GUWAHATI, Oct 8 � The government has decided to institute five new Publication Board, Assam awards (Asom Prakashan Parishad Bota) from this year. This was announced by Education and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday.
Addressing media-persons at the ongoing Guwahati Book Fair and Literary Festival at the Chandmari Engineering Institute ground here, the Minister divulged that these awards would be presented every year on the last day of Guwahati Book Fair.
The awards would be given in the category for research on history, research on Vaishnav literature, contribution towards science literature, research on ethnic communities and for creative literature. The awards carry Rs 1 lakh each and a citation.
�The awards will be presented on October 14. We have extended the Guwahati Book Fair by two more days,� said Sarma adding that the response of the people was quite encouraging for Publication Board, Assam, the organizer of the Guwahati Book Fair. The literary festival will conclude on October 12.
The award for research on history would be conferred on Dr Rajen Saikia, the award for research on Vaishnav literature would be presented to Bapchandra Mahanta (posthumously), the award for contributing towards science literature will be presented to Dr Dinesh Chandra Goswami, the award for research work on ethnic communities will be presented to Upen Rabha Hakasam and the award for creative literature will be presented to Kumar Kishor (posthumously).
Sarma said that the new releases of Publication Board, Assam have been popular with the readers. It needs to be mentioned here that around 35,000 tickets were sold at the counter yesterday. The organizers have made entry free for students.
�The Rosonawalis published by the Board have been a favourite with the readers. Yesterday the sales of the Board was to the tune of Rs 1 lakh� said Sarma mentioning that another book Lachit Barphukan-the National Hero by Dr Birendra Kumar Gohain has received good response from the readers.