JORHAT, Feb 5 - Folk artiste and a noted researcher of folk music and culture propagated by Mahapurush Srimanta Sankaradeva and his disciple Madhabadeva,
and also a well-known dhol player Dr Krishnakanta Handique was bestowed with the Bokulban Award for 2020 at a function held here recently.
The award is annually given away by the Bokulban Trust in memory of noted poet late Ananda Chandra Baruah, who was popularly known as �Bokulbanar Kabi� and was also a former president of Asam Sahitya Sabha. The award carries a cash prize, a citation, a seleng sador and a packet of books.
The president of the Bokulban Trust Samiran Bordoloi presided over the function held at the Danbir Radha Kanta Handique Bhawan within the premises of the central office of the Asam Sahitya Sabha here.
Amal Rajkhowa, a former general secretary of Asam Sahitya Sabha gave away the award to Dr Handique. Speaking on the occasion, Rajkhowa while paying tributes to Bokulbanar Kabi Ananda Chandra Baruah, recalled the precious contributions of the poet in enriching Assamese literature. He said Baruah�s literary works portrayed the picture of rural life of Assam.
Rajkhowa, while speaking about the immense contributions of Dr Handique towards Assamese folk songs and music, said that during the 1974 convention of the Asam Sahitya Sabha held at Mangaldai under the presidentship of Dr Maheshwar Neog, two dhol players playing the musical instrument had welcomed Dr Neog to the stage and one of them was Dr Handique.
Addressing the gathering after receiving the award, Dr Handique thanked the Trust for bestowing him the honour and hoped that such initiatives will contribute to promoting and preserving the folk culture of the state.
Earlier, delivering the welcome address, Bordoloi lauded Dr Handique for his valuable contributions throughout his life to preserve and promote folk culture thereby enriching the Assamese treasure-house of art and culture.
The function was anchored by Dr Soumitra Puzari, secretary of the Trust and an Assistant Professor of History of Jorhat College (Amalgamated).
