GUWAHATI, Nov 21 � Author and journalist Homen Borgohain was honoured with the Srimanta Sankardev Award for the year 2007 at a function at the Ravindra Bhavan this evening.
Borgohain was chosen for the award for his contribution in the field of journalism, literature and public life.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi formally presented Borgohain with the award that carries Rs 3 lakh, a citation, a xarai, a seleng sador, an anga bastra, and a gold medal.
Borgohain, while expressing his happiness on being chosen for the honour, felt that the people of Assam had perhaps forfeited the right to utter the great 15th-century saint Sankardev�s name, given the widespread inequality, corruption, chaos and moral bankruptcy plaguing the society.
�A growing consumerist society is not just widening the rift between the rich and the poor, it is also leading to an all-pervasive perverse culture where human values have no place. Together with materialistic progress, we also need qualitative improvement of the society,� Borgohain said.
Regretting the low level of awareness on Sankardev outside the State, Borgohain made an appeal to the Chief Minister to start a Sankardev study centre in the Department of Cultural Studies of Tezpur Central University.
�We should have a Sankardev study centre which, apart from facilitating study on the great saint, will also be involved in study and research on the State�s rich heritage comprising culture, history, literature, language, art, philosophy, sociology, etc. The global scholastic society is gradually shifting its focus to the State and we ought to expedite our knowledge on our heritage,� he said.
Borgohain said that while it was Sankardev who introduced Assam to the best of Indian spirituality and philosophy, it was doubtful how much India knew about the multi-faceted genius that Sankardev was.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, in his speech, said that the State Government would seriously consider Borgohain�s proposal of setting up a Sankardev study centre, as it was committed to spreading Sankardev�s ideology far and wide.
�There is definitely a need to propagate Sankardev�s teachings and we will seriously consider Borgohain�s proposal,� Gogoi said, adding that the Government had already announced a cultural university in the State.
Admitting that the economic divide in the country was widening, Gogoi said that rising per capita income and GDP growth alone would not be enough to address the inequality. �Per capita income and GDP growth must benefit all the people so that we can achieve the cherished goal of inclusive growth,� he said.
The Chief Minister, while lauding Borgohain as a �powerful and fearless� journalist whose views impacted government decisions, said that dwindling values were having an adverse effect on every profession � be it politics, bureaucracy, judiciary or journalism. �Professional ethics is taking a backseat everywhere. This is a serious situation and we all should strive to revive moral and human values,� he added.
Cultural Affairs Minister Bharat Chandra Narah also addressed the function which was attended by several dignitaries.