GUWAHATI, Oct 11 - Noted litterateur and educationist and former Head of the Dept of Assamese of Gauhati University (GU) Dr Parikshit Hazarika passed away at his Fatasil Ambari residence in the city today.
He was 85 and had been ailing for some time.
Born at Churchuri village in Nalbari district in 1934, Dr Hazarika did his master�s in Assamese from GU in 1962 and joined Kanoi College in Dibrugarh in 1963. He also worked as a Gazetted Research Officer in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi during 1968-70 before rejoining Kanoi College. He did his PhD on �The Beginning of Assamese Novel: A Critical Study (From the Beginning up to 1930)� done under Dibrugarh University in 1976. He joined GU as a Professor in Assamese in 1985 and became its head in 1996 before retiring on December 1, 1998.
A well-regarded scholar specializing in the State�s socio-literary heritage, Dr Hazarika was engaged in the research of ancient socio-cultural and literary heritage of Assam throughout his life and wrote a number of books on the subject.
Dr Hazarika was instrumental in opening the Dept of Assamese in Delhi University besides establishing the Asam Sahitya Samaj in Delhi. In addition, he was equally creative in various literary genres such as short story, poetry, satire, etc.
Some of his original published works include Asomiya Prabandha Manjori, Alochana Sahitya, Sahityar Jeuti, Asanta Ulka, Asomiya Phakara Jojana, Rajanikanta Bordoloir Upanyas and Asomiya Sahityar Subas.
He also edited a number of volumes including Sankaree Smriti, Prabandha Saurabh, Dibrur Pare Pare, Boli-Chalan, Soumarika, Jigyasa, Sri Sri Chandi, Aswakarna and Kalika-Puran.
He edited several magazines such as Bina, Naivadya, Asam Sahitya Sabha Patrika, and Anwesan. He was also the Editor of the Assamese weekly Asam Spandan.
He leaves behind three daughters and a host of relatives. Dr Hazarika�s death has been widely mourned.
