GUWAHATI, May 3 ? Former president of Asom Sahitya Sabha and the founder Editor of Dainik Asam, Kirtinath Hazarika died at a city hospital at 8-25 pm today. He was 77 and is survived by his wife, two sons and a host of relatives. The noted litterateur and revered journalist of the State suffered a massive stroke while he was shopping at Silpukhuri area here at around 2 pm today and was immediately rushed to Down Town Hospital in a critical condition. He was in coma for hours before he was declared dead, hospital sources informed.
Kirtinath Hazarika was born on July 22 in the year 1925 at Amalapatti in Golaghat to late Harnath Hazarika and late Krishna Hazarika. He passed matriculation examination from Bezboruah Govt Boys? High School, Golaghat and later passed I. Sc in 1942 from Cotton College. He took his B. Sc degree from MC College in Sylhet in 1945. He started his career in journalism as a Sub-Editor of Dainik Asomiya and shifted to Natun Asomiya as Assistant Editor in 1948. He became the Editor of Natun Asomiya in 1949.
In 1965, he joined Dainik Asom as its founder Editor and served the paper till his retirement. During the period from 1956 to 1961 he was an Assistant Editor of Public Service Commission and a staff artiste of All India Radio (AIR), Guwahati. As a journalist Sri Hazarika was instrumental in mobilising mass support in favour of oil refinery movement and Assam Agitation against illegal migrants. Sri Hazarika who adorned the chair of president in Hailakandi session of Asom Sahitya Sabha in the year 1988, has many published literary works to his credit. Noted among his literary works are: Naradar Diary, Phutukar Phen, Aulouguti Tolouguti, Daponor Dishat Alice, Akarshan Bikarshan, Naikhane Katha Kowar Din, Gautom Buddha, Asomiya Sangbadikata, Asom Aru Netritva. He received Sankardev Award in 1987 and Durgadas Ratandevi Award for Journalism in the same year. He was also a recipient of BB Goenka Award for outstanding contribution to the field of journalism. The Chief Minister Sri Tarun Gogoi today condoled the death of Sri Hazarika.