Nagas in Assam incensed with lyrics in Bihu song

Naga communities and personalities in Assam have expressed outrage at lyrics in the Bihu song by Bihu exponent Ranjit Gogoi sung for around 11,300 female dancers and male drummers for the “largest Bihu performance at a single venue” to create two world records acknowledged by Guinness at the Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati on April 13.
Videos of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other dignitaries joining in when the “objectionable” song was sung have gone viral on conventional and social media in Nagaland, attracting condemnation.
In attendance was prime minister Narendra Modi who also joined in the Bihu celebration during his recent visit to Guwahati. Many in Assam have also criticised the “poor choice of song” for a world record-breaking performance and called for a review of songs that denigrate tribal people or hill dwellers.
Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia on Tuesday urged Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for action against the Bihu exponent Ranjit Gogoi.
In a letter to the chief minister, Saikia said: “I am expressing my concern regarding the recent Bihu song performed by Ranjit Gogoi during the Guinness World Record attempt on April 13, which has hurt the sentiments of the Naga people.
After the All Assam Naga Welfare Society (AANWS), the All Assam Tangsa Students’ Union slammed the use of the “racist song” that called the Nagas okora, meaning stupid or dumb. They also deplored the use of the word Nagini in the song, which apparently means ‘Naga woman’ but is construed as being likened to a snake.
“We have noticed that Naga communities have been insulted in the lyrics of the song using the words like okora Noga, Nagini, etc.,” AANWS president Shompha Wangsu and general secretary Manto Konyak said in a statement.
“The sentiments of Naga people living in Assam since time immemorial are hurt by a Bihu song performed by Bihu exponent Ranjit Gogoi at the event,” the Tangsa students’ body said.
The All Assam Sema Naga Council has objected to the lyrics of the Bihu song used for the Guinness World Record attempt on April 14, stating that the lyrics used in the song are insulting the Naga community residing in Assam.
The Council has condemned the song for using words like “Okora Naga”, and “Nagini”, which has hurt the sentiments of the Naga people residing in the state since time immemorial. About 2.5 lakh people belonging to 10 Naga communities are spread across 11 districts of Assam.
Bihu exponent Ranjit Gogoi, who was the chief choreographer of the grand Bihu dance has issued a clarification but not an apology, after a section of Naga people raised objections to some parts of the lyrics of a song during the performance.
Addressing media Gogoi said he was making it clear that song which was decided to be part of the Bihu for the “Guinnies World Record has no relation with Nagaland.”
Further, the choreographer claimed that while singing the song there was no ill intention and delivered a song sung by the forefathers in Assam.