Tezpur University (TU) in Assam has finally received the long-pending nod to open an Assamese department by theUniversity Grants Commission (UGC).
"This is a good step and at a time when Assamese language and identity seem to have been threatened, the move to open an Assamese department is an important milestone towards safeguarding the language and identity of the Assamese community as a whole," said a former student of the university seeking anonymity.
It may be mentioned here that the board of management of TU, via a notification, approved the establishment of four departments, which are- Foreign Languages, Pharmacy, Design, and Assamese.
Four HODs-in-charge were also appointed so that the departments run smoothly.
It is worth mentioning here that Earlier this week, in a reply to Congress MP from Assam Abdul Khaleque, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, the minister of human resources and development, said that the ministry had approved the decision of opening a full-fledged Assamese department in Tezpur University.
The ministry had been informed about this decision by the UGC through a letter on March 6.
After Visva-Bharati and Assam University, Tezpur University now becomes the third central university of India to get a full-fledged Assamese department.
The Department of Assamese was established at the Diphu campus of Assam University in 2010.
