By TCN News
Guwahati: Syed Abdul Malik, one of the greatest litterateurs of Assam, and Mohammad Taher, eminent academician who passed away recently, both posthumous, were among the seven personalities from the state honoured for their unstinted work for promotion of peace, brotherhood and understanding among people.
The other recipients were – litterateur and journalist Homen Borgohain, poet Nalinidhar Bhattacharyya, dramatist Arun Sarma, educationist Chandra Mohan Sarma and social activist Birubala Rabha, who all were honoured at a function organised by Justice & Equity Demand Samiti (JEDS) here on Sunday.
Dignitaries, awardees and organisers are seen together on the dais at the function to celebrate completion of three years by the Assamese monthly Aaina at the Phanidhar Dutta Auditorium of Gauhati University on Sunday.
Assamese monthly magazine Aaina was also associated in the event which was conducted to mark the magazine’s third anniversary.
Welcoming the dignitaries and audience to the function, Abdul Mannan, Department of Statistics, Gauhati University, laid emphasis on the importance of education for the inclusive development of people living in the fringe areas of Assam.
AC Bhagawati, former Vice Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University in Arunachal Pradesh, who presided over the event, lauded the role of Aaina in fighting injustice in the society and appealed to all sections of the people to support this initiative.
Three daughters of Syed Abdul Malik – Zinaida, Manna and Farzina – after receiving the award for their late father are seen with Prof AC Bhagawati, former Vice Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University in Arunachal Pradesh at a function in Guwahati on Sunday.
The plaque and the award for Syed Abdul Malik were received by his three daughters Zinaida, Farzina and Manna. Manna also sang a few stanzas from Malik’s eternal song ‘Jiwone morone moi Asomiya’.
Homen Borgohain mentioned the name of Osman Saudagar, who had set up an Assamese medium school in Nowgong (now Nagaon) way back in 1902 even though his ancestors were immigrants to Assam. He said now it was time for the Government to set up more schools in char areas so that the children of minority communities could get access to education and improve their lot.
Incidentally, he also mentioned about the attempt of a section of the population to deify Nathuram Godse, the killer of Mahatma Gandhi. He called it an ‘ominous sign’ and appealed to the people of Assam to resist it all costs.
A cross section of the audience at the function to celebrate completion of three years by the Assamese monthly Aaina at the Phanidhar Dutta Auditorium of Gauhati University on Sunday.
Amiyatul Nesa, a budding singer from Manikpur of Baghbar area in Barpeta district, delighted the audience with her heart touching rendition of self-composed songs that portrayed the trouble and turmoil afflicting the people living in the char areas of Assam. The daylong programme came to an end after a panel discussion on the present scenario in Assam and the need to create awareness for facing the challenges that threaten the communal harmony in the state.