Assam Sahitya Sabha is the foremost and the most popular organization of Assam. It was founded in December, 1917 in the historic town of Sibsagar. Sibsagar was the capital of Assam during the glorious days of Ahom rule. The main goal of this organization to improve and develop the language and literature of Assam.
Presently it has about one thousand branches all over Assam and also outside the state.The central office is at Jorhat, a city of historical importance. The branches and the district units also have their offices in their respective places. During the nintheen century the people of Assam particularly the educated felt the need for having a literary association which finally culminated with the formation of Assam Sahitya Sabha. Assam Sahitya Sabha was the final results of all those efforts. In 1917 it came into being. The first conference was held in the month of December 1917 under the presidentship of Padmanath Gohain Baruah, a big name in the history of modern Assamese literature. Sri Sarat chandra Goswami one of the prime movers of the literary convention was elected Secretary of the newly formed association. It was Sri Goswami who gave shape to this nascent organization making it both effective and useful to the people of Assam.
Since then the annual conference, nowadays biennial, is held with great pomp and grandeur, and a writer of high reputation is elected to the Presidency of the Society. the conference of the Society became a big literary festival, unique in its character, which is attended by thousands of people. The writers of the state assemble, exchange their views and address the people. Currently, the 69th convention is being held at Chapar.
The Sabha has a broad based democratic constitution and is guided by the rules framed under it. The rules are amended from time to time when amendments fell necessary according to prescribe rules in urban and rurals areas. It allows any person irrespective of his/ her mother tounge, to become its member. There is also provision for enrolling life member and patron members(Hitoishi sadasya).
The Sabha takes up programmes of felicitation of eminent Assamese writers and honours them with honorary titles and awards. In its Sibsagar session held in 1931, the Sabha conferred the title Rasaraj to Lakhinath Bezbaruah in recognition of his contribution to modern Assamese literature and language. There are other titles such as SAHITYA KANDRI, KAVYABHARATI, SADASYA MAHIAN, SAHITYACHARAYAS etc. which are conferred on individuals for their exemplary works on literatutre and language. Prizes are bestowed to old and new writers in recognition of their contribution to contemporary Assamese writings of quality on a wide range of subjects from literature to popular science. For specified prizes, individuals, families and cultural organizations have instituted funds under the Sabha.
|
Year |
Name |
Venue |
|
1917 |
Padmanath Gohain Baruah |
Sibsagar |
|
1918 |
Chandradhar Barua |
Goalpara |
|
1919 |
Kaliram Medhi |
Barpeta |
|
1920 |
Hemchandra Goswami |
Tezpur |
|
1923 |
Amrit Bhushan Dev Adhikari |
Jorhat |
|
1924 |
Kanaklal Barua |
Dibrugarh |
|
1924 |
Lakshminath Bezbaruah |
Guwahati |
|
1925 |
Rajanikanta Bordoloi |
Nagaon |
|
1926 |
Benudhar Rajkhowa |
Dhuburi |
|
1927 |
Tarunram Phukan |
Goalpara |
|
1929 |
Kamalakanta Bhattacharya |
Jorhat |
|
1930 |
Mufizuddin Ahmed Hazarika |
Golaghat |
|
1931 |
Nagendra Narayan Choudhury |
Sibsagar |
|
1933 |
Jnanadabhiram Barua |
North Lakhimpur |
|
1934 |
Ananda Chadra Agarwala |
Mangaldoi |
|
1936 |
Raghunath Choudhari |
Tezpur |
|
1937 |
Krishna Kanta Handique |
Guwahati |
|
1940 |
Moidul Islam Bora |
Jorhat |
|
1944 |
Nilamani Phukan |
Sibsagar |
|
1947 |
Nilamani Phukan |
Dibrugarh |
|
1950 |
Ambikagiri Roychudhury |
Margherita |
|
1953 |
Surya Kumar Bhuyan |
Shillong |
|
1955 |
Nalini Bala Devi |
Jorhat |
|
1955 |
Jatindra Nath Duorah |
Guwahati |
|
1956 |
Benudhar Sarma |
Dhuburi |
|
1958 |
Padmadhar Chaliha |
Tinisukia |
|
1959 |
Atul Chandra Hazarika |
Nagaon |
|
1960 |
Trailokya nath Goswami |
Palashbari |
|
1961 |
Trailokya Nath Goswami |
Goalpara |
|
1963 |
Ratnakanta Borkakati |
Nazira |
|
1964 |
Mitradev Mahanta |
Digboi |
|
1965 |
Dimbeshwar Neog |
Nalbari |
|
1966 |
Binanda Chandra Barua |
North Lakhimpur |
|
1967 |
Nakul Chandra Bhuyan |
Dibrugarh |
|
1968 |
Jnanath Bora |
Tezpur |
|
1969 |
Ananda Chandra Barua |
Barpeta |
|
1970 |
Upendra Chandra Lekharu |
Dhing |
|
1971 |
Tirtha Nath Sarma |
Makum |
|
1972 |
Hem Barua |
Dhuburi |
|
1973 |
Giridhar Sarma |
Rangia |
|
1974 |
Maheshwar Neog |
Mangaldoi |
|
1975 |
Satyendra Nath Sarma |
Titabor |
|
1976 |
Jagheshwar Sarma |
Tihu |
|
1977 |
Syed Abdul Malik |
Abhayapuri |
|
1978 |
Prasannalal Choudhury |
Golaghat |
|
1979 |
Atul Chandra Barua |
Sualkuchi |
|
1980 |
Jatindra Nath Goswami |
Roha |
|
1981 |
Sitanath brahmachoudhury |
Tinisukia |
|
1982 |
Sitanath Brahmachoudhury |
Diphu |
|
1983 |
Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya |
Bongaigaon |
|
1985 |
Jogesh Das |
Bihpuria |
|
1986 |
Biren Borkotoki |
Kampur |
|
1987 |
Mahendra Bora |
Pathsala |
|
1988 |
Kirthi Nath Hazarika |
Hailakandi |
|
1989 |
Mahim Bora |
Doomdooma |
|
1990 |
Nabakanta Barua |
Biswanath Chariali |
|
1991 |
Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi |
Dhudhnoi |
|
1992 |
Lakshyadhar Choudhury |
Goreshwar |
|
1993 |
Dr Bhupen Hazarika |
Sibsagar |
|
1994 |
Lila Gogoi |
Morigaon |
|
1995 |
Hitesh Deka |
Sarthebari |
|
1996 |
Laksminandan Bora |
Bokakhat |
|
1997 |
Nagen Saikia |
Bilasipara |
|
1998 |
Nagen Saikia |
Howraghat |
|
1999 |
Chandra Prasad Saikia |
Hajo |
|
2000 |
Chandra Prasad Saikia |
Jorhat |
|
2001 |
Homen Borgohain |
Dibrugarh |
|
2002 |
Homen Borgohain |
Kalgachia |
|
2003 |
Birendra Nath Dutta |
North Lakhimpur |
|
2004 |
Birendra Nath Dutta |
Hojai |
|
2005 |
Kanak Sen Deka |
Siphajhar |
|
2006 |
Kanak Sen Deka |
Belsar |
|
2007 |
Kanak Sen Deka |
Chapar |
|
2009 |
Rongbong Terang |
Dhemaji |