How Asam Sahitya Sabha entered a new era via digitisation, inclusiveness
Buljit Buragohain
How Asam Sahitya Sabha entered a new era via digitisation, inclusiveness
When Asam (Assam) Sahitya Sabha was constituted in 1917, it had one clear mission: to pursue the widespread development of the Assamese language, literature and culture. While the organisation – which is now Assam’s oldest literary-cultural body – has been able to preserve and promote the culture and literature of the people for over a century, it has not done so well in linking with people and engaging the younger generation.
The appointment of Kuladhar Saikia as the president of Asam Sahitya Sabha brought about renewed hope and vigour among people who had begun to lose confidence in an organisation they thought no longer provided the access and connection they needed to have a sense of belonging. For many, it was turning into a cult for a few intellectuals and writers. This perception severely injured the reputation of the Sabha, despite its numerous contributions to the development and the promotion of the Assamese culture.
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Kuladhar Saikia, President, Asam Sahitya SabhaSaikia, a former IPS officer and recipient of the Sahitya Akademy Award, certainly had his work cut out. Some of his tasks included: rebuilding the bridge of confidence between the organisation and the people of Assam, creating relevance for the Sabha in today’s fast-evolving digital world by embracing digital technology, and portraying visionary leadership championed by a willingness to evolve while preserving the virtue and founding objectives of the organisation. From all indications, Saikia is proving to be the right man for the job-creating a path for success, growth, inclusiveness, and sustainability.
Championing a digital revolution
In February 2022, the organisation launched its digital revolution. Asam Sahitya Sabha has created a digital archive for its old books, a YouTube channel, and a Facebook page. The idea is not just to preserve its legacy materials but also to make them easily accessible to the general public. Besides, it aims to engage the younger generation, who depend more on digital platforms for their information and lifestyle activities.
According to Saikia, it was crucial to demystify the perception that the group was only for elderly writers. “It became clear that we need to ride the bus of technology to not just remain relevant but to also expand our reach. That is why we have been speaking about newer modes of communication. And it’s truly heart-warming to witness and spearhead the beginning of our journey in the digital world,” he said.
Texts such as the first Assamese language journal Orunodoi, published in 1846, content from Saanchipaats or 13th-century manuscripts made from tree bark, old dictionaries, and other valuable literature are some of the items being digitised. The digitisation exercise is done with support from Assam Electronics Development Corporation Ltd, with 500 ancient and valuable books and journals currently archived. The organisation is also engaging colleges and universities to help with the process. Some well-meaning individuals have also helped with the process of digitisation.
The launch was held at Asam Sahitya Sabha and Cotton University Vice-Chancellor Bhabesh Chandra Goswami was on hand to chair the inauguration.
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In his inauguration remarks, Goswami commended the digital transformation sweeping through the Sabha while observing that the new leadership seems to be on the right track to make the organisation a truly remarkable point for anyone looking to learn about the beautiful Assam people and culture.
Another angle to the digitisation process is in the area of Assamese folk tales, which are being uploaded to audio apps such as Amazon Music, Spotify and Gaana. These are tales representing the voices and traditions of the different tribes of Assam. Plans have also been concluded to ensure future Asam Sahitya Sabha programmes are streamed live on YouTube. This is, indeed, a laudable revolution taking over the organisation and ensuring that recognition and support are galvanised among members of the public.
This is not the first time that Saikia will be engaging members of communities in a worthwhile project. During the lockdown, he showed his ability to mobilise members of the public toward the common good by making a public appeal for people to help strengthen the presence of the Assamese language online. “For example, Google Translate is a community-based venture, and it has to be fed by users. In September 2021, in what is considered a digital milestone for the language, Microsoft Translator added Assamese as the 12th Indian language. Hopefully, the same will happen with Google Translate soon,” he said.
Relying on Unicode, a lot more is being done concerning putting the Assamese language on the digital map. Mitali Barman, Assistant Professor, Department of MIL & Literary Studies, University of Delhi, gives a clearer perspective. “In this context, we need to mention Axomiyat Kotha Botora, a group on Facebook. A few admirers of the Assamese language, who were residing in different parts of the world, met virtually with the help of Facebook in the year 2010, and they started the trend of writing Assamese in Assamese scripts digitally on social media with the assistance of Unicode.
“Some of the tech-savvy people of this group have further developed keyboards to write Assamese scripts through Unicode. This unique project has created ripples among Assamese social media users, and it slowly spread to all netizens of Assam. Writing Assamese in Assamese scripts has since become a revolution. And later from this same Axomiyat Kotha Botora group, a web journal named Xahitya has been published bearing ISSN recognition and this is perhaps the first Assamese web journal to receive an ISSN. I’m glad the ASS is building on this in so many ways,” Barman said.
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CONTINUE READING BELOW
Engaging youngsters in the future
Another area of priority is the character of inclusiveness now displayed by the Sabha. The younger generation is now encouraged like never before to play a part in the organisation’s activities, using various initiatives. Swadesh Swabhiman, a series of events that allow young minds to deliberate on relevant issues with some guidance from some of the state’s most renowned scholars, is one way the Sabha is doing this. This doesn’t simply promote partnership and networking, but brainstorming sessions often lead to great innovations for the growth of Assam.
The series of lectures tasks young individuals and encourage them to engage in debates and discourses on topics with historic and contemporary relevance. It gives them a platform to present their take on issues concerning Assam’s local affairs and on a global scale. As Saikia puts it, “The idea was to find young talents who can research on a relevant topic and voice their opinions out through strong communication skills on any platform, anywhere. We want to form a group of people who can reflect on issues and represent the state. We can’t think of advancement of language and literature without participation by the younger generation.”
“I believe this century-old organisation must open its windows and doors to the youth so that they can come in and take a lead as well. Otherwise, we will become old and irrelevant. Asam Sahitya Sabha is not only about literature or writers, but it’s also an organisation for all who love Assam and we should be all-inclusive,” he added.
Since the initiative started in November, the Sabha has organised three editions of Swadesh Swabhiman, where topics have ranged from the naval strategy of Ahom rulers, history of textiles and jewellery in Assam to the state’s famed mobile theatre, as well as food habits. The goal is to advance these all-important conversations and contribute to the age-long knowledge for the prosperity of the people and the development of the state.
A student of Cotton University and participant at Swadesh Swabhiman, Tridib Bhagabati emphasised the importance of the programme and how these new initiatives are making the organisation more impactful. “It is a platform to discuss the thoughts of everyone who loves Assam and who feels proud to be Assamese. The initiative is helping to reduce the gap between Sahitya Sabha and the youths. It is completely a non-formal organisation; everyone can speak freely. I’ve participated in three editions of Swadesh Swabhiman, and I hope it continues,” he said.
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CONTINUE READING BELOW
Another participant, Ananya Saikia from Handique Girls College observed that the initiative is invoking the spirit of patriotism once more for young people to do something good for Assam. “We’re able to learn about our history, culture, language, and literature. I’m proud to have participated in two sessions of Swadesh Swabhiman, and for me, it is a call to action. We now have that feeling of necessity to do something good for Assam. This is an amazing initiative that’s bridging the gap between young people and the Sabha and I wish everyone can participate,” she said.
Bridging the gap through translations
From publishing a dictionary to translating Assamese books to other North-eastern languages, Asam Sahitya Sabha has had its hands full by trying to ensure connections are built, not just trans-generationally, but also between Assam and other states in the Northeast and beyond. The dictionary features a plethora of tribal words and there are plans to translate the world literature to the Assamese language.
With more collaborations being discussed, the organisation witnessed Naga Hoho President, H. K. Zhimomi join Sabha’s 105th Raising Day in Golaghat, in December 2021. Possible literary collaborations with Arunachal Pradesh were also discussed.
Catching them young
Beyond the youth, there has also been some focus on kids. As Saikia puts it, “We believe literacy and history should be taught from a very young age using the channels that resonate more with kids. We’re popularising storytelling among children through different means. We started a programme called Aitar Xadhu Radio’te Xunu in collaboration with All India Radio (AIR) where beautiful stories from the state are aired. We also conduct storytelling workshops every Sunday. Following today’s trends, we’ve introduced virtual storytelling through digital platforms like Zoom, GoogleMeet, Facebook, etc,” he said.
There are also live puppetry shows at the Asam Sahitya Sabha premises and there are plans to form storytelling groups in schools, and colleges to further spread the importance of literature. Currently, a storytelling initiative called Xadhu Xunu has been implemented in Guwahati residential apartments. In the long run, the association also plans to introduce cartoons in the Assamese language in a bid to make the regional literature popular and reach a wider audience.
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CONTINUE READING BELOW
Catalysing growth, building an inclusive future
There is indeed a new dawn in Asam Sahitya Sabha. It is true what they say about visionary leadership, and testimonies abound. Social worker, writer, and author, Archana Borthakur expressed her delight at the initiatives. “People these days don’t have the patience to sit and read a book, but online reading is convenient. I think this is a great step taken by the Sabha. Another initiative – the translation of books from the Northeast India region into Assamese – will bring people together. People mustn’t forget their roots.”
“I’m also happy that the Sabha is giving importance to storytelling. This is much needed to shape our new generation and ensure that the storytelling culture doesn’t get lost,” she notes.
The breath of fresh air sweeping through the Asam Sahitya Sabha is a welcome development for everyone. Supported by its long history and heritage, a network of nine regional offices, 32 affiliated units, and more than 1,000 branches, including seven outside the state and three in London, Singapore, and North America, the organisation is looking to capitalise on these indices for exponential growth. With open arms, the organisation is once again getting everyone involved and interested in Assam culture and literature and spearheading an ambitious project to make the Assamese phenomenon a global force of reckoning.
How Asam Sahitya Sabha entered a new era via digitisation, inclusiveness
When Asam (Assam) Sahitya Sabha was constituted in 1917, it had one clear mission: to pursue the widespread development of the Assamese language, literature and culture. While the organisation – which is now Assam’s oldest literary-cultural body – has been able to preserve and promote the culture and literature of the people for over a century, it has not done so well in linking with people and engaging the younger generation.
The appointment of Kuladhar Saikia as the president of Asam Sahitya Sabha brought about renewed hope and vigour among people who had begun to lose confidence in an organisation they thought no longer provided the access and connection they needed to have a sense of belonging. For many, it was turning into a cult for a few intellectuals and writers. This perception severely injured the reputation of the Sabha, despite its numerous contributions to the development and the promotion of the Assamese culture.
ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Kuladhar Saikia, President, Asam Sahitya SabhaSaikia, a former IPS officer and recipient of the Sahitya Akademy Award, certainly had his work cut out. Some of his tasks included: rebuilding the bridge of confidence between the organisation and the people of Assam, creating relevance for the Sabha in today’s fast-evolving digital world by embracing digital technology, and portraying visionary leadership championed by a willingness to evolve while preserving the virtue and founding objectives of the organisation. From all indications, Saikia is proving to be the right man for the job-creating a path for success, growth, inclusiveness, and sustainability.
Championing a digital revolution
In February 2022, the organisation launched its digital revolution. Asam Sahitya Sabha has created a digital archive for its old books, a YouTube channel, and a Facebook page. The idea is not just to preserve its legacy materials but also to make them easily accessible to the general public. Besides, it aims to engage the younger generation, who depend more on digital platforms for their information and lifestyle activities.
According to Saikia, it was crucial to demystify the perception that the group was only for elderly writers. “It became clear that we need to ride the bus of technology to not just remain relevant but to also expand our reach. That is why we have been speaking about newer modes of communication. And it’s truly heart-warming to witness and spearhead the beginning of our journey in the digital world,” he said.
Texts such as the first Assamese language journal Orunodoi, published in 1846, content from Saanchipaats or 13th-century manuscripts made from tree bark, old dictionaries, and other valuable literature are some of the items being digitised. The digitisation exercise is done with support from Assam Electronics Development Corporation Ltd, with 500 ancient and valuable books and journals currently archived. The organisation is also engaging colleges and universities to help with the process. Some well-meaning individuals have also helped with the process of digitisation.
The launch was held at Asam Sahitya Sabha and Cotton University Vice-Chancellor Bhabesh Chandra Goswami was on hand to chair the inauguration.
ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
In his inauguration remarks, Goswami commended the digital transformation sweeping through the Sabha while observing that the new leadership seems to be on the right track to make the organisation a truly remarkable point for anyone looking to learn about the beautiful Assam people and culture.
Another angle to the digitisation process is in the area of Assamese folk tales, which are being uploaded to audio apps such as Amazon Music, Spotify and Gaana. These are tales representing the voices and traditions of the different tribes of Assam. Plans have also been concluded to ensure future Asam Sahitya Sabha programmes are streamed live on YouTube. This is, indeed, a laudable revolution taking over the organisation and ensuring that recognition and support are galvanised among members of the public.
This is not the first time that Saikia will be engaging members of communities in a worthwhile project. During the lockdown, he showed his ability to mobilise members of the public toward the common good by making a public appeal for people to help strengthen the presence of the Assamese language online. “For example, Google Translate is a community-based venture, and it has to be fed by users. In September 2021, in what is considered a digital milestone for the language, Microsoft Translator added Assamese as the 12th Indian language. Hopefully, the same will happen with Google Translate soon,” he said.
Relying on Unicode, a lot more is being done concerning putting the Assamese language on the digital map. Mitali Barman, Assistant Professor, Department of MIL & Literary Studies, University of Delhi, gives a clearer perspective. “In this context, we need to mention Axomiyat Kotha Botora, a group on Facebook. A few admirers of the Assamese language, who were residing in different parts of the world, met virtually with the help of Facebook in the year 2010, and they started the trend of writing Assamese in Assamese scripts digitally on social media with the assistance of Unicode.
“Some of the tech-savvy people of this group have further developed keyboards to write Assamese scripts through Unicode. This unique project has created ripples among Assamese social media users, and it slowly spread to all netizens of Assam. Writing Assamese in Assamese scripts has since become a revolution. And later from this same Axomiyat Kotha Botora group, a web journal named Xahitya has been published bearing ISSN recognition and this is perhaps the first Assamese web journal to receive an ISSN. I’m glad the ASS is building on this in so many ways,” Barman said.
ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Engaging youngsters in the future
Another area of priority is the character of inclusiveness now displayed by the Sabha. The younger generation is now encouraged like never before to play a part in the organisation’s activities, using various initiatives. Swadesh Swabhiman, a series of events that allow young minds to deliberate on relevant issues with some guidance from some of the state’s most renowned scholars, is one way the Sabha is doing this. This doesn’t simply promote partnership and networking, but brainstorming sessions often lead to great innovations for the growth of Assam.
The series of lectures tasks young individuals and encourage them to engage in debates and discourses on topics with historic and contemporary relevance. It gives them a platform to present their take on issues concerning Assam’s local affairs and on a global scale. As Saikia puts it, “The idea was to find young talents who can research on a relevant topic and voice their opinions out through strong communication skills on any platform, anywhere. We want to form a group of people who can reflect on issues and represent the state. We can’t think of advancement of language and literature without participation by the younger generation.”
“I believe this century-old organisation must open its windows and doors to the youth so that they can come in and take a lead as well. Otherwise, we will become old and irrelevant. Asam Sahitya Sabha is not only about literature or writers, but it’s also an organisation for all who love Assam and we should be all-inclusive,” he added.
Since the initiative started in November, the Sabha has organised three editions of Swadesh Swabhiman, where topics have ranged from the naval strategy of Ahom rulers, history of textiles and jewellery in Assam to the state’s famed mobile theatre, as well as food habits. The goal is to advance these all-important conversations and contribute to the age-long knowledge for the prosperity of the people and the development of the state.
A student of Cotton University and participant at Swadesh Swabhiman, Tridib Bhagabati emphasised the importance of the programme and how these new initiatives are making the organisation more impactful. “It is a platform to discuss the thoughts of everyone who loves Assam and who feels proud to be Assamese. The initiative is helping to reduce the gap between Sahitya Sabha and the youths. It is completely a non-formal organisation; everyone can speak freely. I’ve participated in three editions of Swadesh Swabhiman, and I hope it continues,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Another participant, Ananya Saikia from Handique Girls College observed that the initiative is invoking the spirit of patriotism once more for young people to do something good for Assam. “We’re able to learn about our history, culture, language, and literature. I’m proud to have participated in two sessions of Swadesh Swabhiman, and for me, it is a call to action. We now have that feeling of necessity to do something good for Assam. This is an amazing initiative that’s bridging the gap between young people and the Sabha and I wish everyone can participate,” she said.
Bridging the gap through translations
From publishing a dictionary to translating Assamese books to other North-eastern languages, Asam Sahitya Sabha has had its hands full by trying to ensure connections are built, not just trans-generationally, but also between Assam and other states in the Northeast and beyond. The dictionary features a plethora of tribal words and there are plans to translate the world literature to the Assamese language.
With more collaborations being discussed, the organisation witnessed Naga Hoho President, H. K. Zhimomi join Sabha’s 105th Raising Day in Golaghat, in December 2021. Possible literary collaborations with Arunachal Pradesh were also discussed.
Catching them young
Beyond the youth, there has also been some focus on kids. As Saikia puts it, “We believe literacy and history should be taught from a very young age using the channels that resonate more with kids. We’re popularising storytelling among children through different means. We started a programme called Aitar Xadhu Radio’te Xunu in collaboration with All India Radio (AIR) where beautiful stories from the state are aired. We also conduct storytelling workshops every Sunday. Following today’s trends, we’ve introduced virtual storytelling through digital platforms like Zoom, GoogleMeet, Facebook, etc,” he said.
There are also live puppetry shows at the Asam Sahitya Sabha premises and there are plans to form storytelling groups in schools, and colleges to further spread the importance of literature. Currently, a storytelling initiative called Xadhu Xunu has been implemented in Guwahati residential apartments. In the long run, the association also plans to introduce cartoons in the Assamese language in a bid to make the regional literature popular and reach a wider audience.
ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Catalysing growth, building an inclusive future
There is indeed a new dawn in Asam Sahitya Sabha. It is true what they say about visionary leadership, and testimonies abound. Social worker, writer, and author, Archana Borthakur expressed her delight at the initiatives. “People these days don’t have the patience to sit and read a book, but online reading is convenient. I think this is a great step taken by the Sabha. Another initiative – the translation of books from the Northeast India region into Assamese – will bring people together. People mustn’t forget their roots.”
“I’m also happy that the Sabha is giving importance to storytelling. This is much needed to shape our new generation and ensure that the storytelling culture doesn’t get lost,” she notes.
The breath of fresh air sweeping through the Asam Sahitya Sabha is a welcome development for everyone. Supported by its long history and heritage, a network of nine regional offices, 32 affiliated units, and more than 1,000 branches, including seven outside the state and three in London, Singapore, and North America, the organisation is looking to capitalise on these indices for exponential growth. With open arms, the organisation is once again getting everyone involved and interested in Assam culture and literature and spearheading an ambitious project to make the Assamese phenomenon a global force of reckoning.
