Sadou Asom Lekhika Samaroh Sivasagar session gets underway

HT Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, Oct 14: The 29th biennial session of Sadou Asom Lekhika Samaroh (SALS), the biggest literary organisation of women writers of the state got underway with ceremonial flag hoisting, sapling plantation, and smriti tarpan in presence of large numbers of women writers from across the state in Sivasagar Boarding Field on Friday amidst unprecedented heavy autumn showers in the morning that submerged the venue temporarily.
Addressing the first seminar dedicated to the former president of SALS, late Annada Saikia on ‘Post Independence Era Assamese Novels’, distinguished speaker and assistant professor of Jorhat Women University, Dr. Mahesweta Devi said, “The post-independence Assamese novels are treasure trove of diverse trends of Assamese socio-political and ethnocultural life. The novels, right from Jivanar Batat (Bina Barua) and kesa Pator Kaponi’ (Dr Prafulla Dutta Goswami) to the novels of dominant women novelists of today; Rita Chowdhury, Anuradha Pujari, Manikuntala Devi, and Juri Bora Borgohain are all works of sincere research portraying the intricate designs of the social fabric against diverse backgrounds.”
She said that novels not only give pleasure but also directions and a deeper sense of time and space in a community.
Dr. Junu Mahanta inaugurated the seminar which was presided over by Dr. Bibha Bora, former principal, Bokakhat College. Dr. Arundhati Mahanta lit the lamp at the beginning of the seminar.
Addressing the Bhuban Chandra Handiqui Memorial History Session, Jiten Borpatra Gohain, former HoD, History, Namrup College said, “The government has declared Sivasagar as ‘iconic city’ but has not released enough grants to develop the infrastructure of the historical relics in the undivided Sivasagar district.”
He also said that the government needs to evict the 4700 bighas of occupied land around Charaideo maidams and do the needful on a war footing before seeking the UNESCO tag.
Earlier, Dr. Charu Saharia Nath, president, SALS, Tarulata Gogoi, president Sivasagar district committee along with the president of the primary committees hoisted 29 flags. The tree plantation was initiated by three former college principals: Amal Dutta, Dr. Prakash Kotoky, and Kartick Dutta. Jayashree Chaliha lit the ceremonial lamp and Monica Saikia, former vice principal, Sibsagar college, did the tarpan.
The exhibition held in the field was inaugurated by noted social worker Punnaram Mili while Aditya Vikram Yadav IAS, DC Sivasagar inaugurated the book fair.
The delegate’s camp was inaugurated in Marowari Milan Mandir on Thursday evening by the chairperson of the Sivasagar Municipality Board, Mrinalee Konwar and the welcome speech was delivered by Aparajita Bhuyan.