Anwesha pays tribute to playwright and novelist Arun Sarma
BY OUR STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, April 3: A number of authors, educationists and other noted persolities gathered here on Monday to pay tributes to renowned playwright and novelist Arun Sarma, who passed away on March 27.
City-based Anwesha, an NGO, organized a programme in its office premises at Chenikuthi here for the purpose.
Speaking at the event critic and former professor of Dibrugarh University, Dr Po Mahanta dwelt at length on the features of the plays written by Sarma.
Mahanta said, “Sarma preferred to identify himself as a playwright rather than a novelist. As a playwright, he never incorporated cheap and zesty ingredients in his plays for popularity.”
Mahanta said that Sarma’s place as a playwright in the history of Assamese drama is next to Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala.
Pointing out that Sarma’s plays have a great literary value, Mahanta said that his plays are more enjoyable when read than when staged. He also recalled his close association with the playwright.
Former Vice Chancellor of Dibrugarh University, Dr Kulendu Pathak said that apart from being a celebrated playwright, Sarma was a good ‘teacher’. He also said that he thought of conferring honorary doctorate degree to Sarma while he was the Vice-Chancellor in Dibrugarh University, but due to certain issues he could not make it a reality. “It would have been great, if the doctorate degree could be conferred on Sarma,” Pathak added.
Writer Mitra Phukan recalled how Sarma encouraged her in her creative journey.
Anwesha president Paresh Malakar, who moderated the programme, said that Aru Sarma was not only a playwright and novelist; he was a good organizer as well.
Scholar Pradipjyoti Mahanta, story teller Debabrata Das, former Guwahati AIR Director Dinesh Das, writer Tultul Baruah, professor Gautam Sarma, jourlist Monoram Gogoi and former professor of Gauhati University Anuradha Dutta also recollected their association with the veteran playwright and novelist at the event.
