Inauguraion of Extension center of ABILAC at Bilasipara
ABILAC is going to establish its extension center at Bilasipara, Dhubri. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed to that effect, on the 28thof January, 2021 between Anundoram Borooah Institute of Language, Art and Culture, Assam (ABILAC) and Prachin Bhasha Sanskriti Gaveshana Kendra at Bilasipara, Dhubri, Assam for establishing an Extension Centre of ABILAC to carry out research and other academic activities on the language and culture of Assam, particularly, the lower Assam region.The MoU has been signed by Shri Ashok Singhi, the president on behalf of Prachin Bhasha Sanskriti Gavesana Kendra at Bilasipara, Dhubri, Assam and Professor Dilip Kumar Kalita, Director on behalf of ABILAC in a brief and solemn meeting chaired by Mr. Ashok Singhi and attended by intellectuals, educationists and litterateurs of the area at the Prachin Bhasha Sanskriti Gaveshana Kendra located at Bilasipara town. According to the MoU the Kendra will be known as Prachin Bhasha Sanskriti Gaveshana Kendra, Bilasipara, an Extension Centre of Anundoram Borooah Institute of Language, Art and Culture, (ABILAC) Assam.
Shri Debojit Chakravarty, the secretary of the Kendra, while stating the objective of the meeting expressed his happiness on the signing of the MoU. He hopes that with the assistance of ABILAC, this center will be able to achieve its objectives.
Speaking in the meeting, Professor Dilip Kumar Kalita stated that the center will facilitate research and academic activities on the language and culture of the region by scholars of the region. He stated that ABILAC will look after the academic and administrative activities of the centre while the management of the centre and its property will rest with the local committee. Professor Kalita also stated that ABILAC will help the centre establish a library for the benefit of the scholars and students of the erstwhile Goalpara in particular and lower Assam region in general to carry out research on culture, language, folklore, etc. ABILAC deposited eighty-six of its publications at the center for the library
Shri Ashok Singhi, the president of the kendra and the local MLA, recounted the events which has led to the establishment of the kendra. He also stressed on the fact that this centre was a dream of the former Chief Minister of Assam and the distinguished leader of the region, the late Sarat Chandra Singha. He stated that the local committee will look after the property and the infrastructure of the centre and extend all possible assistance to make the centre a success. he expressed his gratitude to ABILAC for coming forward to establish its extension centre and believed that this centre will cater to the needs of the scholars and students of the region and uplift the academic scenario of the region.
Speaking on the occasion the Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) Shri Mridul Yadav, IAS, expressed his happiness at the signing of the MoU and he assured relevant cooperation from the government administration for the development of the centre. In the meeting anchored by Shri Dipesh Das, Ex-chairman, Town Committee, Bilasipara, Shri Bibhav Chakravarty, former vice-principal Ronakhata H.S. School and Moslemuddim Ahmed also spoke a few words each on the occasion.
The organisers felicitated Dr. Karuna Kanta Kakati, Dr. Palash Kumar Nath, Shri Ridip jyoti Kalita, Shri Bhupendra nath Kalita and Shri Saurabh Kumar Baruah from ABILAC who attended this meeting.
The gathering also observed two minutes silence in the memory of Bikramjit Chakraborty who was the former president of the center. The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Moslemuddin Ahmed.
ABILAC in UNICODE campaign
ABILAC has been actively contributing to the effort of confirming a separate slot for the Assamese script in UNICODE. Dr. Dilip kumar Kalita, Director, ABILAC on behalf of the institute has contributed to this effort in various forms as mentioned below.
- Prof. Dilip Kumar Kalita, Director, ABILAC holds the reposibility of an appointed member of the 6 member expert committee to decide on the Assamese script by BIS.
- Prof. Dilip Kumar Kalita presided at the session on Assamese script in UNICODE at the Kaliabor session of Axom Xahitya Sabha and delivered the presidential address.
- He attended meeting of the expert panel at Delhi and the panel recommended separate slot for Assamese script in UNICODE.
- He is also a nominated member of the LITD20 of BIS which decides on matters related to scripts.
- He was a member of the team which was entrusted with the charge of preparing the proposal for separate slot along with Dr. Sikhar Sarma and others, constituted by the government of Assam.
- A meeting of all the stakeholders of the UNICODE campaign was held at the office ABILAC.
Publication of Trilingual dictionary
ABILAC publishes a much needed trilingual dictionary with Rabha as the source language and Assamese and English respectively as the target languages which has been edited by Dr. Upen Rabha Hakacham, Prof. of Assamese, Gauhati University. This dictionary is the result of the strenuous scholarly effort of the research assistants, Rabha Sahitya Sabha, the editor and the staff of ABILAC. This dictionary contains a valuable introduction to the Rabha language and grammar. An explanation to the principles exercised in the compilation of the dictionary makes this dictionary user-friendly.
Documentary film on Anundoram Borooah
ABILAC in collaboration with Assam Socio literary Club, National Library, India has produced and presented a documentary film titled Anundoram Barua: A Forerunner of Modern Assam. This valuable documentary has been screened at the auditorium of National Library, Kolkata on the 21st January, 2015.
A Catalogue of Manuscripts in Assam
A Catalogue of Manuscripts in Assam published by ABILAC and compiled and edited by Dr. Malini Goswami , Professor, Dept of Assamese, Gauhati University has been included in the national manuscript mission named as New Catalogus Catalogorum.
Anundoram Borooah Gold Medal
ABILAC plays an instrumental role in the resumption of the Anundoram Borooah Gold Medal which was being conferred to the author of the best research paper on Sanskrit studies under Calcutta University. This award was initiated by the Assam Students Union in Calcutta University in 1918. The Union donated a sum of Rs 1100 to the University authority for instituting and conferring this prestigious award in the name of the great Sanskritist. But due to financial crunch, the university suspended this award from the year 2000 which was very unfortunate. Coming to know about that, ABILAC with support from the Government of Assam and other well wishers in Kolkata contacted the concerned authorities in the Calcutta University and formally requested for resumption of the gold medal. Following a number of discussions among various stakeholders of this award, ABILAC has been successful in providing a sum of Rs. 3 Lakhs from the grant of Government of Assam to the concerned authorities of Calcutta University so that the award can be resumed. On receiving the fund, the University has agreed to confer the award again from the next convocation.
Reinstallation of a valuable marble plaque in the name of the great pandit Anundoram Borooah
ABILAC played an important role in the reinstallation of a valuable marble plaque in the name of the great pandit Anundoram Borooah which was installed in the house of Sir Tarak Nath Palit 35, Balleygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-19 in 1889 by his fans after his sudden demise. But unfortunately this historical house was demolished in 1964 by the authority of Calcutta University for building new classrooms. Along with the house that valuable plaque was also taken down and was left with no trace for almost next 75 years. Fortunately this plaque was discovered by late Ishan Barua, which was laying unattended in the godown of the auditorium of the University in 2005. Hereafter the director of ABILAC supported by a number of other scholars and noted personalities of the Assam and Kolkata pursued this matter officially with the concerned authority in Calcutta University which finally resulted in the reinstallation of this historical plaque in the lawn of the international guest house in the Science campus of the University on 8th November, 2009.