Anil Baruah with his software. Picture by UB Photos

Guwahati, Nov. 6: When working as DTP operator 16 years ago Anil Baruah had never thought that his effort to develop a software on Assamese language would give him a livelihood one day.

Now, in every book fair, a few stalls selling Baruah’s software, is a common scene.

In fact, developing and selling the software has given Baruah and his 10-member team a livelihood.

“Anil Baruah’s Easy DTP Softwareis now not only a typing software but a complete package that includes digital dictionaries and encyclopaedia. The Assamese dictionary contains 80,000 words and the English one contains 40,000 words. It has over 5,000 phrases, synonyms and antonyms, abbreviations, common words, official words, numerous pictures and scientific terms in Assamese.

“Now, the reach of Assamese software has widened. Making and selling Assamese software has turned into a small industry,” Baruah told The Telegraph.

Baruah’s aim is to help people have an easy and quick access to Assamese words, write the language in computer and on the web effortlessly, facilitate easy translation from Assamese to English and help the young generation learn Assamese and English.

“After launching the software in 2008, we have sold 4,000 copies till date. Its demand is increasing. In this book fair season, out target is to sell 1,000 copies,” said Baruah.

“Most of our demands come from different printing presses, educational institutions, writers and college or university teachers. Initially, we sold only the DTP software.However, the demand has increased significantly once we added dictionaries and encyclopaedia. We have made it user friendly for professionals and new learners as well,” said Baruah.

Baruah said he would add medical terms, a Hindi-Assamese-English dictionary into the software to improve it further. “To promote the software we have put up stalls in the ongoing Leo Expo in Guwahati also,” he said.