GUWAHATI, Jan 14 - Prafulla Pran Mahanta, general secretary of the Assam Journalists and Literary Pensioners Association (AJLPA), and a well-known exponent of Sattriya culture and Vaishnavite faith, was felicitated by devotees of ten namghars of the city at a function held at Ganesh Nagar Bar Namghar, Beltola, on Sunday.
Presided over by Gokul Bharali, the function began with Bhagawat Path and Naam Kirtan led by Hem Bhai and Gopinath Baishya.
Daso Kalita, Baikuntha Prasad Goswami and Dr Kalpana Goswami, while heaping praise on Mahanta, referred to his untiring services for the development of Assamese literature and for propagation of the Sattriya culture. Pramod Kakati read out the citation narrating the thoughts, ideas and services of Mahanta.
The meeting unanimously accepted the suggestion of senior journalist DN Chakravartty in conferring the title �Kala Bhaskar� on Mahanta in recognition of his lifelong services for the cause of Assamese literature in general and the Sattriya culture in particular.
Mahanta, in his acknowledgement speech, said that the Assamese Vaishnavite faith is the most liberal and progressive entity in the entire country and that it does not discriminate against any member of society on the basis of caste, creed and religion.
He said that Rs 100 crore made available by the Government of Assam should be equally divided among all the namghars of the State.