SILCHAR, Jan 27 � Asserting that hard work and persistent reading pays, noted academician and former vice chancellor of Assam University Prof Tapodhir Bhattacharjee said that despite being a landlocked territory, the Barak Valley has no dearth of talents.
Prof Bhattacharjee, who was recently granted the prestigious Emeritus Fellowship by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for his outstanding contribution to the field of Bengali literature, was addressing students and faculty members of the Women�s College, Silchar, in a felicitation function. The two other who were felicitated were Dr Amalendu Bhattacharjee, noted researcher of folk literature and culture and former head, Department of Bengali, Guru Charan College, Silchar, and Naorem Bidyasagar Singha, who was conferred the Sahitya Akademi Award recently for his remarkable works in verse in Manipuri literature.
Citing references of Dr Amalendu Bhattacharjee, who received the Paschim Banga Academy Award for his works on folk literature and Naorem Bidyasagar Singha from Lakhipur, Prof Bhattacharjee said that the Barak Valley may lag behind in transport and communication, but the people here have enough mettle to excel in the national and international academic arenas.
Prof Bhattacharjee urged the students to realise their goals and push themselves towards the target. In his words, if anyone has the love for studies, there will be a time when he/she would be recognised. �Life is a wonderful opportunity, keep learning as there is someone waiting to recognise you,� he told the students.
Naorem Bidyasagar Singha, who received the coveted literary award for his work, Khungang Amsung Refugee, said that art stands for the wellbeing of mankind. Modern poetry, Singha believes, shall be a new form of art born out of inflicting impacts of globalisation and science together with the rich Indian tradition and lingua-cultural heritage. Famous theatre personality Shekhar Debroy received the honour given by the Women�s College on behalf of Dr Amalendu Bhattacharjee who is reportedly out of Silchar now.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Manoj Kumar Paul, principal of the college, said that true potential cannot be suppressed by adversaries. �The three awardees are living examples of how education can mould our lives,� asserted Dr Paul.
Veteran academician and president of the college governing body, Prof Sourendra Bhattacharjee congratulated the awardees, saying that even as the valley has witnessed low pace of development, it could be hastened intellectually.
On the sidelines of the felicitation, two students of the college were given endowment scholarships for best performance in the HS examination, 2014.
