Dr Minati Hazarika wins Sarat Charcha Puraskar Award

Assam has legends like Dr Bhupen Hazarika, Mamoni Raisom Goswami, etc. But is our intellectual, cultural and professional excellence only limited to these few people or is it much more. Actually Assam and Northeast has people who have achieved excellence and recognition in their respective areas but are largely unknown amongst the general public. Assam Times will endeavour to present these lesser known but distinguished people of Northeast to all. One such lady is Dr Minati Hazarika. This year she has been bestowed with the prestigious Sarat Charcha Puraskar -2011 for her work “Anupomar Prem”, which are translations of Short Stories from Bengali. The stories have to be read to feel them. Each story in these words has an intensity which connects directly to the heart.

Dr Minati Hazarika is the Former Head of the Department of Assamese of the prestigious DCB Girls College in Jorhat and has now settled in Guwahati.

Some of Dr Hazarikas works are Mamatar Batari, Nepal Deshar Sadhu, Durduranir Sadhu, Mahat lukar laradikal, Nari Ratna, Akbar Birbalr kahani, Tuntunir Sadhu, Baga Ghora, Natun Dinar Upalabdhee, Asamiya Bhasar Bandhu Dr Miles Bronson etc.

She is a life member of the Axom Sahitya Sabha and, AWIC etc. She is also a former General Secretary and Working President of Axom Lekikha Sanstha.

She is also one of the oldest anchors of AIR and Doordarshan in Assam. She is currently working on “Bheenaswad “, a translation of short stories from English and Bengali.

Dr Hazarika expressed that the younger generation should spend more time reading Assamese literature and also contribute where possible. She was of the opinion that we all have to make efforts to maintain the rich tradition of the Assamese language and that the parents and guardians had a special role to play to ensure that children of today are aware about our age old culture and traditions and continues to contribute to make it more enriching.