Category: Recent Events

Workshop on ‘Future-Ready Dictionary Development’

Since its inception, ABILAC has been striving towards the development and strengthening the indigenous languages of this region. To this end, ABILAC has produced a number of trilingual dictionaries of some these languages.

Of late, keeping in mind the overwhelming use of digital medium by all age groups of people, and also due to the constant development of digital technologies, ABILAC has decided and has already acted upon the preparation and production of online dictionaries with searchable database.

In this connection, ABILAC held a 4-day workshop on ‘Future-Ready Dictionary Development’ in collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) North East Region which was held at the headquarters of ABILAC  located at Rajaduar, North Guwahati from 22nd to 25th August, 2023. Members of Mising, Tiwa, Deori and Sumi Communities along with a few research scholars were imparted basic understanding on the preparation of Digital dictionary by Dr. Kellen Parker Van Dam from the University of Zurich in Switzerland having expertise in the production of digital dictionary. He was assisted by Dr. Palash Kumar Nath, Coordinator, Online Dictionary Programme, ABILAC. The community members under the supervision of the Dr. Parker gained practical hands-on experience towards production of digital dictionaries in their respective languages. By the end of the workshop members of each of these communities were able to bring out sample dictionaries in their respective languages. This workshop started with a brief inaugural session which was graced by, among others, Sri Suresh Goduka, Regional Director, IGNCA and Prof. Dilip Kumar Kalita, Director ABILAC, Dr. Karuna Kanta Kakati, Associate professor, ABILAC, participating community members, research scholars and other staff of from both the institutes. The workshop was successfully concluded on the 25th of August, 2023 with a brief valedictory session where the participants were presented with a Certificate of Participation. This workshop marks another important step by ABILAC towards helping the indigenous communities in developing and strengthening their languages by way of capacity building among the members of these communities for sustaining such efforts for preparation of online dictionaries for a long time.

Launching of Karbi Assamese English Online Trilingual Dictionary

Anundoram Borooah institute of Language,  Art and Culture (Assam) in collaboration with Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts, North East Region has produced an Online Karbi-Assamese-English trilingual dictionary which has been launched by Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Hon’ble Education minister Assam in the presence of Dr. Sachchidananda Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA on 18th of July, 2023. This dictionary is an online searchable version of the Karbi Lamtasam the print version  of the same which was published by ABILAC in the year 2021. This online version  includes more than 22000 entries and meanings in Karbi, Assamese and English. The core team members for this work are Prof. Dilip Kumar Kalita who worked as the Advisor to the team. Mr. Khoya Singh Hanse, who is the editor of the printed version of the dictionary, assisted the team whenever needed. Dr.Palash Kumar Nath, Assistant Professor, ABILAC who designed this project edited the content, checked the database and coordinated the whole project. Dr. Kellen Parker Van Dam, who is post doctoral fellow at Zurich University did the digitization, database creation,  and other programming so that the dictionary can be put up online. This dictionary is one step forward towards ABILAC’s continuous effort towards strengthening and developing the indigenous languages of Northeast region.

          After launching of this Karbi-Assamese-English dictionary, the other dictionaries that are published by ABILAC, and those which are going to be published very soon also will be made online in a phased manner. The dictionaries published till now are, Mising Gompir Kumsung(Mising-Assamese-English dictionary), Khurangmuk(Rabha-Assamese-English dictionary), Brahmaputra(Nepali-Assamese-English dictionary), which are going to made online very soon.

            The dictionaries in the pipeline are Deori-Assamese-English, Tiwa-Assamee-English, Bishnupriya Manipuri-Asamese-English, Dimasa-Assamese-English and Hmar-Assamese-English. These dictionaries are also going to be completed soon.

Signing of MoU between Anundoram Borooah Institute of Language, Art and Culture Assam and Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA)

A memorandum of Understanding has been signed between ABILAC and IGNCA to pave the way for conducting collaborative research activities and projects between the two institutes. Since both the institutes have been working in common areas including Language, Art and Culture for many years and have proven records of quality research and publications, this MoU is expected to further consolidate ongoing research projects and also to expand such research endeavours to new horizons. This MoU has been signed by Professor Dilip Kumar Kalita, Director, ABILAC on behalf of Anundoram Borooah Institute of Language, Art and Culture Assam and by Sri Suresh Goduka, Regional Director, North East Regional Centre, IGNCA on behalf of Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts on the 2nd of June, 2023 in the presence of Dr. Palash Kumar Nath and Bhupendranath Kalita from ABILAC and Ankur Deka and Dr. Kaushik Das from IGNCA and other key officials and staff from both the institutes at the Regional Centre of IGNCA in H.C. Road, Uzan Bazar, Guwahati 781001.

ABILAC confers the prestigious Anundoram Borooah Award for 2018 to Prof. (Late) Tabu Ram Taid

On the auspicious occasion of Teachers’ Day, on the 5th September, 2021, ABILAC presented its prestigious Anundoram Borooah Award for the year 2018 to Prof. Tabu Ram Taid. The award was presented by the Hon’ble minister of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of Assam Sri Kesab Mahanta in the presence of the Hon’ble Education minister, Govt. of Assam Dr. Ranoj Pegu and other dignitaries at the Srimanta Sankaradeva International Auditorium which was received by Mrs. Basanti Taid in the unfortunate absence of Prof. Taid.

ABILAC announced the name of Prof. Tabu Ram Taid as the recipient of this award for the year 2018 on 21st May, 2019. Prof. Taid was not only an erudite scholar in the field of language and culture but also the founder director of the Institute and subsequently the Vice-Chairman of the Governing Council and Chairman of the Executive Committee of ABILAC. Though the award was declared on 21st of May 2019 scheduled to be presented towards the end of the year, he left for his heavenly abode on 17th of August, 2019.

The Anundoram Borooah Award was instituted by ABILAC in the hallowed memory of the great Sanskrit Scholar and Civilian Anundoram Borooah in the year 1991 to be awarded annually to a scholar who sets hight standards of excellence in the fields of Sanskrit and allied Indological Studies, Literary and Linguistic studies and study in Art and Culture. The award consists of Rs. One Lakh, a citation written in the Sanskrit language, a shawl and recent publications of ABILAC.

Observation of 28th Death Anniversary of Professor Praphulladatta Goswami

ABILAC and Asom Janakristi Samaj jointly observes the 28th death anniversary of the doyen of folklore in India Professor Praphulladatta Goswami on the 19th of November, 2021 at the premises of ABILAC at Rajaduar. Apart from being an erudite scholar in the field of Folklore, Prof. Goswami, was also played vital roles in the establishment of various academic institutes and centers in the state. He was the Vice chairman of the Governing Council and Chairman of the Executive committee of ABILAC.

This occasion was observed by holding an academic program presided by Dr. Prabin Chandra Das, President, Asom Janakristi Samaj. Prof. Dilip Kumar Kalita, Director, ABILAC, in his welcome speech briefly shed light on the significance of the day.

Prof. Noni Gopal Mahanta, Education Advisor to the Chief Minister of Assam graced this occasion as the chief guest and delivered a lecture focusing on the life and works of Prof. Goswami. He also inaugurated 10th volume of the research journal of ABILAC titled ‘Anandam Journal of Anundoram Borooah Institute of Language, Art and Culture, Assam’ on this occasion.

Prof. Abani Kr. Bhagawati from the department of Geography, Gauhati University delivered the Praphulladatta Goswami Memorial Lecture on the thought-provoking topic ‘The Brahmaputra Valley of Assam: Nature and Tradition.’ In his lecture Prof. Bhagawati deliberated on the nature and contours of the great river Brahmaputra and stressed on the need of clinging to the basics of life in order to leave a more secure and healthy environment to the future generation. He also discussed about how our age old traditions and beliefs has it roots in the nature.

Distinguished anthropologist Prof. A.N.M. Irshad Ali also hailed Prof. Praphulladatta Goswami’s stupendous feat in and contribution to the field of Folklore studies and other allied disciplines. Dr. Paramananda Majumdar, literary critic also in his lecture focused on the contribution of Prof. Goswami on Folk literature. This program was also graced by Mr. Bhaskardatta Goswami, son of Prof. Praphulladatta Goswami. In his speech Mr. Goswami briefly deliberated on his fond memories of his great father.

Dr. Parismita Sarma sang Saraswati Vandana on this occasion.

A troop of disciples led by Atul Bhuyan from Auniati Satra performed Satriya dance on this occasion.

Dr. Karuna Kanta Kakati, Associate professor, ABILAC and General Secretary, Asom Janakristi Samaj delivered the Vote of Thanks.