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T
he Assam Valley Literary Award
for 2015 was conferred on
Sri Apurba Sarma – renowned
novelist, short story writer and former
Editor of ‘Ajir Asom’, the Assamese
daily fromThe Sentinel Group.
Graduating in Economics (Honours)
from the prestigious Cotton College,
Guwahati, Sri Sarma went on to do his
M.A. in Economics from Guwahati
University. After a three-year stint as a
Staff Reporter for The Assam Tribune,
he taught Economics at Nowgong
Girls’ College from where he retired as
Principal in 2002. Sri Sarma returned
to journalism and worked as Editor of
‘Ajir Asom’ from 2004 to 2012.
Sri Sarma received the Sahitya
Akademi Award in 2000 for his
collection of short stories called ‘Baghe
Tapur Rati’ and the Swarna Kamal (the
National Award for the Best Book in
Cinema) for his book ‘Asomiya
Chalachitrar Cha-Pohar’ in 2002. His
short story ‘Bahiroloi Jowa Baat’ was
adapted into a screenplay for an award-
winning film called ‘Dwaar’ (Door).
Sri Sarma received the Award from the
Chief Guest, Dr Chandrakant Patil,
celebrated poet, critic, translator and
editor in Marathi and Hindi. Dr Patil
is on the jury for various literary awards,
including the Sahitya Akademi Award.
In his speech, past recipient of the
Award and present panel member,
Dr Lakshmi Nandan
Bora, lauded the
Williamson Magor
Group’s efforts to
promote the literary,
cultural and social
heritage of the state.
Sri Apurba Sarma
modestly said in his
acceptance speech that
while he was honoured
to receive the prestigious Award, he felt
that he was “far from mastering the
legacy” of his predecessors, nor had he
been able to “mark out the right path”
for his successors. However, he pledged
to be a “part of the endeavour” of all
those “engaged in rediscovering
humanity against the terrible anti-
human forces.”
Coincidentally, his brother, Sri Arun
Sarma, was conferred the Assam Valley
Literary Award in 2005.
ASSAM VALLEY LITERARY AWARD
22 July 2016
L to R: Mr R.S. Jhawar, Dr Chandrakant Patil, Sri Apurba Sarma,
Mr P. Chaudhary & Dr Lakshmi Nandan Bora