The most important literary and literature and culture. Its first meeting and convention was held on 26th December, 1917, under the presidentship of Padmanath Gohain Baruah. At that time it was held under the banner of Sodou Asom Sahitya Sanmilani. On 5th May of 1924, it was registered as ‘Asom Sahitya Sabha’ and the earlier name was formally changed in 1944. The head office of Sabha is in Jorhat and branch offices are located in Guwahati, Diphu and Dhuburi. The main aim and objectives of the Asom Sahitya Sabha is to help and develop Assamese language-literature, culture and Assamese local language-culture. The present emblem of Asom Sahitya Sabha was accepted on 28th October 1960. The emblem was drawn by Jugal Das. The emblem is like this: an earthen lamp over a book written on the bark of sanchi tree is placed on a wooden stand Thoga, and encircled by these words Chiro Senehi Mor Bhasha Janani, and a star in the beneath. In The base of the wooden stand its written ‘Assam Sahitya Sabha’.
The first stanza of Asom Sangeet composed by used as the flag hosting song of Lakhsminath Bezbaroa Asom Sahitya Sabha. The song Chiro Senehi Mor Bhasha Janani composed by Mitradeb Mahanta, is used as the beginning of the ceremony and O Mor Aponar Desh composed by Lakhsminath Bezbaroa used as the wrapping up song.
In 1933, Asom Sahitya Sabha published an Assamese dictionary Chandrakanta Abhidhan. Asom Sahitya Sabha already published more than 250 valuable books related to Assamese language-literature and culture alongwith first Assamese children encyclopedia (Sishu Gyankosh). Moreover Asom Sahitya Sabha publishes a magazine Asom Sahitya Sabha Patrika from 1926.
From 2001, Asom Sahitya Sabha undertook a project to publish a series of Assamese subject-encyclopedia. Accordingly till date eleven volumes including Science, Literature, History, Sociology, Culture etc. has been published. The project of publishing encyclopedias on all subjects will be completed on the ceremony of Asom Sahitya Sabha’s centennial celebration or before that.
With its own constitution, emblem and song, Asom Sahitya Sabha is a full-fledged organisation, with yearly conventions in various parts of Assam (now the convention is held in a gap of two years). Till now there have been 83 conventions. and one president is elected for each of the convention. The presidents are of high rank who have contributed tremendously in the field of literature in Assam.
conventions is becoming popular and accepted as an important event of Assam. Besides publishing books, encyclopaedias etc. of immense importance, the ‘Sabha’ also conducts the teaching of the Assamese language for the non-Assamese people.
The number of branch of Asom Sahitya Sabha is about 1000 • Asom Natya Sanmilan: Asom Natya Sanmilan was formed to help and develop of drama and acting of Assam. It was previously named as ‘Asom Ekanka Nat Sanmilan’. The first conference of this organisation was held in 1959 at Dibrugarh. At the beginning Asom Natya Sanmilan gave importance to creation and competition of one act plays. In 1967, at its annual conference held under the presidentship of Maheshwar Neog, the previous name was changed to Asom Natya Sanmilan and the focus was shifted from one act plays to creation and competition of 90 minutes long plays. The Asom Natya Sanmilan’s annual journal Rangamancha is published every year. The first president of this organisation was Kalaguru Bishnuprasad Rabha. In the yearly conference of the Asom Natya Sanmilan, drama workshops, drama competition, seminars etc. held regularly.
Asom Nepali Sahitya Sabha : To restore and develop the Nepali language-literature, Asom Nepali Sahitya Sabha was formed on 19th August 1993 in Hawaipur of Karbi-Anglong district by the Nepali residents of Assam. The first president of the Asom Nepali Sahitya Sabha was Lakshmiprasad Parjuli and general secretary was Harshabahadur Chetri.
Asom Lekhika Sangstha: To develop Assamese language- literature and to support the women writers and litterateur enthusiast Asom Lekhika Sangstha was established on 16 May 1976. Suchibrata Rai Chaudhury and Preeti Baruah were successively founder chairperson and general secretary. Asom Lekhika Sangstha has many branches entire the State. Suchetana, the bi-annual journal of Assam Lekhika Sangstha, was first published in 1998. To inspire upcoming women writers
Sangstha provides award in various categories. Asom Lekhika Sangstha has already published many books. Some of them are: Mahila Kabir Kabya Grantha (1979), Lekhikar Golpo (1989), Asomiya Sahitya Aru Lekhika (two volumes: 1994, 1998), Byathar Alakananda Nalinibala (1998), Sotikar Mahila Kobi (1998), Subashito Hemantar Preetire (1998), Ura Mari Akasoloi, Pragyawati Prabina (1999), Sampratik Lekhikar Golpo (1998), Thupitora (2000), Asomiya Lekhikar Grantha Sambhar (2002) etc. As a result of the effort of this association, Assam Government, onetime financial help was used to publish a children and youth magazine named Aakash on 14th November, 1979, under the editorship of Preeti Baruah. After being published for consequently four years, Aakash was closed down due to financial reasons.
Bodo Sahitya Sabha: The second largest literary and cultural organisation of Assam is the Bodo Sahitya Sabha. It was established on 16th November, 1952, with a view to work for the de- velopment of the Bodo literature and culture. It has a publishing unit which has published more than 80 Bodo text books, poetry books, short story books, novels etc. It gives a literary in Bodo language every year, and also an award of Rs. 1000 to the student who secures the highest marks in Bodo language in the HSLC examination. It’s head office at Kokrajhar.
Publication Board, Assam (Asom Prakashan Parishad): The Publication Board, Assam was set up as an autonomous organisation in 1958 at Shillong and is functioning since 1959 with its headquarters at Guwahati. Its jurisdiction extends all
The aim of the Board is to sponsor, encourage such other works as may be found necessary from time to time In pursuance of there aims and object the Board has, since its inception, undertaken various schemes. The Board has till now published more than seven hundred valuable books.
The Publication Board, Assam, celebrated its Silver Jubliee in 1984, and a national level Book Fair was organised at Guwahati to mark the occasion. Now this Book Fair has turned to be an annual event at Guwahati.
Besides publishing books, the Board has also instituted a scheme of conferring an annual literary award to an author ev- ery year for the best Assamese book. The award was instituted in 1973. See also Awards & Honours. Assam Science Society (Asom Bigyan Samiti): It was es- tablished on 13 February, 1953 at the Cotton College, Guwahati, as a voluntary organisation. At that time it was known as Guwahati Bigyan Samiti, which was changed to Asom Bigyan Samiti in 1956.
Its main aims are to popularize science and science edu- cation among the common people, by way of seminars, work- shops and exhibitions, the publicity and development of sci- ence in practical level, etc. It has published a few books on science and scientific language, magazines like Bigyan Jeuti, encyclopaedias etc. The ‘Journal of Assam Science Society’ has got recognition in the international level. • Anundoram Barooah Institute of Language, Art & Culture, Assam (ABILAC, Anundoram Barooah Bhasha, Kola, Sanskriti Sangstha): This important institution for the development of local, indigenous language-culture-art-literature and also for the development, expansion and research of the Sanskrit language was established in 1990 at the instigation of the Assam government. There are five division of this pioneer institution to realise its various objectives. They are: a) Language and linguistics, b) Literature and translation, c) Folk- culture and folk traditions, d) Art-culture and music division and e) Sanskrit studies. At the beginning it was named as Local Language and Research & Development Center. Later it was named after the scolar Anundoram Barooah.
The aims and objectives of this organisation are: (1) development of Assamese local language, Art and Culture, (2) considering Anundoram Barooah’s contribution to linguistic study, specially, Sanskrit, to provide encouragement and inspiration in every phase of Sanskrit learning, (3) to identify the required human resources, material and the techniques to develop Assamese local language-art-culture, (4) to collect, restore and promote language-literature, art, folk-literature, traditional customs and collection of other material from the neighborhood states of Assam, (5) to accumulate and publish different language-art-culture related books by adhering to the organisations aims and objectives, (6) to maintain educational communication and relation with different sate, national and international research organisation, association or universities, (7) to provide advice for the government in the fields of local language, art and culture related research, plans and projects.
ABILAC has already published many valuable books, among them many are translations and reprints. Some other important books are Goethe’s Faust (translated), Bandhon Suloki Pore (translated), Darsonor Kahini (translated), Anundoram Dhekial Phukan’s Asomiya Lorar Mitra (reprinted), A Handbook of Folklore Material of North-East India, Festivals of Assam, Asomiya Sahityar Buranji (2nd and 6th volumes), Jajneswar Sarmar Prabandha Choyon, Bodo Chuti Golpo etc. Moreover the organisation is working on a dictionary Samogrik Asomiya Sabdakosh with many volumes.
This organisation provides an yearly award called Anundoram Barooah Award’. It’s yearly magazine Anundam is a publication of high Standard. It’s head office at Rajaduar in North Guwahati.
Kamrup Anusandhan Samiti : For research, especially, on ancient Kamrup and North-East India, Kamrup Anusandhan Samiti was established on 7th April, 1912. The society received the government’s grant in 1915. This way, the first executive committee was formed on 10th November, 1916. Maha- mahupadhyay Dhireshwaracharya is known as its founder president. Chandranath Sarma was its first secretary. The Journal of the Assam Research Society, a house-journal of Kamrup Anusandhan Samiti, is being published from 1933. Archaeological and many research books of Kamrup have been published by the organisation. The Assam State Museum at Guwahati was mainly established with the archaeological collection of Kamrup Anusandhan Samiti.
Mising Sahitya Sabha : Mising Sahitya Sabha was formed at Disangmukh on 18 April, 1972. The aim and objective of this organisation is to give Mising language a written form. Tabu Taid was the first president of Mising Sahitya Sabha. In 1978, at Dhemaji conventions, the sabha was decided to practice Mishing language in Roman writing. Mising Sahitya Sabha has already published many valuable books.
Karbi Sahitya Sabha : To preserve and develop the Karbi language and literature Karbi Sahitya Sabha was formed on 27th March, 1966. The original Karbi name of this organisation.
is Karbi Lammet Amei. The first full fledged conventions of Karbi Sahitya Sabha was held in Diphu on 18th March, 1973 under the presidentship of Dhaniram Rongpi. Besides published a Karbi grammar entiled Karbi Lamkuru, Karbi Sahity Sabha has already published many books. Some of them are: Lammet Esang, Samfri Apunsir, Khei Aharsi, Dampijuk Chingdi, Longri Amelur etc.
DeoriSahitya Sabha: For the development of Deori language and culture, Deori chu-chebachongca (Deori Sahitya Sabha) was formed on 20th January, 1965. Deori Sahitya Sabha has accepted Assamese script as the Deori script and has been demanding to get recognition from the government for the development of Deori language.
Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Assam: Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Assam was formed in the interest of building an environment for studying and promoting of Nepali language-culture-literature, publishing of magazines and books, constructing libraries, developing a relation of understanding and exchange with the language-culture-literature of north-east of India and establishing a communal relationship with the neighboring people of different language and tribes. This organisation was formed in 1974, was registered in 1982 and was recognised by Sahitya Akademi in 1984. The name of the house journal of Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Assam is Parishad-Patra. The organisation is already engaged in translating Assamese poems to Nepali language. Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Assam provides various awards to encourage Nepali writers.
Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies : Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies was established by Assam government in 1928. During the late 19th century the Department of Ethnography, established under the supervision of Sir Edward Gait and the Kamrup Anusandhan Samiti established in 1912 are the prior organisation of this department. In 1936, with the aid of Rs 10,000 from Radhakanta Handique a permanent house for the department was built in Panbazar, Guwahati and the department was named ‘Narayani Handique Historical Institute’. In 1953, an ‘Ahom Branch opened in the department. In 1957, for the purpose of personal data collection and preservation another branch was added on as ‘Regional Record Survey. The number of collected and preserved documents in the department is 2783. The subtotal books in the library is 18,271, copper plates 16 and ancient coins 376. The number of own publication of the department is about 50.
Rabha Bhasa Parishad : To develop and restore Rabha language & literature the Rabha Bhasa Parishad was established at Dudhnoi in 1982. In accordance to the national language promotion method this organisation has launched five layered Rabha language education/examination system The organisation is also focused in developing standards of the Rabha literature written in Assamese script. Narendra Chandra Rabha was the first president of Rabha Bhasa Parishad.
Rabha Sahitya Sabha : To develop Rabha Language and Culture Rabha Sahitya Sabha was formed at Ghaksha of undi- vided Goalpara district on 8th April, 1973. This organisation is playing an important role in giving recognition to the various dia- lects of Rabha language as standard language.
Sadau Asom Lekhika Somaroh Samiti : Sadau Asom Lekhika Somaroh Samiti, an organisation of the Assamese women writers and litterateur, was formed at Tezpur in 1974. The first chairperson of this samiti was Shila Borthakur, first general secretaries were Purabi Barmudoi and Swadhinata Mahanta.Besides publishing the house-journal Lekhika, Sadau Asom Lekhika Somaroh Samiti has already published a few books of women writer of Assam. Sadau Asom Lekhika Somaroh Samiti has its branches in many places of Assam. To inspire women writers, Samiti provides about twenty award in various categories.