Anil Sharma Award for ex-NEHU professor
GUWAHATI: With renewed emphasis on promotion of science literature, the Assamese Science Literature Convention of the 75th biennial session of Asam Sahitya Sabha was inaugurated on Monday at Jyoti Kshetra in Suwalkuchi by Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of the University of Science & Technology Meghalaya (USTM).
On the occasion, Prof Bijoy Krishna Deva Sharma, former professor of North Eastern Hill University was honoured with Anil Sharma Award for popularising scientific literature. The ‘Dr Jyotiprashad Medhi Memorial Asomiya Bigyan Sahitya Sanmilan’ was conducted by Dr Balendra Kumar Das, eminent poet and writer and was graced by the new Sabha president Kuladhar Saikia, Dr Arup Kumar Misra, Director, Assam Science Technology and Environment Council, Dipak Sharma, Dr Joydeep Baruah, Dr Jayanta Kumar Goswami and Soumyadeep Dutta, apart from others.
Inaugurating the convention, Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of the USTM said, “I am really grateful to Asam Sahitya Sabha for appreciating and recognising our continuous effort to contribute to the educational development of the region. I also welcome Sabha for its relentless work towards enriching language and literature and extend all kinds of support from USTM. We will remain partners in all future endeavours under the guidance of Asam Sahitya Sabha.”
He spoke on the role of science literature in inspiring and creating awareness in the minds of children and alike. It is only through science literature that the superstitious beliefs and practices prevailing in our society can be erased, he added.
Hoque said that USTM has initiated a Directorate of Language and Cultural Studies where Sabha will provide necessary inputs, expertise for various compilation and research. As a heritage and communicative language, Assamese and other indigenous languages of Assam will be taught. He said that USTM would also promote and support the creation of a Language Museum under the guidance of Sabha.
The USTM had already signed an MoU with Asam Sahitya Sabha with the objective to work together in the field of literature, culture, heritage, diversity and ethnicity in the north-eastern region and carry documentation and research work on indigenous languages. USTM has already awarded 30 scholarships in the names of honorable past presidents of Sabha as well as initiated two PhD Fellowships for research on life and work of Dr Maheshwar Neog and Syed Abdul Malik.