Assam Valley Award presented By A Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, April 12 — Noted litterateur and former Union Secretary of Culture Ashok Vajpeyi today said that literature is the conscience of time, which speaks for those who are left out and suppressed and it cares for human dignity rejoicing in every candle lit to remove the darkness from human mind in any corner of the world. He was presenting the 18th Assam Valley Literary award to noted litterateur Dr Nagen Saikia in a function held at the Pragjyoti ITA Centre for Performing Arts here this evening. Stating that literature celebrates life in all its adequacies and inadequacies, Vajpeyi said that literature also asserts for plurality of truth. It is one way to reach plurality of truth, which doubts itself, he said adding that it has the unique moral courage in doubting itself. But its aim is to serve humanity above all connecting peoples. During this era of religious conflicts, spirituality is now available only in literature, he said. Even Ram is not spared by literature for killing Sambuk, a low caste for the offence of reading the scriptures. It has such a power.
Even a very small thing ignored by others is kept alive by literature and it is a participatory truth with the readers playing a role like the audience in musical concerts. Literature is governed by great writers and unlike politics it does not create a power centre. Moreover literary truths do not get superseded, he said citing the example of the works of Shakespeare. His works have remained unchanged.
Literature reminds us that we should burn candles to remove the darkness from minds of others, he said adding literature also keeps the languages alive. Vajpeyi also requested the Williamson Magor Educational Trust to take up a project for translating the works of the younger generation of Assamese writers into Hindi, English and other languages.
Accepting the award, Dr Nagen Saikia said that a writer lives in the frameless time of human mind with his works. The presence of timeless human mind and its feelings make the works of a writer solid, adding, humanity is above all.
A former Rajya Sabha member and former Asam Sahitya Sabha President, Saikia said that he was very much disturbed by the present situation in the State and the country as well
The award, instituted by Williamson Magor Educational Trust in 1990, consist of a scroll of honour, a trophy and a draft of Rs two lakh.
The function was also addressed by RS Jhawar and P Borkotoky of the Williamson Magor Education Trust.
