GUWAHATI, Sept 24 - The first Dainik Asam Literary Award-2015 was today conferred on writer Prashanta Kumar Das for his collection of short-stories Galpabor, at the Kanaklal Barua Auditorium at the Assam State Museum.
The award, conceptualised as part of the golden jubilee celebration of popular Assamese daily Dainik Asam, carries a cheque of Rs 50,000, a citation, a memento and a bouquet.
Presenting the literary award, eminent litterateur and folklorist Birendranath Datta praised Prashanta Kumar Das for his innovative style of writing. �I find his stories a pleasant discovery, which mesmerizes the readers. A young writer, Prashanta Kumar Das has made significant contributions to Assamese literature ,� Datta said.
With his gripping style and innovating presentation, Das has been writing for the past two decades. His stories, like Kahini Etar Kahini, The Downtown, among others, have been widely praised by the readers.
In his acceptance speech, Das shared his personal experiences, including his foray into the world of writing. �Honour coming from a reputed institution like the Assam Tribune Group is a big morale booster for me and would encourage me to work more,� he said.
Writer and Special DG (Law and Order), Assam Police, Kula Saikia also lauded the efforts of the Dainik Asam to encourage good literary work. �His stories give a new dimension to the subject matter and surely are a pleasure to read,� he said.
Remembering the contributions of the founder of the Assam Tribune Group, Singhapurush Radha Govinda Baruah, Editor of the Dainik Asam, Radhika Mohan Bhagawati said that the award, recognising budding talents in literary field, would further the vision of the Singhapurush. �It is unfortunate that people of Assam do not demand national recognition, like Bharat Ratna or Padma Vibhushan, for RG Baruah,� he said.
Earlier, Executive Editor of the Dainik Asam Munin Bayan, in his welcome speech, shared the genesis of the award. �It was a part of Dainik Asam�s golden jubilee celebration agenda in the year 2014. Since its inception in the year 1965, the newspaper has witnessed all the ups and downs in the social and political spheres of the State and stand as a credible testimony to the major historical events in post-Independent Assam.
�This award is an effort to recognise and honour the talented writers having significant contributions in the literary field,� he said.
