HT Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, Oct 14: The 9th Sivasagar Book Fair, organised by the leading NGO ‘Khoj’ at Boarding Field, begins on Tuesday. The ceremonial ‘lai khuta’ of the book fair, which will run from October 15 to October 24, was performed by eminent poet Prema Gogoi on October 7. Dr Prakash Kotoky, chairman of the Sivasagar Development Authority, will open the gate of the venue, ‘Dr Birendra Kumar Bhattacharjya Khetra’, while Khoj president Rohini Gogoi will hoist the flag. Dr Jiten Hazarika, vice chancellor of Dibrugarh University, will inaugurate the book fair in the presence of Utpal Sharma, president of AASU; Ayush Garg, Sivasagar district commissioner; ONGC’s ED & asset manager Rajesh Tiwari; and Sivasagar SP Subhrajyoti Bora.
Three prominent personalities—Rajani Dutta, former ‘padadhikar’ of Srimanta Sankardev Sangha; Sanjeev Kumar Phukan, writer and executive editor of ‘Dainik Janambhumi’; and ‘Adarsha Khetiayak’ Dinesh Taye—will be conferred with the ‘Rangpur Gaurab’ titles by the organisers for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively, in recognition of their contributions to society, informed Jayjyoti Gogoi, secretary of ‘Khoj’. Over 60 booksellers and publishers from Kolkata and Guwahati have confirmed their participation in the book fair. The souvenir, edited by Muktab Hussain and Pranob Bora, will be released by Dr Jiten Hazarika.
On October 16, Dr Pranjal Buragoohain of Dibrugarh University will address the students and speak on the topic ‘Aim and Objective of Life’. Indra Kamal Phukan will deliver a speech on Dr Birendra Kumar Bhattacharjya’s poems on October 17. On October 18, a spelling competition will be conducted by the Sivasagar Jila Sahitya Sabha. Dr Satyakam Borthakur of Dibrugarh University will speak on the topic ‘A Dignified Old Age’. A special birthday observation for poet Prema Gogoi and a pet meet will be held at the book fair on October 24. The concluding function will be attended by Dr Ranoj Pegu, minister of Education and guardian minister; former MP Tapan Kumar Gogoi; Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi; Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi; and several others.