Important Academic and Social Organisations Asom Sahitya Sabha : The most important literary and cultural body devoted to uplift the Assamese language, literature and culture. Its first meeting and convention was held on 26th December, 1917, under the presidentship of Padmanath Gohain Baruah. At that time it was held under the banner of Sodou Asom Sahitya Sanmilani. On 5th May of 1924, it was registered as ‘Asom Sahitya Sabha’ and the earlier name was formally changed in 1944. The head office of Sabha is in Jorhat and branch offices are located in 41 Diphu and Chuburi. I lie main aim and objectives of the Asom Sahitya Sabha 1, help and develop Assamese language-literature, culture and Assamese local language-culture. The present emblem of Asom Sahitya Sabha was accepted on 28th October 1960. The emblem was drawn by Jugal Das. The emblem is like this : an earthen lamp over a book written on the bark of sanchi tree is placed on a wooden stand Thoga, and encircled by these words Chiro Senehi Mor Bhasha Janani, and a star in the beneath. In The base of the wooden stand its written ‘Assam Sahitya Sabha’. The first stanza of Asom Sangeet composed by Lakhsminath Bezbaroa is used as the flag hosting song of Asom Sahitya Sabha. The song Chiro Senehi Mor Bhasha Janani composed by Mitradeb Mahanta, is used as the beginning of the ceremony and 0 Mor Aponar Desh composed by Lakhsminath Bezbaroa used as the wrapping up song. In 1933, Asom Sahitya Sabha published an Assamese dictionary Chandrakanta Abhidhan. Asom Sahitya Sabha already published more than 250 valuable books related to Assamese language-literature and culture alongwith first Assamese children encyclopedia (Sishu Gyankosh). Moreover Asom Sahitya Sabha publishes a magazine Asom Sahitya Sabha Patrika from 1926. From 2001, Asom Sahitya Sabha undertook a project to publish a series of Assamese subject-encyclopedia. Accordingly till date eleven volumes including Science, Literature, History, Sociology, Culture etc. has been published.The project of publishing encyclopedias on all subjects will be completed on the ceremony of Asom Sahitya Sabha’s centennial celebration or before that. With its own constitution, emblem and song, Asom Sahitya Sabha is a full-fledged organisation, with yearly conventions in various parts of Assam (now the convention is held in a gap of two years). Till now there have been 83 conventions, and one president is elected for each of the convention. The presidents are of high rank who have contributed tremendously in the field of literature in Assam.
The Presidents of Asom Sahitya Sabha (1917-2017)
The following eminent persons Assam were elected/nominated of of the Asom Sahitya Sabha held at years of its existence :
1 Padmanath Gohain Baruah Sivasagar, 1917,
2. JajneswarSharma Tihu, 1976,
3. Chandradhar Baruah Goalpara, 1918,
4. Sayed Abdul Malik Abhayapuri, 1977,
5 Kaliram Medhi Barpeta 1919,
6. Prasannalal Choudhuri Golaghat, 1978,
7 Hemchandra Goswami Tezpur, 1920
8.Amritbhusan Deva Adhikari, 1923
9. Atut Chandra Barua Sualkuchi, 1979
10. Jatindranath Goswami Raha, 1980
11. Situanath Brahmachaudhuri, Tinsukia 1981
12.Kanaklal Baruah Dibrugarh, 1924
13. akshminath Bezbarua Guwahati, 1924
14.Rajanikanta Bardoloi Nagaon, 1925
15. Sitanath Brahmachaudhuri, Diphu 1982
16. Benudhar Rajkhowa Dhubri, 1926
17. Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya, Bongaigaon, 1983
18.Tarunram Phukan Goalpara, 1927
19 Kamalakanta Bhattacharya Jorhat, 1929
20. Jogesh Das Bihpuria, 1985
21. Biren Barkataki Kampur, 1986
22 Mofijuddin Ahmed Hazarika Golaghat, 1930
23. Mahendra Bora Pathsala, 1987
24. Kirtinath Hazarika Hailakandi, 1988
25. Nagendra Narayan Chaudhury Sivasagar 1931
26. Mohim Bora Doomdooma, 1989
27. Navakanta Baruah Biswanath Chariali 1990
28 Jnyanadabhiram Barua North Lakhimpur, 1933
29. Nirmalprabha Bardoloi Dudhnoi, 1991
30. Ananda Chandra Agarwala Mangaldoi, 1934
31. Lakshyadhar Choudhury Goreswar, 1992
32. Raghunath Chaudhari Tezpur 1936
33. Bhupen Hazarika Sivasagar, 1993
34.Krishna kanta Handique Guwahati, 1937
35. Lila Gogoi Morigaon, 1994
36.Maldul Islam Bora Jorhat, 1940
37.. Hitesh Deka Sarthebari, 1995
38.Nilamani Phukan Sivasagar, 1944
39. Lakshminandan Bora, Bokakhat, 1996
40. Nilatnani Phukan Dibrugarh, 1947
41. Nagen Saikia Bilasipara 1997
42. Ambikagiri Iondhury Mergherita, 1950
43. Nagen Saikia Bilashipara, 1997
44.Nagen Saikia Hawraghat 1998
45. Chandraprasad Saikia* Hajo 1999
46.Chandraprasad Saikia** Jorhat 2000
47.Surya Kumar Bhuyan Shillong, 1953
48. Nallnibala Devi Jorhat 1955
49. Homen Borgohain Dibrugarh 2001
50 Jatinndranath Duarah Guwahati 1955
51. Homen Borgohain** Kalgachia 2002
52.Benudhar Sharma Dhubri 1956
53. Birendranath Dutta, North Lakshimpur 2004
54.PadmadharChaliha Tinsukia, 1958
55.Atul Chandra Hazarika Nagaon 1959
56. Birendranath Dutta** Hojai, 2004
57 Trailokya Nath Goswami Mirza, Palashbari, 1960
58. Kanaksen Deka Sipajhar, 2005
59. Kanaksen Deka** Belsor, 2006
60. Kanaksen Deka Chapar, 2007
61.Kanaksen Deka** Dakhinpat, 2008
62 Ratnakanta Barkakoti Nazira, 1963
63. Rangbong Terang Dhemaji, 2009
64.Rangbong Terang** Baithalangsa, 2010
65. Mitradev Mahanta Digboi, 1964
66.Dimbeswar Neog Nalbari, 1965
67. Binanda Chandra Baruah North Lakshimpur 1966
68. Rangbong Terang Dergaon 2011
69. Rangbong Terang** Ledo 2012
70. Nakul Chandra Bhuyan Dibrugarh, 1967
71. Jnyananath Bora Tezpur, 1968
72. Imran Shah Barpeta Road, 2013
73. Imran Shah** Guwahati, 2014
74. Dhrubajyoti Bora Kaliabar, 2015
75. Dhrubajyoti Bora Halflong, 2016
76. Ananda Chandra Barua Barpeta, 1969
77.Upendranath Lekharu Dhing, 1970
78.Tirthanath Sharma Makum, 1971
79. Bordumsa, 2018
80.Hem BaruaDhubri Rangia, 1972
81.Satyendranath Sarma Titabar, 1975.
82. Maheswar Neog Mangaldoi, 1974.
1973 * from 1999 the convention is held in a gap of two years. The tenure of the President is also for two years.
Conventions is becoming popular and accepted as an important event of Assam. Besides publishing books, encyclopaedias etc. of immense importance, the ‘Sabha’ also conducts the teaching of the Assamese language for the non-Assamese people. The number of branch of Asom Sahitya Sabha is about 1000.
• Asom Natya Sanmilan : Asom Natya Sanmilan was formed to help and develop of drama and acting of Assam. It was previously named as `Asom Ekanka Nat Sanmilan’. The first conference of this organisation was held in 1959 at Dibrugarh. At the beginning Asom Natya Sanmilan gave importance to creation and competition of one act plays. In 1967, at its annual conference held under the presidentship of Maheshwar Neog, the previous name was changed to Asom Natya Sanmilan and the focus was shifted from one act plays to creation and competition of 90 minutes long plays. The Asom Natya Sanmilan’s annual journal Rangamancha is published every year. The first president of this organisation was Kalaguru Bishnuprasad Rabha. In the yearly conference of the Asom Natya Sanmilan, drama workshops, drama competition, seminars etc. held regularly.
• Asom Nepali Sahitya Sabha : To restore and develop the Nepali language-literature, Asom Nepali Sahitya Sabha was formed on 19th August 1993 in Hawaipur of Karbi-Anglong district by the Nepali residents of Assam. The first president of the Asom Nepali Sahitya Sabha was Lakshmiprasad Parjuli and general secretary was Harshabahadur Chetri.
• Asom Lekhika Sangstha : To develop Assamese language-literature and to support the women writers and litterateur enthusiast Asom Lekhika Sangstha was established on 16 May 1976. Suchibrata Rai Chaudhury and Preeti Baruah were successively founder chairperson and general secretary. Asom Lekhika Sangstha has many branches entire the State. Suchetana, the bi-annual journal of Assam Lekhika Sangstha, was first published in 1998. To inspire upcoming women writers, Sangstha provides award in various categories. Asom Lekhika Sangstha has already published many books. Some of them ire : Mahila Kabir Kabya Grantha (1979), Lekhikar Golpo (1989), Asomiya Sahitya Aru Lekhika (two volumes : 1994, 1998), L3yathar Alakananda Nalinibala (1998), Sotikar Mahila Kobi (1998), Subashito Hemantar Preetire (1998), Ura Mari Akasoloi, Pragyawati Prabina (1999), Sampratik Lekhikar Golpo (1998), Timpitora (2000), Asomiya Lekhikar Grantha Sambhar (2002) etc. As a result of the effort of this association, Assam Government, onetime financial help was used to publish a children and youth magazine named Aakash on 14th November, 1979, under the editorship of Preeti Baruah. After being published or consequently four years, Aakash was closed down due to financial reasons.
• BodoSahityaSabha: The second largest literary and cultural mrqarlisation of Assam is the Bodo Sahitya Sabha. It was es-tablished on 16th November, 1952, with a view to work for the de-velopment of the Bodo literature and culture. It has a publishing unit which has published more than 80 Bodo text books, poetry books, short story books, novels etc. It gives a literary award to the best writer of Bodo Sahitya Sabha in Bodo language every year, and also an award of Rs. 1000 to the student who secures the highest marks in Bodo language in the HSLC examination. It’s head office at Kokrajhar.
• Publication Board, Assam (Asom Prakashan Parishad) : w Publication Board, Assam was set up as an autonomous organisation in 1958 at Shillong and is functioning since 1959 with its headquarters at Guwahati. Its jurisdiction extends all.
Presidents & Secretaries of Bodo Sahitya Sabha- (1952-2017)
President Tenure Secretary Tenure
Joybhadra Hagjer 1952-66 Sonaram Thausen 1952-55
Satish Chandra Basumatary 1966-68 Gaurikanta Brahma 1955-68
Gaurikanta Brahma 1968-74 Tarun Phukan Basumatary 1968-71
Ramdas Basumatary 1974-77 Bihuram Boro 1971-74
Lakheswar Brahma 1977-80 Baneswar Basumatary 1974-77
Ramdas Basumatary 1980-83 Bihuram Boro 1977-90
Jagendra Kumar Basumatary 1983-90 Blneswar Brahma 1990-93
Kamal Kumar Brahma 1990-93 Gopinath Borgoyari 1993-2002
Maniram Masari 1993-96 Rajen Khakhlari 2002-2004
Bineswar Brahma 1996-2000 Gobinda Basumatary 2005-2008
Daleswar Boro 2000-2002 Kamalakanta Musahari 2008-2017
Brajedra Kumar Brahma 2002-2008 Prasanta Boro 2017-
Dr Kameswar Brahma 2008-2017
Taren Boro 2017-
over the State. The aim of the Board is to sponsor, encourage and assist in writing, editing, compiling, translating and publishing important books in the languages of Assam and English and do such other works as may be found necessary from time to time. In pursuance of there aims and object the Board has, since its inception, undertaken various schemes. The Board has till now published more than seven hundred valuable books. The Publication Board, Assam, celebrated its Silver Jubliee in 1984, and a national level Book Fair was organised at Guwahati to mark the occasion. Now this Book Fair has turned to be an annual event at Guwahati. Besides publishing books, the Board has also instituted a scheme of conferring an annual literary award to an author ev-ery year for the best Assamese book. The award was instituted in 1973. See also Awards & Honours • Assam ScienceSociety (Asom Bigyan Samiti) : It was established on 13 February, 1953 at the Cotton College, Guwahati, as a voluntary organisation. At that time it was known as Guwahati Bigyan Samiti, which was changed to Asom Bigyan Samiti in 1956. It main aims are to popularize science and science Education the common people, by way of seminars, work-pillow; and exhibitions, the publicity and development of science in practical level, etc. It has published a few books on science and scientific language, magazines like Bigyan Jeuti, encyclopaedias etc. The ‘Journal of Assam Science Society’ Ills got recognition in the international level.
• Anundoram Barooah Institute of Language, Art & Culture, Assam (ABILAC, Anundoram Barooah Bhasha, Kola, Sanskriti itigstha) : This important institution for the development of kwal, indigenous language-culture-art-literature and also for the (Invelopment, expansion and research of the Sanskrit I.inguage was established in 1990 at the instigation of the Assam government. There are five division of this pioneer institution to realise its various objectives. They are : a) I vjuage and linguistics, b) Literature and translation, c) Folk-ulture and folk traditions, d) Art-culture and music division e) Sanskrit studies. At the beginning it was named as Local I iinquage and Research & Development Center. Later it was after the scolar Anundoram Barooah. 1 he aims and objectives of this organisation are: (1) Awlopment of Assamese local language, Art and Culture, (2) considering Anundoram Barooah’s contribution to linguistic study, specially, Sanskrit, to provide encouragement and Inspiration in every phase of Sanskrit learning, (3) to identify the inquired human resources, material and the techniques to dnvolop Assamese local language-art-culture, (4) to collect, -,tore and promote language-literature, art, folk-literature, 11.1ditional customs and collection of other material from the wicjhborhood states of Assam, (5) to accumulate and publish ilitterent language-art-culture related books by adhering to the )wanisations aims and objectives, (6) to maintain educational mmmunication and relation with different sate, national and ilit(qmitional research organisation, association or universities, (7) to provide advice for the government in the fields of local language, art and culture related research, plans and projects.
ABILAC has already published many valuable books, among them many are translations and reprints. Some other important books are Goethe’s Faust (translated), Bandhon Suloki Pore (translated), Darsonor Kahini (translated), Anundoram Dhekial Phukan’s Asomiya Lorar Mitra (reprinted), A Handbook of Folklore Material of North-East India, Festivals of Assam, Asomiya Sahityar Buranji (2nd and 6th volumes), Jajneswar Sarmar Prabandha Choyon’, Bodo Chuti Golpo etc. Moreover the organisation is working on a dictionary Samogrik Asomiya Sabdakosh with many volumes. This organisation provides an yearly award called (Anundoram Barooah Award’. It’s yearly magazine Anundam is a publication of high Standard. It’s head office at Rajaduar in North Guwahati. • Kamrup Anusandhan Samiti : For research, especially, on ancient Kamrup and North-East India, Kamrup Anusandhan Samiti was established on 7th April, 1912. The society received the government’s grant in 1915. This way, the first executive committee was formed on 10th November, 1916. Maha-mahupadhyay Dhireshwaracharya is known as its founder president. Chandranath Sarma was its first secretary. The Journal of the Assam Research Society, a house-journal of Kamrup Anusandhan Samiti, is being published from 1933. Archaeological and many research books of Kamrup have been published by the organisation. The Assam State Museum at Guwahati was mainly established with the archaeological collection of Kamrup Anusandhan Samiti. • Mising Sahitya Sabha : Mising Sahitya Sabha was formed at Disangmukh on 18th April, 1972. The aim and objective of this organisation is to give Mising language a written form. Tabu Taid was the first president of Mising Sahitya Sabha. In 1978, at Dhemaji conventions, the sabha was decided to practice Mishing language in Roman writing. Mising Sahitya Sabha has already published many valuable books. • Karbi Sahitya Sabha : To preserve and develop the Karbi language and literature Karbi Sahitya Sabha was formed on 27th March, 1966. The original Karbi name of this organisation is Karbi LammetAmei. The first full fledged conventions of Karbi Sahitya Sabha was held in Diphu on 18th March, 1973 under the presidentship of Dhaniram Rongpi. Besides published a Karbi grammar entiled Karbi Lamkuru, Karbi Sahity Sabha has already published many books. Some of them are : Lammet Esang, Samfri Apunsir, Khei Aharsi, Dampijuk Chingdi, Longri Amelur etc. • Deori Sahitya Sabha: For the development of Deori language and culture, Deori chu-chebachongca (Deori Sahitya Sabha) was formed on 20th January, 1965. Deori Sahitya Sabha has accepted Assamese script as the Deori script and has been demanding to get recognition from the government for the development of Deori language. • Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Assam : Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Assam was formed in the interest of building an environment for studying and promoting of Nepali language-culture-literature, publishing of magazines and books, constructing libraries, developing a relation of understanding and exchange with the language-culture-literature of north-east of India and establishing a communal relationship with.the neighboring people of different I. language and tribes. This organisation was formed in 1974, was 1( ciistered in 1982 and was recognised by Sahitya Akademi in I!)84. The name of the house journal of Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Assam is Parishad-Patra. The organisation is already engaged in translating Assamese poems to Nepali language. Nepali ! hihitya Parishad, Assam provides various awards to encourage Nepali writers.
• Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies : I wpartment of Historical and Antiquarian Studies was established by Assam government in 1928.During the late 19th century the Department of Ethnography, established under the supervision of Sir Edward Gait and the Kamrup Anusandhan established in 1912 are the prior organisation of this department. In 1936, with the aid of Rs 10,000 from Radhakanta permanent house for the department was built in panbazar, Guwahati and the department was named `Narayani Handique Historical Institute’. In 1953, an `Ahom Branch’ was opened in the department. In 1957, for the purpose of personal data collection and preservation another branch was added on as ‘Regional Record Survey’. The number of collected and preserved documents in the department is 2783. The subtotal books in the library is 18,271, copper plates 16 and ancient coins 376. The number of own publication of the department is about 50.
• Rabha Bhasa Parishad : To develop and restore Rabha language & literature the Rabha Bhasa Parishad was established at Dudhnoi in 1982. In accordance to the national language promotion method this organisation has launched five layered Rabha language education/examination system. The organisation is also focused in developing standards of the Rabha literature written in Assamese script. Narendra Chandra Rabha was the first president of Rabha Bhasa Parishad. • Rabha Sahitya Sabha : To develop Rabha Language and Culture Rabha Sahitya Sabha was formed at Ghaksha of undi-vided Goalpara district on 8th April, 1973. This organisation is playing an important role in giving recognition to the various dia-lects of Rabha language as standard language. • Sadau Asom Lekhika Somaroh Samiti : Sadau Asom Lekhika Somaroh Samiti, an organisation of the Assamese writers riters and litterateur, was formed at Tezpur in 1974. The first chairperson of this samiti was Shila Borthakur, first general secretaries were Purabi Barmudoi and Swadhinata Mahanta.Besides publishing the house-journal Lekhika, Sadau Asom Lekhika Somaroh Samiti has already published a few books of women writer of Assam. Sadau Asom Lekhika Somaroh Samiti has its branches in many places of Assam. To inspire women writers, Samiti provides about twenty award in various categories.