Guwahati, Feb. 3: It was, in a manner of speaking, a red-letter day for the Asam Sahitya Sabha as two volumes of its encyclopaedia Biswakosh, bound in red, were unveiled before the public here today.
One of Assam?s literary giants, Sahityacharya Golok Chandra Goswami, released the fourth and fifth volumes of the encyclopaedia ? on Indian, folk and world literature ? at the Rabindra Bhawan. The first three volumes, all dedicated to science, had been released in Dibrugarh. Just a few days remain for the Asam Sahitya Sabha?s 67th annual session to begin in Lakhimpur.
The president of the literary organisation, Homen Borgohain, described the unveiling of the fourth and fifth volumes as ?historic? in the context of the Assamese language and literature. ?In less than two years, a dedicated and worthy team of scholars successfully compiled over 5,000 pages of detailed research material in five volumes.?
Borgohain said the success of the world encyclopaedia project marked a departure from the trend in Assam of starting tasks, but not completing them. ?We have a habit of leaving things half-done. However, I was inspired by a Maratha scholar?s remark that people from his community never leave any task incomplete.?
The writer expressed gratitude to the people of the state for reposing faith in his and the Asam Sahitya Sabha?s ability to see the project through. ?In spite of many hurdles and criticism from various quarters, we have compiled a series that is as good as any encyclopaedia in the world. Hopefully, within six years, we will be able to complete the set,? he said.
The volume on Indian literature was edited by Jogendra Narayan Bhuyan in association with Ashok Kumar Goswami and Atulananda Goswami. The president-elect of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, Birendranath Datta, edited the one on world and folk literature. He was assisted by Madan Sarma, Sunil Kumar Dutta, Kishore Bhattacharya and Anil Boro.
The encyclopaedia will have a symbolic presence at the four-day annual session, starting February 8. In accordance with tradition, the president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha is taken to the venue on a chariot. This year, he will ride a chariot that resembles the Biswakosh.
Occidentalist Chandradhar Tripathi will be the chief guest at the sabha, while Oriya novelist Chandrasekhar Rout will inaugurate the open session.