Guwahati: Assamese poet Samir Tanti of Guwahati and Bengali poet Ajit Bairi will receive the Ramanath Bhattacharya Foundation Literary Award 2017 at Vivekananda Kendra on March 18.

This will be the eighth edition of the award instituted in memory of Padmanath Vidyabinod and Ramnath Biswas in 2010.

Padmanath and Ramnath were born in Baniachang under Habiganj subdivision of Sylhet district of undivided Assam in 1868 and 1894.

Padmanath spent a major part of his life as a teacher in Cotton College and was associated with a research work titled Kamarupashasanavali.

He was also a founder member of Asam Sahitya Sabha and instrumental in the formation of Assam Research Society.

Ramnath Biswas, associated with the Indian freedom struggle as a member of Anushilan Samiti, travelled four continents - many of the journeys on a bicycle - which earned him the title bhuparjatak (globe-trotter). He also wrote over 30 travelogues.

Since the institution of the award, every year an Assamese and a Bengali poet have been honoured with the award.

Assamese poet Ajit Barua and Bengali poet Bijit Kumar Bhattacharya were the first recipients of the award in 2010.

The awards will comprise Rs 51,000, a citation, a memento and a specially-designed muga scarf.

General secretary of the foundation and son of Ramanath, Shyamashish - a Mumbai-based Hindi TV serial producer - announced the names of the award-winners at the Guwahati Press Club on Sunday.

The awards will be presented by poet and writer Harekrishna Deka at a function to be held at the Vivekananda Kendra on the evening of March 18. Deka will also deliver a lecture on Ramanath Bhattacharya.