Guwahati, March 26: The Kamrup metro district administration plans to promote and preserve the legacy of Assamese literary icon Lakshminath Bezbaroa, popularly known as Roxoraj (king of satire).

Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner M. Angamuthu revealed the plan at a memorial function organised by the administration here today to mark Bezbaroa's 79th death anniversary.

He said the district administration plans to organise a series of programmes to promote Bezbaroa's eternal literary marvels in the form of essay competitions, short story writing sessions and painting contests for children.

Bezbaroa, the pioneer of Assamese modern literature, was the initiator of the Asomiya Bhasa Unnati Sadhini Sabha, which is now known as the Asam Sahitya Sabha.

"There is a good number of children's literature in the form of poems, short stories and essays penned by the Roxoraj. All these creations will be promoted in schools," Angamuthu said.

To mark the day, the administration organised a memorial function at Guwahati Club. Hrishikesh Goswami, press adviser to the chief minister and senior officials, attended the event.

The intersection near Tarini Charan Choudhury Girls' HS School, where a bronze statue of Bezbaroa stands, will be named in his memory.

In another programme, Akonir Priyabandhu, an organisation working for children's intellectual improvement, awarded prizes to four schoolchildren for their prowess in poetry recital, painting, drawing and story-writing skills in the Rong Aru Xadhu Dhemali competition to observe Bezbaroa's death anniversary today.

The contest was held in 110 schools in the state last year and 870 students were selected for the finals held at Shilpgram in the city.