GUWAHATI, May 3 - Eminent writer and former president of Asam Sahitya Sabha Homen Bargohain today said that although over 40 dictionaries and more than 80 grammar books have been published in the Assamese language, there is still a need for a higher-level dictionary containing the etymological significance and the history of the words in order to fulfil the growing requirements of research scholars, professors, writers and journalists.
Bargohain, who was releasing a book on Assamese grammar Uchhatar Asomiya Byakaran by Dr Ramesh Pathak, complimented the latter for fulfilling a requirement of the different groups of intellectuals and writers by producing a valuable book on grammar.
He spoke about the monumental contributions towards the systematisation of Assamese grammar by Hemchandra Baruah and Satyanath Bora who added to the preliminary work done by the American missionaries in the early 19th century.
The function, held on the occasion of the 87th birthday of Dr Pathak, was presided over by Kanaksen Deka, former president of Asam Sahitya Sabha.
Addressing the meeting as chief guest, senior journalist DN Chakravartty dwelt at length on the beauty and greatness of the Assamese language and literature, and lamented the poor publicity about the great treasure of Assam in the world beyond the region.
Dr Pathak, while acknowledging the felicitation accorded to him, said that a language and for that matter literature, could never remain static, and would have to accommodate itself with the changes of time, taste, and intellectual advancement.
The function was also addressed by Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Dr Upen Rabha Hakasam, journalist Nitumoni Saikia, Mrinalini Devi and Dr Namita Deka.
Earlier, the function began with a Saraswati Bandana by Dr Vijaylakshmi.
