Guwahati, April 9: The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) came out swinging on Wednesday, blasting Assam University for excluding Bohag Bihu—the state’s most cherished cultural festival—from its 2025 holiday list. The party has called the move a “direct insult” to Assamese identity and a serious blow to regional unity.
In a sharp press statement, AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi and general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan accused the university of “deliberately sidelining” the emotional and cultural significance of Bohag Bihu. “This is not just an oversight—it’s an insult,” they said. “A university that was born out of the Assam Accord cannot afford to be tone-deaf to the cultural heartbeat of the state.”
While Assam University did include holidays for Magh Bihu, Makar Sankranti, and Pongal in its list, it skipped Bohag Bihu entirely—despite its deep-rooted cultural and emotional importance in Assamese life. The university, however, marked April 10 as a holiday for Mahavir Jayanti and April 14 for Ambedkar Jayanti, both nationally recognized occasions.
The omission has sparked outrage because the Assam government has already declared April 14 to 16 as Bohag Bihu holidays for all its institutions. Most colleges and universities in the state follow the official calendar, but Assam University’s decision to ignore Bohag Bihu entirely has set off alarms.
“This is not just poor planning—it’s cultural negligence,” the AJP leaders stated. “Bohag Bihu is the soul of Assamese identity. By denying it recognition, Assam University is alienating a large section of students, especially those from the Brahmaputra Valley. This is how you deepen regional divides, not bridge them.”
The AJP warned that such acts of disregard could fuel discontent and create avoidable rifts between Barak and Brahmaputra Valley communities. They reminded the university of its foundational purpose: to serve as a symbol of unity and shared growth between the two regions.
“Universities are not just about degrees and deadlines—they’re about identity, inclusion, and respect,” Gogoi and Bhuyan emphasized. “There are hundreds of Assamese-speaking students on campus who deserve the right to celebrate Bohag Bihu with pride. This tone-deaf approach sends the wrong message.”
The AJP has demanded that the university immediately declare a holiday for Bohag Bihu on April 14 and issue a clarification. They also urged the institution to act with greater cultural sensitivity in the future.
“Assam University must decide—does it want to be an agent of unity or a symbol of insensitivity?” the statement concluded. The ball, clearly, is now in the university’s court.
