Asom Sahitya Sabha Appoints Litterateur Dr. Basanta Kumar Goswami As President

GUWAHATI: Dr. Basanta Kumar Goswami, a renowned literateur and researcher, has been elected as the President of Asom Sahitya Sabha, Assam's premier literary body. He was elected during an officiating conclave held on Sunday in Dadara, Kamrup district.

Goswami emerged victorious with 403 votes, surpassing his rival Upen Rabha Hakacham, who secured 325 votes. The apex literary body also elected Padum Rajkhowa as its new vice-president with 389 votes, while Debajit Bora was appointed as the general secretary.

The 107-year-old Asom Sahitya Sabha conducts its conferences biennially, with the elections held every two years. The ballot boxes for this election were sealed on December 5 and stored at Meghdoot Bhavan in Guwahati, as confirmed by the outgoing president Dr. Surjya Kanta Hazarika.

Speaking at the conclave, Goswami expressed his commitment to resolving the controversies surrounding the Sabha and emphasized his dedication to driving progress during his tenure. He pledged to utilize his time effectively over the next two years, assuring that noticeable advancements would begin with the first officiating meeting after he assumes office.

He also outlined plans to delve into the history of the Assamese language and translate Srimanta Sankardev’s works into English and Hindi. Notably, Goswami previously served as the general secretary of Asom Sahitya Sabha in 1999 and 2001.

During his tenure in 2001, under the presidency of eminent writer Homen Borgohain, Goswami contributed to the publication of the ‘Assamese Encyclopedia,’ a landmark initiative for the state’s literary landscape.

ALSO READ:

ALSO WATCH: