NEW DELHI, Jan 29 - Eminent Assamese writer Prof Nagen Saikia has been nominated as a Fellow of Sahitya Akademi.
The General Council of Sahitya Akademi in its 90th meeting held here on Tuesday unanimously recommended four distinguished Indian writers as Fellows of Sahitya Akademi.
Prof Saikia has more than 125 published books to his credit, including short story collections, criticism and travelogue, besides edited, co-edited and translated books. He has delivered various memorial lectures in different universities and organisations in India and abroad.
He was a member of Rajya Sabha during 1986-1992 and was the Vice-Chairman of the Upper House from 1990 to 1992. He was the editor of Natun Dainik and Amar Asom, reputed newspapers of the region.
Our Staff Reporter adds: When contacted, Prof Nagen Saikia said that he has accepted the honour with the bafflement about his credentials for such an honour.
�When Sahitya Akademi secretary Dr K Sreenivasarao informed me, over phone, around 2 pm today, of the Akademi�s decision to bestow this honour on me, I was somewhat astounded. I had never thought that such an honour would come to me. For I doubt my credentials for such an honour, which is the highest of the honours the Sahitya Akademi confers on the litterateurs of the country,� he said.
The Sahitya Akademi has so far honoured four litterateurs of the State, including Prof Saikia, with this honour � Sahitya Akademi Fellow. The other recipients of this honour are Bagmibar Nilamani Phukan, Syed Abdul Malik and poet Nilamani Phukan.
