our organisation," he said.
Sanjeeb Drong, a prolific columnist, writer and general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, feels that Bangla Academy should
take initiatives to encourage indigenous literature.
"When the state itself does not want to recognise us by the identity we prefer as indigenous people instead of tribal groups, it becomes difficult to promote our language," said Drong, who writes in Bangla. His mother tongue, Achik, has no script of its own.
According to Shourav Sikder, a professor of linguistics at Dhaka University and indigenous language researcher, there is no recent survey on the languages of
Bangladesh.
"But during my research, I came across 37-40 indigenous tongues. Of them only a few including Chakma, Marma, Murong and Meithi have their own scripts," he said.
However, books on the life, culture, traditions and rights of indigenous communities are available in the fair, both in English and Bangla.
Books by indigenous writers sell especially in Sucheepatra, Ankur Prokashani, National Publication and Janaprio Prokashani.
"These books have very limited
demand. Mostly researchers look for books on indigenous people's life and their rights," said Md Dulal, a marketing manager of Ankur Prokashani.
University Grants Commission, Bangla Academy, Pathak Samabesh, University Press Ltd, Ittadi Grantho Prokash, Mizan Publishers, Shova Prokash, and Samhati Publications have research volumes by Bangalee writers on ethnographies and indigenous rights and cultures.
Yesterday, 264 new books hit the fair while 27 were launched.