Skip to content Skip to navigation

Golok Samman 2023 Announced: Four Young Honourees Recognized

By AT News |

The prestigious Golok Samman for 2023 has been announced, honoring four distinguished young individuals for their exceptional contributions in the fields of art, translation, research, and environmental activism. The award, instituted by the UD Foundation in memory of the noted translator and social worker Golok Chandra Datta, celebrates those who have made significant cultural and social impacts in Assam.

This year’s recipients are Dr. Sanjeev Bora, a renowned artist; Avantika Parashar, a noted translator; Rajesh Dattabaruah, an environmental activist; and Dr. Baburam Saikia, a Sattriya dancer and researcher.

Recognizing Talent in Art and Visual Media

Dr. Sanjeev Bora has been recognized for his remarkable contributions to fine arts. Known for his unique artistic style, Bora has illustrated more than 2,000 books for various publishers, including prominent publications from Northeast India. His expertise spans both traditional and digital media, and he has worked on posters and designs for films as well. Currently, he serves as an Assistant Professor at Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University. His award reflects his ongoing contributions to Assamese visual arts, enriching the landscape with his distinctive creations.

Celebrating the Art of Translation

Avantika Parashar, honored for her achievements in translation, made her debut with the Assamese translation of Edith Nesbit’s ‘The Railway Children’. Her other works include translations of ‘King Solomon’s Mines’ and Martin Luther King Jr.’s autobiography. Parashar is also an accomplished writer, with several original short story collections to her name. Her forthcoming works include a collection of Rabha folk tales, and the Assamese translation of Devdutt Pattanaik’s ‘My Gita’.

Environmental Activism in Focus

Rajesh Dattabaruah has been recognized for his tireless efforts as an environmental activist. Best known for popularizing the “Mobile Dustbin” concept, Dattabaruah has been working since 2012 to raise awareness about the harmful effects of carbon emissions and single-use plastics. His work extends to conserving Assam’s rivers, protecting the state’s aquatic wildlife such as the Gangetic dolphin, and addressing issues like human-wildlife conflict, especially with elephants.

Honoring Sattriya Dance and Research

Dr. Baburam Saikia has been awarded for his contributions to Sattriya dance and research. A distinguished performer, Dr. Saikia has showcased Assam’s traditional dance on national and international stages, including in France, Germany, and the USA. In addition to his performances, Dr. Saikia is a scholar with a PhD in folklore from Tartu University, Estonia. He has also been a visiting scholar at institutions like Elon University in the USA and the National University of Ireland.

Award Ceremony Set for October

The awards will be presented in a ceremony in Guwahati during the first week of October. Notably, the Golok Award’s symbol and trophy were designed by Kolkata-based artist Sourish Mitra, with the trophies crafted by Assamese sculptor Biju Das.

The ‘Golok Samman’, established to honor individuals who work dedicatedly to developing Assam’s cultural and social heritage, continues to spotlight those making a difference in the state.

Author info

AT News's picture

Assam Times Staff. editor@assamtimes.org
  • 964613 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

350 NCC Cadets Participate in Combined Training Camp and Disaster Response Programme at NERIST

Nirjuli, June 3: The 1 Arunachal Pradesh Battalion of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), under the aegis of the NCC Group Headquarters Tezpur, has commenced its Combined Annual Training Camp (CATC-37) cum Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme (YAMS) programme at the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Nirjuli. The ten-day camp began on June 1 and will continue until June 10. A total of 350 NCC cadets from Group Headquarters Tezpur are participating in the camp, including 56 cadets enrolled under the Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme. The camp is being conducted under the leadership of the Commanding Officer and Administrative Officer of 1 Arunachal Pradesh Battalion NCC, supported...

Kaziranga Rhino Cup 2026 Boxing Championship to Be Held in Golaghat from June 5–7

The Kaziranga Rhino Cup 2026, a major national-level boxing selection tournament, will be held at Golaghat Stadium in Assam from June 5 to June 7, 2026. The event is being organized as a qualifying platform for the upcoming Pro Boxing League (PBL) of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation. The tournament will serve as the second qualifying stage ahead of the Pro Boxing League scheduled to be held in New Delhi in July 2026. Through the competition, eight boxers—including five men and three women across different weight categories—will be selected for participation in the professional league. Speaking about the event, Dr. Rakesh Mishra, National President of the Indian Amateur Boxing...

CAG Flags ₹509 Crore Expenditure Without Budget Provision in Assam

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has flagged expenditure of ₹509.59 crore incurred by the Assam government during 2024-25 without any budget provision, supplementary grant, or re-appropriation order, raising concerns over financial management and legislative oversight. According to the CAG's State Finance Audit Report for Assam (Report No. 2 of 2026), the expenditure was incurred in 13 cases under the head "Public Debt and Servicing of Debt" despite the absence of authorization through the state's budgetary process. The audit report observed that such expenditure was in violation of Article 204 of the Constitution, which mandates legislative approval before funds can...

Fresh Oil Drilling Clearance Raises Concerns Over Upper Dehing Forest Conservation

The granting of environmental clearance for oil drilling inside the Upper Dehing Reserved Forest has reignited concerns among environmentalists and local residents over the future of one of Upper Assam's ecologically sensitive forest landscapes. According to a public notice issued by Oil India Limited (OIL), the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Assam, has accorded environmental clearance for the diversion of 3.73 hectares of forest land for drilling four oil wells at the old Bogapani-2 plinth in the Upper Dehing Reserved Forest (West Block) under the Digboi Forest Division. The clearance, granted under the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)...

Nava Thakuria to Receive Narad Jayanti Award

Vishwa Samvad Kendra (VSK) Assam has announced the annual Devarshi Narad Jayanti lecture programme, which will be held on Sunday, June 7, at Sudarshanalay in the Barbari area of Guwahati. The event will begin at 10:30 am. Nationally acclaimed news presenter and Senior Advisor of the News Division at Delhi Doordarshan, Prakhar Shrivastava, will deliver the keynote lecture focusing on the life and contributions of Devarshi Narad, regarded as the world's first media professional. On the occasion, senior journalist and editor of Ishan Darpan, Nava Thakuria, will be conferred the Devarshi Narad Jayanti Award 2026 in recognition of his long-standing contributions to journalism. Three...

Nagaland Student Wins Prestigious Taiwan Scholarship for Mandarin Studies

Livino K., from the Sumi community in Nagaland, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Huayu (Mandarin) Enrichment Scholarship by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. Hailing from Yemishe, a small village in Zunheboto district, Livino is set to embark on a transformative six-month study trip to Taiwan. Her journey into the world of Mandarin began unexpectedly in 2025 while exploring opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. Stumbling upon the online Mandarin programme offered by the Taiwan Education Center at Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU), Livino was intrigued by the centre’s reputation, quality teaching, and the opportunity to sit for standardized proficiency examinations. She...

Kaziranga to host second Chess Carnival on June 7 with ₹1 lakh prize fund

The second edition of the Kaziranga Chess Carnival is set to be held on June 7, 2026 at Resort Borgos, Kohora, near Kaziranga National Park. Organised by Adian Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd. in association with Assam Chess Club and Aaghun, the one-day rapid chess tournament will feature competitions in Under-10, Under-15 and Open categories. The event is expected to draw over 200 participants, including FIDE-rated players, state champions, junior talents, coaches and representatives from academies across India and neighbouring regions. The tournament will be conducted under the supervision of International Arbiter and former Indian chess coach Biswajit Bharadwaj under a 7-round Swiss...

Assam Continues To Witness High Suicide Numbers; Economic Stress Emerging As Major Concern

Assam continues to witness an alarming number of suicide cases, with concerns growing over economic distress, unemployment and mental health challenges among vulnerable sections of society. According to the latest “Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) 2024” data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Assam recorded 3,203 suicide cases in 2024, compared to 3,051 cases in 2023. The issue has remained a major social concern through 2025-26, particularly amid rising living costs, unstable income sources and growing financial pressure on low-income families. Reports and field observations indicate that daily wage earners,...

Cockroaches, Comedy and a Cry for Dignity: What the Rise of CJP Says About India’s Youth

India has witnessed protest movements, student uprisings, anti-corruption campaigns and meme wars before. But perhaps no recent phenomenon captures the frustration of India’s younger generation as sharply as the sudden rise of the “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP). What started as an internet joke has rapidly evolved into a national political conversation. The movement emerged after controversial remarks attributed to Supreme Court judge Surya Kant during a hearing, where unemployed youth and activists were allegedly compared to “cockroaches” and “parasites.” Though later clarifications suggested the remarks were directed at fake-degree holders and not unemployed youth generally, the...

Capacity Building Programme on Agri-Export Opportunities Held at Dudhnoi

Dudhnoi, May 22: A day-long capacity building programme for agri-export oriented stakeholders was organized by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority in collaboration with ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra Goalpara at the KVK campus in Dudhnoi on May 18, 2026. The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from nearly 80 farmers and members of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) from different parts of Goalpara district. The initiative aimed to create awareness about export opportunities in the agricultural sector and equip stakeholders with knowledge on export procedures and support mechanisms. The programme began with...