Jorhat: In a significant step toward honouring one of Assam’s greatest language reformers, the Assam Sahitya Sabha on Monday announced that a full statue of eminent scholar Hemchandra Barua will soon be installed in the courtyard of its headquarters, Chandrakanta Handique Bhawan. Sabha president Dr. Basanta Kumar Goswami said the initiative would be carried out without any financial support from Barua’s family, noting that it was time the state accord proper recognition to the pioneer of Assamese linguistic reform.
The announcement came during the unveiling of a special Hemchandra Barua–themed group song at Danbir Chandrakanta Handique Bhawan, organised to mark the upcoming 125th anniversary of Hemkosh, Barua’s landmark etymological Assamese dictionary. The commemorative song, led by singer Prasenjit Lahon with contributions from several artists, was released on December 10.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Goswami expressed disappointment at what he described as persistent government indifference toward Barua’s legacy. He emphasised that Barua’s family had single-handedly kept his memory alive through initiatives such as the preservation of Hemkosh and the publication of its Braille edition. “It is unfortunate that the person who tirelessly worked to re-establish the Assamese language did not receive due acknowledgment even when Assamese was recognised as a cultural language of India,” he said.
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Announcing the Sabha’s statue initiative, he added that this would be the first such tribute undertaken independently of the family. Singer Prasenjit Lahon thanked the Sabha, noting that the lyrics were penned by Dhrubajyoti Rajkhowa, with music composed by himself, audio mixed by Arup Dutta, and vocals by Ranjana Deka, Ashish Kashyap and others. He expressed hope that the song would gain global acclaim.
