GUWAHATI, March 8 � The State Government should take steps to strictly adhere to and implement The Press and Registration of Book Act, 1867, to facilitate preservation of Assamese books for posterity.
This view emerged during an event organised here today where a copy of the �National Bibliography of Indian Literature, Second Series, 1954-2000� (Volume I, Assamese) was handed over by the book�s compiler Dr Alaka Buragohain to the Media Trust Assam.
Speaking on the occasion, Buragohain said a major problem faced by her team during the compilation of the volume was on account of non-availability of the Assamese books published in the previous decade or any information about them.
She said that the Assam Government has not implemented provisions of The Press and Registration of Book Act, and this makes it difficult to keep a tab on the books and other publications, which have been released over the years.
The volume on Assamese on the Second Edition of the National Bibliography has a compilation of 4,540 books of 1,942 writers. While a large number of these are novels, there are also 589 works of poetry, 213 of plays, 411 of criticism, 35 of satire and humour, 507 autobiographies and biographies, among others.
The 409-page volume is priced at Rs 300 and can be purchased from the Sahitya Akademi selling centre at Swati Mandir Marg in New Delhi and at 4, DL Khan Road and Kolkata.
The volume has 15 segments on philosophy and religion, folk and tribal literature and mysticism, humour and satire, travelogue, cultural history, general history and so on.
Radhika Mohan Bhagawati, Editor of Dainik Asam and chairman of Media Trust, said that lack of such a volume has for long been a major handicap for the Assamese literary field. He also called upon the younger generation to take up research activities in right earnest.
Sahitya Akademi Award winner Prof Hirendra Nath Dutta said, �This bibliography will be a compulsory reference for literature lovers and critics. Even at the national and international levels, this will facilitate critics to know about the history, diversity and richness of Assamese literature.�
Dr�Lilawati Saikia Bora, former faculty of Gauhati University, took forward the issue of preservation of literary works in Assamese and said failure to comply with the Act has been a negative point. She also said there is a need for a Central Library for preservation of all such publications.
Media Trust Assam executive trustee Prof Abu Hanifa said his organisation is privileged to have been offered a copy of the work and it would be helpful for any future reference.
