GUWAHATI: Prominent linguist of Assam, Prof. Golok Chandra Goswami breathed his last on January 24 at a private hospital in Guwahati. Goswami who headed the scientific study of Assamese language was 96 at the time of his death.
The eminent scholar was born in 1923 in Morigaon district. He joined the department of Assamese at Gauhati University as a lecturer in July, 1954 and retired as a Professor and the head on August 1, 1985. His book titled ‘An Introduction to Assamese Phonology’ is regarded as the path breaking contribution to the linguistic study of Assamese language.
Meanwhile, Sarbanada Sonowal expressed his anguish over the demise. “The demise of eminent litterateur and linguist Golok Chandra goswami is a huge loss to the Assamese society and particularly to Assamese literature. My sincere condolences to his family members and well wishers,” wrote Sonowal on Twitter.
Assam health, finance and education minsiter Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma also mourned the death of Prof. Goswami and termed it as an irreparable loss to the State.
Late Gowami was also honoured with many prestigious awards including Asom Sahitya Sabha’s ‘Sahityacharya’ title, ‘Bhashacharya’ title by Asom Bhasha Bikash Samiti and ‘Anundoram Borooah Award’ by Anundoram Barooah Institute of Language, Art and Culture.
Other remarkable publications to Prof. Golok Chandra Goswami’s credit include– Structure of Assamese, Revised and Edited: Dr. Banikanta kakati’s Assamese, Its Formation and Development, Dhvni Bigyanor Bhumika, Asomiya Bornoprakash, Asomiya Akhor Jotoni etc.
Asom Sahitya Sabha president Paramananda Rajbongshi and chief secretary Padum Rajkhowa also mourned the death of the prominent scholar.
