Dr. Lutfa Hanum Salima Begum Conferred with Mofizuddin Ahmed Hazarika Memorial Poetry Award 2025

As part of the 155th birth anniversary of Jnan Malini Kobi and the 25th Mofizuddin Ahmed Hazarika Sahitya Utsav 2025, a felicitation ceremony was held at Guwahati Press Club on Friday, where eminent academician and writer Dr. Lutfa Hanum Salima Begum, former Head of the Assamese Department at Cotton University, was presented with the prestigious Mofizuddin Ahmed Hazarika Memorial Poetry Award 2025.

The award was presented by renowned writer and journalist Anuradha Sharma Pujari in the presence of distinguished personalities. The award comprised a memento and a cash prize. Expressing her gratitude, Dr. Begum said receiving the honor from Anuradha Sharma Pujari was a matter of pride and that such recognition by Mariyas Public School through the Memorial Society was a noteworthy effort in promoting Assamese literature. She further stated that the award had strengthened her sense of responsibility towards literature.

Speaking on the occasion, Anuradha Sharma Pujari highlighted the immortal contributions of Mofizuddin Ahmed Hazarika, noting that his songs and writings continue to inspire Assamese literature. Previous awardee and noted poet Nilim Kumar extended his best wishes to Dr. Begum, recalling their early journey in poetry together. Mariyas Public School Director Neli Ahmed, who initiated the award in memory of the 19th-century Assamese Sufi poet, emphasized that what began as a tribute had now become a vibrant confluence of literature, language, and culture.

The two-day Sahitya Utsav, organized on August 22 and 23 at Mariyas Public School, witnessed participation from 22 city schools, where nearly 450 students showcased their literary skills in Assamese, English, Sanskrit, and Hindi. During the program, poet Anis Uz Zaman was also felicitated. Several distinguished personalities including former Cotton University professor Dr. Mafuza Rahman, Asad Zaman Rahman, Mansur Rahman, and Principal Moushume Mahanta were present at the event.