Part II.pdf - MTB-MLE Network

the indigenous language speakers use Assamese as the language of communication when dealing
with people of other language groups. Assamese can be easily used to express their language, and
the people already know Assamese both in the written and spoken form. Besides, many Assamese
words are common to the Rabha language.
Process of developing teaching/learning materials
Objectives of the Programme:
The Rabhas have not had the opportunity to learn in their mother tongue like some other tribes,
such as the Garo and Bodo. When SRC Assam thought of starting literacy in the Rabha language,
it had to face several issues that needed special attention:
• Of the eight Rabha sub-groups, only three have retained their mother tongue.
• Of these three sub-groups, Rangdani and Maitori have 99% similarity, but Kochas has
only 50% similarity with the other two.
• The other five sub-groups have mostly forgotten their languages, and have accepted the
mainstream Assamese language.
• These five sub-groups are keen to revive their own language.
• The Rabha Literary Society and the Rabha Cultural Society is working towards
revitalisation and spread of the language and culture.
In the above circumstances, SRC felt that in the Adult Literacy Programme, the opportunity to learn
in their mother tongue should be given. Thus, to provide a chance to re-learn their own language,
some motivational bilingual materials should be made available to the five sub-groups in order to
create a favourable atmosphere.
Methodology
Under the initiative of a field investigator, Prabhat Bania, identification of the Rabha populated
areas in the districts of Assam was successfully carried out. Bania collected the addresses of the
people in the Rabha community. The textbooks used in the Rabha primary schools were also collected.
Further interaction with the Rabhas began. As a second step, SRC Assam held a one-day awareness
camp on October 18, 2002 at Agia, Goalpara to highlight the project for the Rabha community,
and to identify writers/participants for the upcoming workshop. The meeting also resolved to
communicate with Don Bosco School of Guwahati and SIL to gather information about the Rabha
language. At that meeting, SRC Assam resolved to organize a five-day residential material preparation
workshop from November 9-13, 2002 at a suitable venue in either Dudhnoi or Goalpara. The meeting
decided to invite some noted writers representing Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Meghalaya, Dhemaji,
Darrang and Kokrajhar.
Materials Production Workshop
Supplementary Materials: At the workshop, the writers belonging to different sub-tribes of the
Rabha community and from different disciplines, areas, subjects and fields, assembled to prepare
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