Assam Valley literary award for Assamese poet

Assam Valley literary award for Assamese poet
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

GUWAHATI, JAN 1: Noted Assamese poet Hiren Bhattacharyya, more popularly known as ``Sugandhi Pokhilar Kavi'', has been nominated for the prestigious Assam Valley Literary Award for the year 2000 for his contribution to Assamese literature.

Instituted in 1990 by the Magor Education Trust set up by the leading tea company Williamson & Magor, the award year carries a cash prize of Rs one lakh.

Sixty-eight-year-old Bhattacharyya, a Sahitya Akademi award winner, has more than 600 poems to his credit, apart from several volumes of poetry for children. His first anthology of poems Mor Desh Mor Premar Kavita published in 1972, is considered one of his finest.

Previous recipients of this award include short story writer and film-maker Bhabendra Nath Saikia, former Asom Sahitya Sabha president Syed Abdul Malik and well-known short story writer Jogesh Das.

Meanwhile, the Assam Publication Board award has been conferred on Chandra Prasad Saikia, editor of leading literary magazine Gariyashi. Saikia, currently the president of the Asom Sahitya Sabha, was given the award by state Governor S.K. Sinha here on Saturday.