TEZPUR, March 20 � The bust of three icons namely Rasaraj Lakshminath Bezbaroa, Rup Konwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Natasurya Phani Sarma which were erected at three different places in the Tezpur University campus were unveiled today by the former president of Asam Sahitya Sabha Imran Shah, new president of the apex literary body Dr Dhrubajyoti Bora and the president of Asam Natya Sanmiloni Dulal Rai respectively.
The unveiling occasion was conducted by the HoD, Department of Traditional Culture and Art Forms (TCAF), Tezpur University Dr Pradipjyoti Mahanta. Unveiling the bust of the Rasaraj Lakshminath Bezbaroa, Imran Shah said that Bezbaroa was a torch bearer of Assamese literature who dominated the Assamese literary scene for about a half century. �During his life time he devoted himself to revive the lost glory of the Assamese language and literature and awake the Assamese nation through his literary acts.
He was an excellent poet, a gifted essayist and a distinguished journalist. Obviously Lakshminath Bezbaroa was a pioneering writer of modern Assamese literature. His style rich with humour, satire, simplicity and a magical quality of language was like a breath of fresh air in the stagnant world of Assamese literature of the time. In fact his writing took Assamese literature on to the road of modernity.� Imran Sah said urging the new generation to take forward the Assamese culture and literature with the ideology of the Rasaraj.
Shah also said that Bezbaroa fought an incessant battle with many of his contemporaries to establish a proper place for Assamese in the state aiming at the overall development of the Assamese society. However, it is unfortunate that the Assamese nation is yet to understand those things. He urged all concerned to go deep into the creation of Lakshminath Bezbaroa.
On the other hand, addressing the august gathering the new president of Asam Sahitya Sabha, Dr Dhrubajyoti Bora also spoke on the contribution of Lakshminath Bezbaroa towards the Assamese literature and culture. He said, �It was difficult to categorise Lakshminath Bezbaroa into any one particular category, as he kept amazing his admirers with his many personifications. Sometimes he was a businessman, sometimes a literary activist, sometimes a journalist, sometimes a cartoonist and sometimes even an interpreter of Vaisnava faith.
Speaking on the occasion president of Asam Natya Sanmiloni, Dulal Rai recalled the contribution of Natyasurya Phani Sarma towards the Assamese society through his plays. He urged the new generation to keep alive the memories of the icons by following their ideology.
Earlier, the key note address was delivered by Dr Prof Mihir Kanti Choudhury, vice chancellor of Tezpur University while pro vice chancellor, Dr Amarjyoti Choudhury welcomed the dignitaries.
The event was followed by an interaction programme between the new Sabha president, Dr Dhrubajyoti Bora and the students of the Central University.
Meanwhile, in the sideline of the day-long programme, the new president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha replying to the question regarding the on-going debate on the issue of definition of Assamese said that is has already been bestowed to the government and they will take the final decision.
