GUWAHATI, Jan 16 - Contributions of modern Assamese writers were discussed at a meeting held under the auspices of the Dinesh Sarma Memorial Trust at the Guwahati Press Club today.
Presiding over the meeting, senior journalist DN Chakravartty discussed at length the �disheartening situation� of Assamese literature when only four books are published every day against a national figure of 280 and an international figure of 5,000.
Chakravartty said that while during the late 19th century and the earlier half of the 20th century, there were towering figures like lexicon writer Hemchandra Baruah, Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaroa, Kamalakanta Bhattacharya, Ambikagiri Roychoudhury, Maheswar Neog, Jyotiprasad Agarwala and Dr Birinchi Kumar Baruah to guide the Assamese community and inspire it to great action, it is most unfortunate that there is a dismal absence of intellectual and literary leadership in modern Assam today.
Chakravartty also mentioned the lack of original thinking and strenuous study among the thinkers and writers, as a result of which the Assamese younger generation has now become undisciplined, rowdy and without any national commitment.
Chakravartty called for an intellectual and moral revolution in Assam to stir up the Assamese community from its present-day disturbing slumber.
Releasing a book of poems, noted poet and president of Assam Kavi Samaj Anis uz Zaman narrated the growth of Assamese poetry since the pastoral days and referred to the contributions of great poets like Jyotiprasad Agarwala, Chandra Kumar Agarwala, Nalinibala Devi, Navakanta Baruah and Devakanta Baruah.
Dinesh Sarma, who is a Sahitya Akademi award winner, displayed his literary brilliance through his writings which covered poetry, novels, and short story and intellectual articles.
Ruma Bhagawati explained the purpose of the event.