Sahitya Sabha session begins

Outgoing Asam Sahitya Sabha president Rong Bong Terang sharing the dais with other literary persons at the Sabha’s 72nd session at Biswaratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika Samannay Kshetra, Barpeta Road

Delegates and observers from across the State representating their own branch and district committees of Asam Sahitya Sabha arrived here this afternoon to participate in the 72nd session of the premier literary body.

A huge rush of people is expected on all the days at Biswaratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika Samannay Kshetra, the main venue of the Sabha session, as almost all the organs of the Sabha session, including the Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma Banijya Mela, Sobha Brahma and Guru Prasad Das Memorial Shilpa Aru Bigyan Pradarshani and Mamoni Raisom Goswami Grantha Utsav attracted huge crowds on the first day itself.

The Handloom and Textile Fair, inaugurated a few days back, has been attracting large crowds since day one. The staue of Dr Bhupen Hazarika, the namghar and other exhibits have also attracted people.

Inaugurating the Mamoni Raisam Goswami Book Festival, Agriculture Minister Nilamani Sen Deka made an appeal to the Sabha to create an atmosphere for penning such books that would represent Assamese people and their language. He also urged the Sabha to prepare a comprehensive plan for forestalling a defenseless situation, in which the Assamese people and their language would have to face a serious threat. 

“Today, Assamese language, literature, culture and nationality have in fact been facing a serious threat. Something is wrong somewhere. The dearth of people to fill up the voids created by the demise of great people is also becoming apparent. The number of research activities is also sliding. In contrast, the situation in the neighbouring West Bengal is quite vibrant. The elites of the neighbouring State have been making possible even those things that are considered virtually impossible,” he said. 

Inaugurating the Radhanath Phukan-Bhabananda Dutta Memorial Philosophy Conference of the Sabha Session, Justice Dr Mukundakam Sarma spoke in detail about the emergence of the eo-Vaishnavite religion of Assam. He said that the ideals preached by Srimanta Sankaradeva and his disciples are still relevant for the State’s society. 

AGP president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who inaugurated the Sobha Brahma and Guru Prasad Das memorial art and science exhibition, said that both art and culture are very much necessary for the progress of a society and there should be a systematic study of both. He recalled the contribution of the Kala Ratna Sobha Brahma and scientist Guru Prasad Das. Mahanta opined that Asam Sahitya Sabha would progress in the days to come through the unity and integrity of all tribes of the State.

Unity and integrity among the tribes of not only the State but the entire North eastern region was accorded top priority, today during the symposium on ‘River and culture of Assam’, held as part of literary festival. Addressing the seminar, Fusang Khimhan, Parliamentary Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh claimed that the relations and inter-dependability in Arunachal Pradesh is as old as its history itself and it should be kept intact at any cost. He recalled the days when he read through Assamese medium in the school and came into contact with the Assamese language and literature.

Veteran litterateur Mangal Sing Hazoary stated that the Bodo language is not confined to Assam and the North-east alone, but it has been elevated to a national language. He urged the peole to cooperate with each other for the uplift of language and society.

AKRSU leader Biswajit Roy in his speech requested the leadership of Asam Sahitya Sabha develop the literature and culture of every tribe of Assam.

Outgoing Sabha president Rong Bong Terang inaugurated the literary festival in the absence of Meghalaya Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary. A great number of representatives from several youth and student bodies and indigenous tribal groups attended the literary festival.

Dr Paramananda Rajbongshi, secretary, Asam Sahitya Sabha, informed that the writings presented in the symposium today will be published in a volume titled Rivers and Culture of Assam. 

Tomorrow the Sabha flag will be unfurled at 9 am by outgoing president Rong Bong Terang. Ramdhenu and intimate discussions among the new writers will be inaugurated by Dr Malini at 10.30 am. DoNER Minister Pawan singh Ghatowar is scheduled to attend the function as the chief guest. Dilip Patgaonkar, Pritish Nandy, Dr Dhrubajyoti Bora and a host of writers from across the country will attend the discussion.

Another highlight for tomorrow is Aakash, a discussion session dedicated to woman writers at 2.30 pm. To be chaired by Dr Lily Rajbonshi, the discussion will be inaugurated by Nirupama Mishra. Towards evening local fireworks will be exhibited, to be followed by Narahari Burha Bhakat Dilip Sarma Memorial cultural nite.