Dibrugarh University

Jorhat, March 14: For the first time in Assamese literature, an exclusive dictionary on the words used by an author is going to be published. The dictionary on the words used by Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaroa will be published by Dibrugarh University.

The Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaroa chair of the university will organise an eight-day workshop in this regard from tomorrow, in which eminent scholars from across the state, researching on the doyen of modern Assamese literature will participate.

Chairperson Karabi Deka Hazarika told The Telegraph today that not only were Bezbaroa’s writings of finer quality but he also used rare Assamese words.

The literary legend, belonging to the Jonaki era in the late nineteenth century, wrote essays, short stories, plays, fiction, poetry and satires and gave a new lease of life to Assamese literature.

Hazarika, who has been recently appointed as a Sahitya Akademi member, said Bezbaroa had created new words by joining two to three existing words to give a new meaning and also used certain words in a satirical way, interpreted in a different manner instead of their literary meaning.

“Bezbaroa played with words, which is quite interesting, and contributed in making the Assamese vocabulary rich. So we thought of compiling all such words and bring out an exclusive dictionary of words used by the stalwart, as the words are not found in the existing Assamese lexicons,” she said.

Hazarika said the proposed dictionary would be useful for research scholars involved in studying Bezbaroa’s works. She said the project to publish the dictionary has been taken up with funds from the University Grants Commission (UGC).

“Research work on the subject was being entrusted to a number of eminent scholars of Assamese literature as part of the project and they will participate in the workshop at the university from tomorrow till March 22,” Hazarika said. The theme for the workshop is Preparation of Lakshminath Bezbaroa Dictionary.

Satyakam Borthakur, associate professor of the Assamese department, who is also involved in the project, said nearly 50 scholars would participate in the workshop and deliberate on the subject.

He said the chair would edit all materials submitted and discussed in the workshop and subsequently bring out the lexicon, which is likely to be published by the end of this year.