GUWAHATI, Feb 9 � The Swabhav Shilpi Amulya Kakati Memorial Award, instituted in the memory of veteran actor and playwright Amulya Kakati, was today given to mathematician and writer Dr Dilip Kumar Dutta for his contributions towards preserving and promoting Assamese culture.
Receiving the award from noted actor Pranjal Saikia, Dr Dilip Dutta said that though he had met Amulya Kakati only once in his life, yet he was touched by his philosophy of life and the depth of his work.
The award instituted by the Students� Artistes� Writers� Welfare Trust of the All Guwahati Students� Union is given every year to those who contribute towards preserving Assamese culture and tradition.
�Amulya Kakati had come to my house in Guwahati to give me a copy of his documentary, All Alone If Need Be based on the life and works of former Chief Minister of Assam Sarat Chandra Singha. The depth and details with which he prepared the documentary on one of the great leaders of Assam received rave reviews in various universities abroad, where I distributed the copies of the same,� he said.
Dilip Kumar Dutta, a former professor of Mathematics in the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, USA, has written more than 15 Assamese books, which include Dr Bhupen Hazarikar Geet aru Jeevan Rath, Subhadinar Nirghanta, Mane Mur Kaina Bichare, Miss Gauhati, Premat Parilo Neki, Bishnu Prasadar Prasad among others.
The books on Mathematics authored by him include Concept of Geometry, Math Education at Its Best, and Finite Math for Liberal Art among others.
As a researcher, preserver and promoter of Assamese culture, he has the rare collection of songs of Dr Bhupen Hazarika, Bishnu Prasad Rabha and many other eminent and lesser known artistes of Assam. Through the �i-tune� software, he has uploaded many Assamese songs on the Internet.
Dr Dutta also lauded the efforts of the All Assam Students� Union in recognising and honouring the persons working towards promoting and preserving Assamese culture. �The fact that a students� union has extended this honour to me has increased its importance because students symbolise new generation and I always try to motivate the young generation through my writings,� he said.
A founder member of the Students� Artistes� Writers� Welfare Trust, Amulya Kakati was also an eminent playwright. Some of the plays written by him are Ami Actor, Aa-Aaa, Natak, Rang and Ekhon Natak among others.
His documentary, All Alone If Need Be received the national Rajat Kamal award in 1986.
Speaking on the occasion, Pranjal Saikia said that Amulya Kakati�s death has created a vacuum in cultural world of Assam. �He was a true cultural activist, who wanted to give some positive message to the society through his work,� he said.
AASU adviser Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya said that Amulya Kakati was the guiding spirit of the AASU and the students� body would always try to promote his philosophy of life.
