HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, March 27: Alongside other parts of the region, Tezpur Sahitya Sabha observed ‘Sahitya Divas’ in front of the bust of Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbarua near the State Bank of India, Main Branch here on Tuesday, commemorating Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbarua’s unparalleled contribution towards Assamese language and literature. In connection with the day, Tezpur Sahitya Sabha organised a program to pay rich tribute to the doyens of Assamese language and literature, Sahityarathi Bezbarua and Sahityacharjya Mitradev Mahanta, on their 86th and 41st death anniversaries respectively.
The tribute-paying program, conducted by former secretary of Tezpur Sahitya Sabha Pankaj Barua, commenced with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp by MLA Tezpur Prithiraj Rabha and president of Tezpur Sahitya Sabha Ramesh Chandra Kalita. Paying rich tribute to Sahityarathi, Dr Bhupen Saikia, president, Sonitpur Zila Sahitya Sabha, in his insightful lecture, said that the most talked-about name in modern Assamese literature is Lakshminath Bezbarua, as he was one of the great Assamese literary icons who contributed significantly to the Assamese people, enriching the Assamese language. Remembering Bezbarua’s tremendous contribution towards building the Assamese nation and Assamese literature, he further added that Bezbarua’s literary career began in the pages of ‘Jonaki’ edited by Chandra Kumar Agarawala, and Bezbarua was a pioneer in the struggle to build and protect our language and nation.
Literary pensioner Ramchandra Chutia, addressing the gathering, discussed the obstacles faced by Assamese language and literature today. He urged everyone to come forward and dedicate their thoughts and sincere service to protect our language, literature, and nation following the ideology and ways shown to us by literary icons like Bezbaroa. Taking part in the program, MLA Tezpur Prithiraj Rabha paid tribute to the literary doyens by reciting and singing Bezbarua’s poem and song. President of Tezpur Sahitya Sabha Ramesh Chandra Kalita also spoke on the occasion.
District commissioner, Sonitpur Deba Kumar Mishra, and superintendent of police, Sonitpur IPS Barun Purkayastha, attended the event and paid floral tribute to the literary doyens. Tezpur Sahitya Sabha secretary and vice president Dwijen Nath and Nabin Chandra Lahkar, noted singer Ajit Das, president, Sonitpur Journalists Union Sanjib Hajarika, Sahitya Sabha member Bhupen Katoky, Tarun Lahkar, Dul Goswami, Bhupen Sarma, Manimala Saikia, Anju Dutta Bora, Hareswar Goswami, former student leader Nip Bora, secretary of Tezpur branch Asam Natya Sanmilan Jintu Borthakur, Sanjay Krishna Gohain Barua, and many others graced the occasion.
