Dr Borah stresses literature’s unifying role

Dr Dhrubajyoti Borah, President, Asam Sahitya Sabha, released the Poetry special issue of Eka Ebong Koekjan, the foremost Bengali literary journal from North East, before an august gathering of writers and intellectuals at Karmasree Hiteswar Saikia Auditorium, Pandu on Sunday.

Dr Borah lauded Eka Ebong Koekjan for its untiring efforts through 37 long years to disseminate the richness and diversity of the literature of Assam and the North East to the greater Bengali diaspora. He said that literature has a unifying and harmonising role to play in building up a greater Assamese society incorporating diverse linguistic and ethnic groups in its fold. He defined ‘Asomiya’ as one who is permanently resident in Assam, and uses Assamese as either first, second or third language. Dr Borah also let it be known that as the Sabha begins to prepare for Centenary celebrations by the end of the year, it has ambitious plans to expand its reach, membership and activities.

The magazine launch was followed by an enjoyable evening of poetry readings where acclaimed poets like Anupama Basumatary, Sanjoy Chakraborty, Bipuljyoti Saikia, Tusherkanti Saha, Bimalendu Bhowmick, Bimalendu Chakraborty, Debalina Sengupta etc read out their latest poems before an appreciative audience. Few poem recited by Bipul Bora, Sibsankar Das, Gautom Bhsttacherjee and Urmila Dasgupta. Tagore songs by Chandrabali Rudra and Alakananda Chakraborty further heightened the evening’s pleasure.