Fifth Sarat Mahanta lecture

OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR, June 7: Eminent educationist, political analyst and writer Dr Arupjyoti Chowdhury will deliver the fifth Prof. Sarat Mahanta Memorial Lecture at the auditorium of Sibsagar College, Joysagar on June 18. Dr Chowdhury will speak on ‘Sanskriti aru Sampadar Prashangare Asomor Jatiya Jiban’. This annual lecture, which is being organized by Sibsagar Press Club, is held in the memory of eminent educationist, writer, social worker and human rights activists Professor Sarat Mahanta on his death anniversary, who was also a founder member of Sibsagar Press Club.

Professor Mahanta, who was professor of history at Sibsagar College, Joysagar, has also authored many books, including Polokote Eetu Heetu, Akbar-Birbal Aru Neel Nodir Kotha and Concise History of Assam. Xatradhikar of the historic Sri Sri Chaliha Bareghar Xatra, Mahanta started his career as a teacher in Nazira Higher Secondary School, Sivasagar.

In 1964, he joined Sibsagar College, Joysagar and served as a distinguished member of the faculty at the Department of History for more than three decades and retired as the department’s head. He was an ardent champion of human rights and was a member of the Assam Human Rights Commission from 2003 to 2007. He was also a prominent social worker and journalist. Professor Mahanta who was the first to be honoured with Mufti Abdur Rahim Memorial Award by Rangpur Nagarik Mancha, passed away on June 18, 2013.