Asom Sahitya Sabha to Celebrate Nijor Din
The Asom Sahitya Sabha celebrates Bohag Bihu with “Nijor Din,” a heartfelt initiative to honour 10,000 senior citizens aged 65 and above across Assam and the Assamese diaspora. A touching gesture with traditional gifts, cultural pride, and a dash of British humour.
In a heart-warming twist to the Bohag Bihu festivities, the Asom Sahitya Sabha has decided to doff its proverbial hat (and actual Gamosa) to a rather special crowd – the over-65s. Yes, you read that right. Ten thousand senior citizens across Assam and beyond are to be honoured this Bohag in what’s been charmingly christened “Nijor Din” – or “One’s Own Day.” And if that doesn’t warm the cockles of your heart, you might need to check whether you’ve still got any cockles left.
Now, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill card-and-cake routine. No no. This is Assam’s literary custodian rolling up its sleeves, tying on a seleng, and getting properly stuck in. According to General Secretary Debajit Bora—who clearly means business—the Sabha’s members will be going door to door, rain or shine, with a bundle of traditional delights in tow. Each honouree will receive thuriya tamol-paan (that’s betel nut and leaf for the uninitiated), a few carefully chosen books, and a lovingly handwoven Gamosa, courtesy of Assam’s finest weavers to mark the occassion of Nijor Din.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get more wholesome, here’s the clincher: these little ceremonies will be fifteen-minute affairs featuring family, neighbours, and probably the odd curious cow poking its nose in. Five Sabha members, dressed in full Assamese regalia (no tracksuits here, thank you very much), will offer their salutations, their gifts, and a gentle nudge for everyone to consider becoming permanent life members of the Sabha.
But wait, there’s more—like all good aunties at a family feast, the Sabha isn’t just stopping at Assam. This celebration has legs! It’s bounding all the way to Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, London, and even the land of maple syrup and moose—North America. Diaspora Assamese, it seems, are just as fond of their Bor-Deuta and Aita as the rest of us.
In keeping with the times (and because what’s a celebration these days without a bit of WhatsApp?), every moment of each felicitation is being recorded and shared with Media and Publicity Convener Shankusiddha Nath. One can only hope his phone has enough storage and his thumbs are limber.
Importantly, in a show of exemplary fairness, former recipients and high-ranking officials have been politely benched this year. No repeats, no VIP queues—just good old-fashioned recognition for the unsung heroes who’ve been holding the family fort, feeding three generations, and still remembering where the pressure cooker gasket is.
And to top it all off, the Sabha plans to honour a few distinguished folks in each district, just to keep things nice and spiced, like a proper aloo pitika.
So hats off—or rather, Gamosas up—to the Asom Sahitya Sabha. In a world increasingly run by algorithms, deadlines, and the occasional meltdown over lukewarm chai, Nijor Din is a delightful pause. A chance to say “thank you” to the generation that taught us everything from shelling peas to the meaning of jibonor xurota—the melody of life.
One might say, it’s just the kind of initiative that deserves a proper cup of tea, a biscuit or two, and a quiet moment of gratitude.
Joi Aai Axom, indeed.
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