The venerable Assamese litterateur, educationist and former President of the Asam Sahitya Sabha (AXX), Dr Nagen Saikia , was conferred with the Sabha’s highest honour — Sadasya Varenya, in recognition of his lifelong contributions to Assamese literature and culture. 

• The award was presented by AXX President Dr Basanta Kumar Goswami at Rameshwar Lal Saharia Sanghati Bhawan, in the presence of prominent academics and litterateurs.
• The Sadasya Varenya accolade included traditional elements like a phulam gamosa, seleng chadar, phulam japi, a citation and a set of books.
  

About Dr Nagen Saikia: Key Credentials & Honours

• Born on 11 February 1939 in Golaghat district of Assam.
• A prolific writer: his short-story collection Andharat Nijar Mukh won the Sahitya Akademi Award (1997).
• Conferred with the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship (2024) – the highest literary honour of the Sahitya Akademi, awarded to a maximum of 21 living writers at a time.
• Recipient of the Assam Valley Literary Award (2007) for lifetime contribution to Assamese literature.
• Served as President of the Asam Sahitya Sabha (1999-2000) and later as Member of Rajya Sabha (1986-1992).
• Held academic positions including Professor of the Lakshminath Bezbaroa Chair at Dibrugarh University.
  

Exam Hook: Prelims Statement-MCQ

Which of the following statements are correct about Dr Nagen Saikia and the honour recently bestowed?

1. Dr Nagen Saikia received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his work Andharat Nijar Mukh.
   
2. He has served as a faculty at Dibrugarh University.
   
3. The Asam Sahitya Sabha’s highest honour is called ‘Sadasya Varenya’.
   

 Select the correct answer:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1, 2 and 3
D. 1 and 3 only

Answer: C. 

One-line Wrap:
Honouring Dr Nagen Saikia with ‘Sadasya Varenya’ celebrates not only one man’s literary journey, but reinforces Assam’s timeless commitment to language, culture and collective identity.

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