Assam Valley Literary Award to Apurba Sarma

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Dec 31: Renowned novelist, short story writer and former editor of Ajir Asom newspaper of The Sentinel Group Apurba Sarma has been chosen for the prestigious 26th Assam Valley Literary Award, for the year 2015.

The award is given by the Williamson Magor Education Trust which was formed with the purpose of giving an impetus to education and cultural progress in Assam.

The Assam Valley Literary Award, which is a part of the Trust's endeavor to preserve and promote the rich literary heritage of Assam, was institutiolized in the year 1990.

Born on 1st January, 1943, at Halem in undivided Darrang district (now Sonitpur), Apurba Sarma did his matriculation from Madhya Chaiduar High School in the year 1958. He completed his graduation from Cotton College, Guwahati with Honours in Economics in the year 1962 and did his M.A. in Economics from Gauhati University in 1965.

Sarma joined as a Staff Reporter in The Assam Tribune and later taught Economics as a Lecturer in Nowgong Girls' College in the year 1967. He retired as Principal from Nowgong Girls' College in 2002. He subsequently served as the Editor of the Assamese daily Ajir Asom from 2004 till 2012. He also served as the Chief Editor of Ga Sanbad.

Recipient of Sahitya Akademi in the year 2000 for creative writing for his collection of short stories - Baghe Tapur Rati, Apurba Sarma has won many awards and accolades over the years. He was awarded the Swar Kamal - tiol Award for the Best Book in Cinema for his book Asomiya Chalachitrar Cha-Pohar in the year 2002.

"Such recognition obviously gives you happiness. I am happy," Sarma said.

Asked about future plans, he said, "I don't have any specific plans. But I will continue to write till I can. I don't plan and write. It is spontaneous."

The Assam Valley Literary Award will be conferred to the writer at a function at Guwahati on March 2016, a press note from Williamson Magor Education Trust said.

Apurba Sarma's brother Arun Sarma, a noted dramatist and littérateur, is also a recipient of the prestigious award.