NAGAON, Sept 20 � Lakshminath Bezbaroa created an epoch and led on all fronts, observed Dr Nagen Saikia, former president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha and former HoD of the Assamese Department of the Dibrugarh University. Dr Saikia was delivering the keynote address in the UGC-sponsored seminar on �Lakshminath Bezbaroa � a pioneer of modern Assamese literature and architect of Assamese nationalism,� organised by the Assamese Department of Nagaon Girls� College in collaboration with local NGO Kollol.
Dr Saikia said that Bezbaroa worked hard to establish Assamese as an independent language, but he did not utter a single word against the Bengali language or the Bengali people. In his writings, Bezbaroa used words from other languages, but he preferred to use Assamese words as far as possible, Dr Saikia added.
He recalled the contributions of Lakshminath Bezbaroa to different fields of Assamese literature and praised his humanitarian approach in his writings. Dr Saikia further said that Bezbaroa was the first person to bring out Srimanta Sankardeva from the satras and namghars. He always associated with the local people of the area where he used to live. Bezbaroa was a nominated member of the Sambalpur Municipal Board which also observed his 150th birth anniversary.
Dr Saikia stressed the need for the scientific discussion of Bezbaroa�s works. He expressed his displeasure over the Government not taking any major initiative to observe Bezbaroa�s 150th birth anniversary.
College principal Dr Ajanta Dutta Bordoloi chaired the inaugural session and delivered the welcome address. The programme started with a chorus, composed by Bezbaroa, which was presented by the lady teachers of the college.
Earlier, Dr Saikia and other dignitaries lit lamps and offered floral tributes on the portrait of Lakshminath Bezbaroa.
At the inaugural session, former professor of Gauhati University Dr Gobinda Prasad Sarma and noted critic Prabhat Bora also spoke on the literary works of Bezbaroa.
More than 250 papers on different aspects of Lakshminath Bezbaroa�s life will be presented in the seminar, said coordinator Dr Biswajit Das.
