IX. Language use:

B. MASS MEDIA:

4. News Paper:

The history of Boro news paper goes back to 1971 A.D. All the news papers published from the year 1971 till date are weekly news paper except one which is bi-weekly.

'Halali' (The land of light,1971) was the first news paper in Boro language published from Kokrajhar. It was a weekly news paper jointly edited by Nilkamal Brahma and Surath Narzary. After 'Halali' one more weekly news paper namely 'Bonzar' (Fire, Inflamed in the Bundle of Wood) was Published in 1972 from Udalguri under the editorship of Bihuram Boro . Thus the number of Boro news papers began to grow one after another. In 1974 'Orgeng' (volcano) was published from Barama under the editorship of Sukumar Basumatary. In the same year one more news paper namely 'San' (The sun) was published from udalguri under the editorship of Sailendra Nath Brahma. In the year 1978, two more news papers were published from Kokrajhar and Udalguri. The news paper published from kokrajhar was 'Radab' (The news) and that from udalguri was 'Bibungsar' (Lecture). These were respectively edited by Samar Brahma Choudhury and Binoy Kumar Brahma. In 1985 a bi-lingual (Boro-Assamese) weekly news paper namely 'Gwdan Khwurang' (The New News) was published from Guwahati. It was published under the joint editorship of Phukan Chandra Boro and Ratneswar Basumatary. One more bi-lingual (Boro-Assamese) weekly news paper namely 'Phanzamuthi' (Almanac) was published from Gossaigaon under the editorship of Rupnath Muchahary in the year 1986. The news paper namely 'Thunggri' (The Sword) was published in the year 1987 and its editor was Durjay Narzary. In 1988 one more weekly news paper namely 'Raphwdai' (Representative of God) was published from Guwahati under the editorship of Gajen Hazowary. Under the editorship of Khaila Kirat alias Biren Boro one more news paper namely 'Harkhab' (suddenly)was published from Udalguri. In 1991 Bodosa (Children of the Bodo) was published from kokrajhar under the editorship of Rabishankar Bargayari. Under the editorship of Daleswar Boro, ex-president of Bodo Sahitya Sabha, one more weekly news paper namely Swdwmsri (Civilization) was published from Udalguri. In 1992 Zanali (Snow) was published from Kokrajhar under the editorship of Jayanta Kumar Mahilary. Thus the news papers like Zwngphrud (Match) from Udalguri, Agan (Footstep) from Goreswar, Kamrup and Bathwu (Bathwu Shrine) from Bijni come out one after another under the respective editorships of Pradip Kumar Daimary, Baneswar Swargiary and Rajen Basumatary. In 1993 three more weekly news papers came out simultaneously. These were Phungkha (Source) from Khoirabari, edited by Rishi Boro, Khwurang Bilai (news paper) from Dotoma, Bodoland Radab (Bodoland News) From Kokrajhar edited by Swmbla Basumatary. In the Year 1994, three more news papers from different places were published. These were Athikhal (Present) from Tangla, Darrang, Gwdan Bonzar (New Fire, Inflamed on the bundle of the wood) from udalguri and Bodoland Khwurang (Bodoland Message) from Kokrajhar. These were respectively edited by Ranjeet Boro, Rupnath Muchahary and Adrasing Basumatarym. In 1995 Naren Basumatary edited a news paper namely Bibungthi (Opinion). Later on it was edited by Ratneswar Basumatary and was published from Guwahati. In 1996 two more news papers were Published from two different places. One is Thulungga (Inspiration) published from Guwahati and the other one is Dahal (Shield). These were respectively edited by Katindra Swargiary and Ranendra Brahma.

It is interesting to note here that all the above mentioned were weekly news papers and all of them are out of print at present except the weekly BODOSA. Its present editor is Chino Basumatary. This news paper is also running in a very lean and thin form and it's circulation is also very low as it has not covered each and every corner of Boro dominated areas. Last but not the least one can mention of a bi-weekly news paper AINA (Mirror) published in the year 1997 from Bijni. It was edited by Rajen Basumatary. But its longivity was too short.

Radio Programme:

The All India Radio, Guwahati station got its inception on first July1948. But interestingly Boro section of All India Radio, Guwahati got its inception only from 2nd October 1975. From 1975 it was broadcasted for 30 minutes from 4-15 PM to 4-45 PM. Later on its time allotment was extended upto 45 minutes and its time tablechanged slightly . At present the alloted time for Boro section under All India Radio, Guwahati is 45 minutes, from 4-30 PM to 5-15 PM everyday except on Sundays. On Sundays it is broadcasted from 3-15 PM to 4 PM. Beside news, there are entertainment programmes like music programmes (modern & folk), agricultural, household and health hints, children as well as youth programmes, dramas, skit, interviews and highlights of various meetings. Sabhas and conventions are also broadcasted through this section.

On the other hand due to the frequent pressure from Bodo Sahitya Sabha and Boro organisations a new station having low transmisson power was inaugurated at Kokrajhar on 15th August 1999. The alloted time for this station was from 6 PM to 9-30 PM. All its announcements are done in Boro and programmes are either in Boro, Assamese, Hindi or English. All India Radio news in Assamese, Hindi and English from Delhi and local news in Assamese from Guwahati at 9-25 are all relayed through this station.

Film:

The history of first full length feature film in Boro language started with the production of Alayaran (Moment of the Rising Sun) in the year 1984. Its director was Zwngdao Bodosa alias Pradeep Brahma. It was produced from Kokrajhar and its story was of late Nilkamal Brahma and Heramba Narzary. This film was highly welcomed and accepted by the general Boro people. Interestingly, this first full length feature film was conferred the national award 'Rajat Kamal' in the year 1986. After 'Alayaran' one more Boro film named 'Ziuni Simang' (Dreams of Life, 1987)was also produced from Kokrajhar. The story of this film was written by Kamal Kumar Brahma. Under the story of Kamakhya Brahma Narzary, one more full length feature film namely 'Khwmsi Lama' (Dark Path,1991) was produced from Ghoskata,Banaragon. In the year 1995 a feature film namely Hagramayao Zinahari (Rape of the Virgin forest) was also produced by Zwngdao Bodosa. It also won the national award. Film Division, Government of India also produced a film namely Gwdan Lama in the year 2001. Its director was Zwngdao Bodosa. Besides the above mentioned full length feature films, one more full length feature film namely Songgali (The Spy,2002) was released. It was produced by Gwurang Film Production, Kokrajhar. The story was of late Nilkamal Brahma and its director was Khanindra Bodosa. Due to the lack of available market, the number of feature films in Boro language has become comparatively very low. Inspite of this some enthusiastic and encouraging personalities are taking keen interest to produce more and more number of films in this language.

Video Film:

The first attempt for the production of video film started from the year 1985 under the auspices of Kokrajhar District All Bodo Students' Union. The name of this video film was Zariminni Khongkhor (Caves of History) and its director was Garla Batha Basumatary. It is mentionable that the production of video films are comparatively higher than the full length feature films. Its reason is that the budget of video films are comparatively lower than the feature films. and the market of feature film is very compact. After 1985 many production groups as well as individuals took keen interest in producing more and more video films. At present, an enthusiastic woman, namely Mala Daimary is taking strong interest to produce video films under the banner of Daimary video Film Production. She can be claimed as the highest video film producer among the Boros. Her first video film as a producer was released in the year1993 and its name was Gwrbwni Mizing (Aims of Heart). From that she did not see backward. She produced more and more video fillms. As a result her films like khithirni Or (Fire of Revenge), Habila (Desire), Hangma (Repentance), Nwngni Thakhay Angni Zwnwm (My Birth for You), Onnay Mwzang Mwnnay (Love and Affection, 1999) , Hasthainay Gwsw (Desiring Mind , 2000) Thunggenay Dara (Blocked Gateway, 2001) and Benwtho Songsar (This is the World ,2002) were released one after the other. Besides the above mentioned video films Pameswar Boro under the banner of Barlampha Film Production Society, Bunmaja,produced one video film Onnayni Raday (Commitment of love, 1991). In 1997 Gautom Boro of Deulkuchi, Rangia, produced Habilasa Mwnse Mizing (Desire is a dream), and in 2000, Kamal Bhusan Boro, under the banner of Alari Swrang Film Production, Karbi Anglong, Produced Swrangni Lama (Ways of Light). In the year 2001, one more video film namely Udkhari (Tyrant) was released from Dotoma, Kokrajhar. Hence video films in Boro seems to have a bright future.