Eminent Assamese Poet Nilamoni Phookan conferred Jnanpith Award at Rabindra Bhavan

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Eminent Assamese poet Nilamoni Phookan was conferred with the 56th Jnanpith Award at a function held at Rabindra Bhavan in Guwahati today. The award, which carried a cheque of Rs 11 lakh, citation and a statue of Maa Saraswati, was handed over to him by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Owing to Nilamoni Phookan's frail health, his youngest son Amitabh Phookan read out his speech. The renowned poet said, "In the midst of all the chaos in this world, this award has come as a breath of fresh air to me. I am thankful and honoured to receive this award."

Chief Minister Sarma, while addressing the gathering, said, "Today is a memorable day for Assam. Nilamoni Phookan getting the country's highest literary honour has filled the hearts of the people of Assam with joy and pride. It is indeed a matter of honour for me to be handing over this award to Nilmani Phookan, whose contribution to Assam's literary and social fields is truly laudable.

"The first Assamese to win the Jnanpith Award was Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya in 1979. Two decades later, Mamoni Raisom Goswami won the award and after another two decades, Nilmani Phookan won the award. The contribution of these three literary stalwarts can never be forgotten.

"Nilamoni Phookan's literary creations should be promoted across the world. If his family permits, the Assam Publication Board will translate his literary creations into different languages."

Nilamoni Phookan was born on September 10, 1933, at Dergaon in Golaghat district. Surya Henu Nami Ahe Ei Nodiyedi, Kait, Golap aru Kait, Golapi Jamur Lagna, Kobita and Nrityarata Prithibi are among his noted works. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1981, Padma Shri in 1990 and received the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2002. He is a D.Litt from the Dibrugarh University. Phookan started his professional life with teaching and took up poetry-writing in 1950.

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