GUWAHATI, Jan 22 - Educationist Dr Amarjyoti Choudhury launched a book titled Avadan, written and published by pastor of Guwahati Baptist Church Aziz-ul Haque, at a meeting held at the Guwahati Press Club on Tuesday.
The meeting was presided over by advocate Bani Bikram Sharma. Professor of Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva Viswavidyalaya Dr Dayananda Pathak and writer Surjya Hazarika were the guest speakers.
At the meeting, it was also announced that the first Baptist church in the North East, the Guwahati Baptist Church, will celebrate 175 years of its founding from Friday. The 3-day celebration will begin with a cultural procession at 8 am on the first day. Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi will address the audience in the church at Panbazar.
Avadan, written in Assamese, is about the contribution of 16 missionaries and four of their local associates.
Dr Choudhury said, �The missionaries played a very significant role in the history of Assamese language and culture. The book is very significant in respect of the present scenario prevailing in the State.�
Talking about the contributions of missionaries towards Assamese society, guest speakers Dr Pathak and Hazarika said, �The missionaries resuscitated the Assamese language and built its modern literature on solid foundation. Haque�s book will connect the missing link with the past. The present generation is not fully aware about the contributions of the missionaries to the Assamese language and society. The book will definitely help them acquire knowledge about the missionaries.�