MORIGAON: The 153rd birth anniversary of Sahityarathi Lakhminath Bezbaroa, a pioneer of modern Assamese literature, was observed at his birth place Ahotguri in Morigaon district of Assam on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion organised by Morigaon district unit of Assam’s apex literary body Asom Sahitya Sabha, Morigaon Zila Sahitya Sabha former president Mileswar Pator said Assamese culture flourished in the early 20th centuary due to the renaissance movement started by luminaries such as L N Bezbaroa.
Inaugurating a seminar on the ‘Relevance of Bezbaroa’s works in present day time’, Morigaon College former Principal and literateur Narendra Nath Keot said the doyen of Assamese literature had also shown the path of economic self reliance by running a business at Sambalpur in Odisha in the British days. Keot urged the new generation of Assamese society which has scant knowledge about Bezbaroa’s literary works to read his books, particularly his satirical works to bring and sustain positive changes to the prevailing social environment then.
Besides a cultural function organised on the occasion, 153 earthen lights were lit by the local people to mark the birth anniversary of the literary stalwart who through his literature gave a new impetus to the then stagnating Assamese literary activity.
Bezbaroa, married to poet Rabindranath Tagore’s niece Pragyasundari Devi, was a pioneer short story writer in Assam with humorous sentiment earning the title ‘Roxoraj’ meaning King of Humour.
The Assamese playwright also composed patriotic song ‘O Mur Apunar Dex’ which is the state anthem of Assam. (PTI)
