Nagen Saikia ( as, নগেন শইকীয়া; born 11 February 1939) is an Indian writer. He was formerly a professor of
Dibrugarh University. Saikia had also been a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1986-1992 and was the vice-chairman of the Upper House from 1990-1992. Saikia started his career as a teacher and went on to serve in different reputed institutions in various categories. He also delivered lectures on various topics about Assamese literature, including in the US and England. He has published numerous literary essays, short stories, novels, books and articles, to his credit. Saikia was conferred with the Sahitya Akademi award in 1997 for his short stories collection ''Andharat Nizar Mukh'' and was honoured by the Mohan Chandra Sahitya Sabha in 1980 for ''Chinta aru Charcha''. He was conferred the
Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour conferred by the
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of, the Indian government. Its of ...
on the most distinguished Indian writers.
Early life
Saikia was born in 1939 Hatiakhowa to Umaram Saikia and Hemaprabha Saikia,
Golaghat
Golaghat ( ''Gʊlaɡʱat'' ) one of the largest subdivisions of the Indian state of Assam, later elevated to the position of a full–fledged district headquarter on 5 October 1987, is a city and a municipality and the seat of administrative ...
district of
Assam
Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur to ...
. He started his primary education in Borkathoni L.P. school and later went to Kakodonga M.E. School. He passed his matriculation from Dhekial H. E. School in 1957 securing first division. In 1959 he passed his I. A. (Higher Secondary) from
Jagannath Barooah College,
Jorhat
Jorhat ( ) is one of the important cities and a growing urban centre in the state of Assam in India.
Etymology
Jorhat ("jor" means twin and "hat" means market) means two hats or mandis - "Masorhaat" and "Sowkihat" which existed on the opposite ...
. He was graduated from
Debraj Roy College,
Golaghat
Golaghat ( ''Gʊlaɡʱat'' ) one of the largest subdivisions of the Indian state of Assam, later elevated to the position of a full–fledged district headquarter on 5 October 1987, is a city and a municipality and the seat of administrative ...
in 1961. He had done his Post- Graduation in
Assamese (Literature) from
Gauhati University
Gauhati University, also known as GU, is a Collegiate university, collegiate public state university located in Guwahati, Assam, India. It was established on 26 January 1948 under the provisions of an Act enacted by the Assam Legislative Assem ...
,
Guwahati
Guwahati (, ; formerly rendered Gauhati, ) is the biggest city of the Indian state of Assam and also the largest metropolis in northeastern India. Dispur, the capital of Assam, is in the circuit city region located within Guwahati and is the ...
in 1964. He did his
Ph. D. from
Dibrugarh University in 1982 under the supervision of
Mahendra Borah for his thesis ''A Critical Study of the Social and Intellectual Background of Modern Assamese Literature 1826-1903''.
Career
Nagen Saikia started his professional career as a teacher in Hatiakhowa H.E. School and Dhekial H. E. School from 1959 to 1965. He served as an Assistant Editor in ''Asom Batori'' in 1965. From 1965 to 1971 Nagen Saikia served as a lecturer in Assamese in the
Diphu Government College
Diphu Government College, established in the year 1964, is a general degree college situated at Diphu, Karbi Anglong district, Karbi Anglong, Assam. This college is affiliated with the Assam University. This college offers different courses in ...
,
Jorhat College and the
Devicharan Barua Girls' College. In 1972 he joined as a lecturer in the department of Assamese in
Dibrugarh University and continued till 1986. During this period he also served as a Secretary of the Co- Ordination Committee for publication of Text books in Assamese,
Dibrugarh University. Saikia had also been a member of the
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha, constitutionally the Council of States, is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of India. , it has a maximum membership of 245, of which 233 are elected by the legislatures of the states and union territories using sin ...
from 1986-1992 and was the vice-chairman of the Upper House from 1990-1992.
[http://www.dibrugarhonline.com/2011/10/biodata-of-dr-nagen-saikia-pg-1.html ]
In 1992 Saikia joined as Professor of the
Lakshminath Bezbaroa chair in the department of Assamese in
Dibrugarh University. He was an editor of ''Natun Dainik'', an Assamese daily in 2003 and ''
Amar Asom'' in 2004-06.
Travelled Abroad of Dr. Saikia
* Being invited as the Guest Speaker, delivered lectures on ‘Contributions of
American Baptist Missionaries towards the Development of Modern Assamese Literature, in the United States in 1988, under the auspices of
Assam Association of North America.
* Travelled China as a member of the Five-Member-Delegation of
Indian Writers
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asia ...
, in 1993, organised by
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of, the Indian government. Its of ...
.
* Travelled England to deliver Lectures on Sankardeva in the month of October (1998).
Honorary Office :
* General Secretary,
Asam Sahitya Sabha (1973-1976, 1980-1985)
* Member, (in different times) Executive Committee, Book Selection Committee, Jatiya Nyas Samiti, Editorial Board of The Patrika, Literary Award Committees, Committee for plan and Programmes etc. of
Assam Sahitya Sabha.
* Member, (in different times) General Body, Executive Committee, Encyclopedia Committee, Award Committee, Book Planning Committee, Administrative Reform Committee etc. of the Publication Board,
Assam
Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur to ...
.
* Member, Assamese Advisory Board,
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of, the Indian government. Its of ...
(1975-1985, 1993-1998, 2003-2008)
* Member, General Council,
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of, the Indian government. Its of ...
(1993-1998)
* Member,
Authors’ Guild of India (1974)
* Member-Convenor,
Assamese Bhasa Samiti,
Saraswati Samman,
New Delhi
New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the capital of India and a part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament Ho ...
(1991-1994).
* Member, Court of the
North-Eastern Hill University,
Shillong
Shillong () is a hill station and the capital of Meghalaya, a state in northeastern India, which means "The Abode of Clouds". It is the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district. Shillong is the 330th most populous city in India with a pop ...
(1989-1992).
* Member, Chayan Parishad, Saraswati Samman (1993-1996)
* Member, Advisory Committee, Tai Language Course,
Dibrugarh University (1992-2003).
* Member, Executive Council & Court
Dibrugarh University and thereby member in other Committees.
* Member, Editorial Board, Prakas (Assamese Monthly) (1990-1992).
* Member, Editorial Board ‘Samjna’ (Assamese Monthly) (1975-1978).
* Editor, Sampratik, Poetry Magazine (1971).
* Chief Editor, Brahmaputra (for a short time) Assamese monthly (1985).
* President, Natakam, a Theatre Group (1966-1968)
Jorhat
Jorhat ( ) is one of the important cities and a growing urban centre in the state of Assam in India.
Etymology
Jorhat ("jor" means twin and "hat" means market) means two hats or mandis - "Masorhaat" and "Sowkihat" which existed on the opposite ...
,
Assam
Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur to ...
.
* Member, Advisory Committee to the
Education Minister, Assam (1986-1990).
* Member, State Advisory Committee for preservation of Cultural Identity (1986-1990).
* Member, Advisory Board of Implementation of Educational Scheme for
Tea Garden Population of Assam (1986-1990).
* Vice-Chairman, State Level
National Integration Council (1987-1990)
* Member, State Planning Board,
Assam
Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur to ...
(1987-1990; 1998)
* Member, General Body,
Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra (1987-1990, 1996-1999).
* Member, State Committee for Production of Text Books (1981-1983).
* Member, Governing Body of the
North East Zone Cultural Centre (186-1990).
* Different Committees of the Parliament (1986-1992).
* Member, Panel of Vice-Chairman,
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha, constitutionally the Council of States, is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of India. , it has a maximum membership of 245, of which 233 are elected by the legislatures of the states and union territories using sin ...
(1990-1992).
* Member, (President of India’s Nominee) of the Planning and Academic Committee,
Tezpur University (1999-2004).
* Member, State Planning Board,
Assam
Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur to ...
(1996-2000).
* Member, Governing Body,
Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre,
Kolkata
Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comm ...
, (1998-2002).
* Member, General Council of
Anundaram Barooah Institute of Language, Art & Culture. (1996-1999).
* Editor, Uttarayan, an Assamese Literary Monthly 2000-2001.
* Member, Selection of Vice-Chancellor for
Dibrugarh University (1992 & 1997)
* Subject Expert,
Assamese (National Level).
* Member, Executive Committee of
Comparative Literature Association of India.
* President, Sankari Sangeet Vidyapeeth (1997).
* Member, (Govt. of Assam Nominee) High Powered Committee, Literary and Culture Pensions (1997-2000).
* Member, Srimanta Sankardeva Award Selection Committee (1995-2000).
* Member, Expert Committee for Selection of Newspapers and Peridicals for Preservation in the Library,
Kolkata
Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comm ...
(2003-2004).
* Jury Member of a few State and National Level Literary Awards.
* Member,
International Comparative Literature Association
The International Comparative Literature Association (ICLA) (French: Association Internationale de Littérature Comparée—AILC) is an international organization for international research in comparative literature.
Founded in 1954, ICLA pro ...
.
* Member, Council for Development of
Indian Languages,
Govt. of India.
Awards
*
Mohan Chandra Sarma Award, 1980
* President, Literary Section,
Sreemanta Sankaradeva Sangha,
Dergaon
Dergaon (IPA: ˈdɜːˌgɑ̃ʊ) is a town and a municipality in the Golaghat district of Assam, India.It is 282 km from the state capital Guwahati.
Hemchandra Barua, the compiler of '' Hemkosh'' (the earliest Assamese-English dictionary ...
Session, 1976
*
Sahitya Akademi Award
The Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honour in India, which the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the 22 languages of the ...
, 1997 for Short-story Collection ''Andharat Nijar Mukh''
* Title ''
Vidya-Nidhi'', 1998 conferred by the International Buddhist Brotherhood Mission
*
Assam Valley Literary Award, 2007 for total Literary Contribution.
*
Hariprasad Rai Award, 2008.
*
K. K. Handiqui Memorial Literary Award, 2009.
*
Jagadhatri Haramohan Award, 2010.
*
Sabda Sahitya Award, 2013
*
People of the Year 2015 by
Limca Book of Records
The ''Limca Book of Records'' is an annual reference book published in India documenting world records held by Indians. The records are further categorized into education, literature, agriculture, medical science, business, sports, nature, advent ...
, 2015
* D.Litt. by
Dibrugarh University in 2016
*
ERDF Excellence Award-2015 by
ERD Foundation (
University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya)
Works
Fiction:
* ''Kuber Hati Barua''(A collection of Short-stories), 1967
* ''Chabi Aru Frame''(A collection of Short-stories), 1969
* ''Bandha Kothat Dhumuha'' (A collection of Short-stories), 1971
* ''Matir Chakir Jui'' (A collection of Short-stories), 1976
* ''Astitvar Sikali'' (A collection of Short-stories), 1976
* ''Aparthiva-Parthiva'' (A collection of Short-stories), 1982
* ''Andharat Nizar Mukh'' (A collection of Short-stories), 1995
* ''Bhagna Upakul'' (Novel), 1983
* ''Amerikat Dahdin'' (Travelogue), 1988
* ''Maha Chinar Dinlipi'' (Travelogue), 1994
* ''Swapna aru Smriti'' and ''Dhulir Dhemali'' (Autobiographies), 2002
* ''Hemanta Kalar Ati Gadhulit'', (A collection of Short-Stories), 2001
Verses:
* ''Mita-Bhas'' ( A collection of short expressions, A new literary genre introduced by the author), 1995
* ''Swapna-Smriti-Visad'' (A collection of ''Mita-Bhas''), 1997
Non-fiction:
* ''Background of Modern Assamese Literature'', 1988
* ''Chinta Aru Charcha'', 1980
* ''Unabimsa Satikar AsamiyaBhasar Samkat'', 1988
* ''Bharatar Samskritik Aitijya aru Anyanya Rachana'', 1993
* ''Agnigarbha Asam'', 1993
* ''Asamiya Kabita aru Anyanya Bisay'', 1996
* ''Gavesana-Padhati-Parichaya'' (A Book on
Research Methodology
In its most common sense, methodology is the study of research methods. However, the term can also refer to the methods themselves or to the philosophical discussion of associated background assumptions. A method is a structured procedure for br ...
in Assamese), 1996
* ''Tulanamulak Sahitya-Bichar'' (A book on
Comparative Literature
Comparative literature is an academic field dealing with the study of literature and cultural expression across linguistic, national, geographic, and disciplinary boundaries. Comparative literature "performs a role similar to that of the study ...
), 1996
* ''Sambadikata: Eti Gadhur aru Pavitra Dayitva'', 2000
* ''Unavimsa Satikar Asam: Andhar aru Pohar'', 2002?
* ''Ejan Santa Tantir Jevan-Kahini'' (Monograph on Kavir), 2001
* ''Byaktitvar Bhaskarayya''
* ''Asamiya Varnamala'', 2001
* ''Sahitya Badabaichitrya'', 2003
* ''
Maheswar Neog'' (Monograph)
* ''
Anandachandra Baruah'' (Monograph)
* ''
Sankardeva
Srimanta Sankardev( শ্ৰীমন্ত শংকৰদেৱ )(; ; 1449–1568) was a 15th–16th century Assamese polymath; a saint-scholar, poet, playwright, dancer, actor, musician, artist social-religious reformer and a figure of i ...
'' (Monograph)
* ''Asamiya Manuhar Itishas'', 2013
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saikia, Nagen
Indian male novelists
1939 births
Living people
Recipients of the Assam Valley Literary Award
Writers from Assam
People from Golaghat district
Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Assamese
Indian male short story writers
Indian male essayists
20th-century Indian novelists
20th-century Indian short story writers
20th-century Indian essayists
20th-century Indian male writers