GUWAHATI, Jan 5 - The Guwahati Journalists and Literary Pensioners Association and Basundhara Kala Niketan today jointly felicitated eminent Sattriya dance exponent and writer Prafulla Pran Mahanta on his 86th birthday celebrated at the Kala Niketan, Beltola here.
The function held under the chairmanship of DN Chakarvartty was addressed by noted Sarvodaya worker Hem Bhai.
In his speech, Bhai dwelt on the contributions of Mahanta towards the popularisation of Sattriya dance and music.
Baby Bhuyan, director of Kala Niketan, while congratulating Mahanta, hoped that Mahanta would get better recognition for his outstanding contributions in the fields of arts, music and literature.
R Baruah, retired bureaucrat, also spoke on the occasion.
Chakravartty, in his presidential remarks, recalled his association with Mahanta for the past five decades and described him as a relentless worker in the fields of Assamese language and literature and the Vaisnavite culture.
Mahanta, in his reply, expressed his hope that the Assamese people would never deviate from the ideals as expounded by the great saints Srimanta Sankaradeva and Madhabdeav.
He also hoped that the Assamese writers would religiously follow the ideals set by Lakshminath Bezbaroa, Dimbeswar Neog, Dr Maheswar Neog and Dr Birinchi Kumar Baruah.
The meeting accepted the suggestion of Chakravartty for offering the title �Kala Bhaskar� to Mahanta in recognition of his outstanding services in the realm of culture.
