The All Assam Students’ Union, along with Assam Unnati Sabha and Assam Sena, has announced the Ambikagiri Rai Choudhury Memorial Award for 2025, to be conferred on Nilam Dutta, a model farmer and agripreneur from Biswanath district, Assam.

About the Award and the Awardee

• The Ambikagiri Rai Choudhury Memorial Award is jointly instituted by AASU, Assam Unnati Sabha, and Assam Sena.
• The award will be presented on December 18, marking the birth anniversary of Ambikagiri Rai Choudhury.
• The award recognises individuals and organisations whose work combines professional excellence with social inspiration.
• Nilam Dutta, a resident of the Pabhoi area, has been selected for his contribution to agricultural innovation, rural entrepreneurship, and employment generation.
• He is a key functionary of the Lakshmi Krishi Bahumukhi Prakalpa and the founder of Pabhoi Greens Private Limited.
• His initiatives have helped promote self-reliance, strengthened local agribusiness value chains, and created sustainable livelihoods for rural youth.

Legacy of ‘Assam Kesari’ Ambikagiri Rai Choudhury

• Ambikagiri Rai Choudhury (1885–1967) was a prominent Assamese poet, writer, and freedom fighter, widely revered by the title ‘Assam Kesari’ for his firebrand nationalist character.
• He enriched Assamese literature and culture through his patriotic poetry and writings, many of which were published in the magazines he edited, like Chetana and Deka Asom. 
  • His themes often revolved around freedom, cultural preservation, and national unity.
• He founded key socio-political organisations like the Asom Sangrakshini Sabha (Assam Preservation Council) and the Axom Jaatiyo Mohaxobhaa to safeguard the interests of the indigenous people and promote Assamese identity, language, and culture. 
  • He was also elected as the President of the Asam Sahitya Sabha in 1950.

Exam Hook: Prelims Question

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Ambikagiri Rai Choudhury:

1. He was an Assamese poet and freedom fighter known by the title ‘Assam Kesari’.
2. He was the editor of the Assamese literary magazine Goriyasi.
3. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his contributions to Assamese literature.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

(A) 1 only 

(B) 1 and 3 only 

(C) 2 and 3 only 

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (B) 1 and 3 only.

The life and work of ‘Assam Kesari’ Ambikagiri Rai Choudhury is integral to understanding the cultural and political awakening in modern Assam.

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