GUWAHATI: The prestigious Assam Publication Board Literary Awards and Publisher Awards were announced on December 28, honouring distinguished literary figures and publishers.
The ceremony, organised jointly by Assam Publication Board, Assam Sahitya Sabha, and the Assam Publishers and Booksellers Association, was revealed by the Secretary of the Council, Pramod Kalita, during a press conference held at the Chandrahasini Auditorium in Guwahati.
- The literary award for the year 2023 have been conferred upon eminent litterateur Dhruvajyoti Barua, recognised for his work titled "Inner Landscapes." Barua has been awarded a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, certificates of appreciation, clothing, and a collection of books.
- In the publisher category, the awards have been bestowed upon "Jyoti Publication" and "Bondhov," who will receive a cash prize of ₹3 lakh, certificates, clothing, and a collection of books.
The awards will be formally presented during the upcoming Assam Book Fair in Guwahati. It is noteworthy that the Assam Publication Council had previously honoured Nandita Devi in 2021 and Pronovjyoti Deka in 2022 with the Literary Awards.
Speaking on the occasion, Kalita mentioned that the selection process involved the submission of nearly 200 books to the Assam Publication Board. A panel of judges meticulously reviewed the publications, shortlisting six books for the final phase.
The final selection, including the winning book "Inner Landscapes" by Barua, was made by the panel, which comprised Sumanta Chaliha (Chairman), Aditi Bezbaruah, Satyakam Barthakur, Lakshi Hazarika, and Mihir Deori.