Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma postponed the scheduled release of a book based on his PhD thesis. A book on the life and legacy of Bhupen Hazarika was also to be launched at the same event in Gauhati University. Sarma called it a matter of respect.
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has decided to postpone the release of the book based on his doctoral thesis. The book was released at Gauhati University by Vice President C.P. It was to be done by Radhakrishnan. Sarma requested the university administration to postpone the program. The Chief Minister said that he got information that the release of a book based on the life and legacy of great Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika was also scheduled at the same event. After this he decided to postpone the launch of his book.
Sarma said that he did not want the release of his book to coincide with the book dedicated to Bhupen Hazarika. Through this decision he gave a message of respect for the great cultural personality of Assam.
The book is based on my PhD thesis
The name of the proposed book of Himanta Biswa Sarma is Integrated Development – The Role of the North Eastern Region. This book is based on his doctoral thesis.
Sharing the information on social media platform X, the Chief Minister said that the release of his book was scheduled on Monday at Gauhati University. In the program Vice President C.P. The book was to be released by Radhakrishnan.
The subject of the book is related to the development of North-East India and the role of this region. It is clear from the title that topics related to the integrated development of the North-Eastern region have been discussed in it.
However, the available information does not detail the book's content, key research findings or a new publication date.
Book on Bhupen Hazarika was also to be launched
In the same programme, it was also proposed to release a book based on the life and legacy of Assam's veteran singer and cultural icon Bhupen Hazarika.
Bhupen Hazarika is counted among the most influential cultural personalities of Assam. His contribution in the field of music and art earned him a special place not only in Assam but also in the cultural landscape of India.
For this reason, the Chief Minister decided to avoid coinciding with the launch of his book with the release of a book focused on Bhupen Hazarika.
Sarma said- Today is in the name of Bhupen da
Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his respect towards Bhupen Hazarika while explaining the reason behind postponing the release of his book. He indicated that he did not want his personal academic work program to be on the same platform with the book, which is dedicated to the life and legacy of the great cultural personality of Assam.
The central idea of this decision of the Chief Minister was that the memory and contribution of Bhupen Hazarika should be given priority in the program.
The message of his remarks is related to respect for the cultural heritage of Assam. Instead of going ahead with the program regarding his book, the Chief Minister thought it appropriate to postpone it.
Vice President had to release
In the program organized at Gauhati University, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan was to release the Chief Minister's book.
The event also held significance because the book is directly linked to the Chief Minister's doctoral research. Sarma has prepared his PhD thesis on the integrated development of North-East India and the role of the region, which has now been published in book form.
However, the scheduled release of this book was postponed following the request of the Chief Minister.
According to available information, the University administration was requested by the Chief Minister to postpone the program. No information has been revealed yet about the new launch date.
Bhupen Hazarika's legacy given priority
Bhupen Hazarika's name in the politics and public life of Assam is not limited to music only. He has been among the prominent faces associated with the cultural identity of the state.
His compositions and music gave wide recognition to the culture, society and human sensibilities of Assam. In such a situation, the release of a book based on his life and legacy can be considered a culturally important occasion for Assam.
The Chief Minister's decision is being considered as a step taken keeping this cultural importance in mind. Instead of going ahead with his book programme, he chose to give separate importance to the event centered on Bhupen Hazarika.
Cultural message seen apart from politics
This decision of Himanta Biswa Sarma can also be seen as a cultural message apart from political programs. The Chief Minister gave priority to a prominent cultural icon of the state by postponing the release of a book on his academic achievements.
His book focuses on policy and academic topics such as the development of the North-East, while the second book is based on the life and legacy of Bhupen Hazarika. The subjects of both the books are different, but their release was scheduled at the same event.
Sarma decided to postpone the launch of his book for this reason.
Research focused on development of North East
The central theme of Sarma's book Integrated Development – The Role of the North Eastern Region deals with the role of the region in the development of North-Eastern India.
Northeast India has long been important in national policies in terms of issues such as infrastructure, connectivity, economic development and regional integration. The Chief Minister's doctoral thesis is based on this broad topic.
However, the available material does not provide detailed research findings, chapters or specific policy recommendations. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to draw any further conclusions regarding the content of the book.
Waiting for new launch date
The scheduled release of the book has been postponed following the Chief Minister's request. Now the next question is regarding its new launch date.
It has not been made clear from the available information as to when the new release program of Sarma's book will be organized in Gauhati University. At present, the main focus of the information shared by the Chief Minister is that he has decided not to launch his book along with the book based on Bhupen Hazarika.
In this development, on the one hand, the release of the Chief Minister's academic book has been postponed, while on the other hand, the book program dedicated to the life and legacy of Bhupen Hazarika has gained different importance.
Assam's culture and academic research on one platform
This whole incident has brought to the fore two different aspects of the academic and cultural life of Assam. On the one hand, there is a book based on the Chief Minister's doctoral thesis, which focuses on the role of integrated development of the North-East. On the other hand, the book focuses on the legacy of Bhupen Hazarika, which is linked to the cultural identity of the state.
Himanta Biswa Sarma postponed the release of his book and made it clear that he did not want to release both the books on the same occasion. Now the date of the new release program of his book is awaited.