Dimapur’s Assamese community observe Janmashtami

Dimapur, August 25 (MExN): The Assamese community of Dimapur under the aegis of Dimapur Namghar Manikut Committee felicitated noted Assamese litterateur Ramsakal Paswan on being honoured with Assam Literary Pension at a function held at Namghar Hall on the occasion of Janmashtami today.  

Hailing from Jorhat in Assam and presently a resident of Dimapur, Paswan was among 47 Assamese litterateurs to have received Assam Literary Pension announced by the Government of Assam during the 70th Independence Day on August 15, 2016. He was felicitated by Upen Kalita, one of the founding members of Dimapur Namghar.  

The Assam Government also honoured Paswan with Assam Literary Award 2013-2014.  

Addressing the programme, attended by a large section of Assamese community of Dimapur, Paswan described literature as an unstoppable trait that always takes one towards a new direction.  

Stating that time and culture complement each other, he maintained that union of cultures is pure while elaborating on his passion for Assamese literature.  

He further said there is no bar in intermingling of cultures between hills and valleys while adding that if we embrace each other’s culture with open hearts leaving aside all negativities, it will create a new horizon for the future generation. He also noted that Kohima Sahitya Sabha and Dimapur Namghar are valuable assets towards this end.  

Paswan, who has several Assamese novels to his credit and contributed a number of articles to Assamese dailies, further informed that he is penning another novel by collecting pictures of Naga social life. The novel will start in Dimapur and some parts of Assam and will go onto visit Myanmar, he stated.  

Paswan, a retired senior officer of Food and Civil Supplies Department, Nagaland and presently a practicing advocate in Dimapur court, is the fourth recipient of Assam Literary Pension from Dimapur.  

President of Dimapur branch of Asam Sahitya Sabha, Paswan served Dimapur Namghar in various capacities, including that of president. He has several Assamese books to his credit, one of which was translated into English.