Popular science writings are also part of literature: Dr. Nagen Saikia

DOOMDOOMA: "Popular science writings are also part of literature." This was stated by eminent writer and former Axam Xahitya Xabha president Dr Nagen Saikia while attending a solemn book inauguration programme at Doomdooma College on Monday.

Dr Saikia inaugurated six books published by Assam Science Writers' Association (ASWA) in 2020 with grant received from Director, Higher Education, Assam. The published books are - Dr Dinesh Ch Goswami's Mantur Parivesh , Dr Ramesh Ch Goswami's Bigyan Biswar Ucchal Diganta, Prof. Kshiradhar Baruah's Bijnan : Kari-Kheli Shiko Ahaa, Santanu Tamuli's Pratibimba (ed), Dr Aditi Bezbaruah's Mahakash Abhijan and Dr Kalyan Bhuyan's Ananya (ed).

Before inauguration, Dhiren Deka, former president of ASWA, explained to the gathering about the role of ASWA in publishing popular science books during 20 years of its existence since it was formed in 1999 with Dr Dinesh Ch Goswami as its founder president. Dr Saikia praised the efforts of Science writers like Dr Dinesh Ch Goswami, Prof Kshiradhar Baruah and Dr Kulendu Pathak in highlighting the issues and creating awareness among the people.

According to Dr Saikia, the primary objective of literature is to give delight to its reader and the same can be experienced while reading books of popular science as well. In the beginning, Principal Dr Prakash Jyoti Barthakur welcomed the guests and told the august gathering that besides inauguration of publications of the college, the publication of the Assam Science Writers' Association would also be inaugurated because of his association with the organization as a publication secretary. The first book that was inaugurated by Dr Saikia was Asam Duhita Sudhalata Duara- a Bengali translation of Dinesh Chandra Sen's A memoir of Sudhalata Duara M.A.B.T. written in English and translated into Bengali by Dr Mandira Das of the Bengali department, Doomdooma College. Incidentally, Sudhalata Duara and her sister Sukhalata were the first two Assamese girls to obtain MA degree from Calcutta University. Dr Saikia expressed hope that this book by Dr Mandira Das would send a very positive message in cementing the harmonious relationship between the Assamese and Bengali communities.