Litterateurs describe Ajit Barua as first modern Assamese poet

The first Ajit Barua Memorial Lecture was held here with litterateurs describing the Sahitya Akademi award winner as the first modern Assamese poet.
Delivering the lecture here, Prof Ranjit Deba Goswami heading Tezpur University's Sankardeb Chair, said Barua had broken away from traditional literary style and instead adopted both upper and lower Assam Assamese together to set a very high bench mark through his poetic language.
15-16th century socio-cultural-religious reformer of Assam Srimanta Sankar Deb had brought about a change in the literary field of the state followed by 20th century litterateur Lakhinath Bezbarooah and those of the Jonaki Era that marked the dawn of romanticism in Assamese literature, said Goswami.

"After them, Ajit Barua silently brought about a revolution in Assamese literature. Moving away from age-old traditional style of writing, the eminent poet used minimal words with deep meaning and raised the standards of Assamese literature," he said delivering the lecture titled 'Kobi Pranam: Ajit Barua (1926-2015)' last evening organised by the Ajit Barua Anuragi Samaj.
Prof Pradeep Khatoniar, head of the Philosophy department in Cotton College, described the Bharatia Bhasha Parishad awardee as not only a poet, critic and translator, but a man with a modern mind and immense scholarly knowledge.
Asam Sahitya Sabha president and noted author Dr Dhruba Jyoti Bora also described Barua as a shining light of Assamese literature.

Sahitya Akademi awardee and writer Nirupama Borgohain released a book titled 'Ajit Barua Kobita Sangrah' edited by Kushal Dutta.
All Assam Poets Society president Aniz Uz Zaman, the Samaj's president Anubhab Tulasi, joint secretary Dr Bibhash Choudhury, Editors Guild former president and translator Dhirendranath Bezbaruah were among others who spoke on the occasion.
It was announced in the meeting that Dibrugarh University would host the second Ajit Barua memorial lecture next year.