Tura, Oct 16: Renowned poet, writer and researcher Nirmal Koch has been conferred with the Sahitya Award 2026 by Sahitya Charcha Kendra, Assam, in recognition of his lifelong contribution to literature and efforts to strengthen cultural ties between Assam and Meghalaya, particularly in the Garo Hills region.
The award was presented during the ninth annual literary festival, Sharatar Duporiya, held at the premises of Schemio Global School in Azara on Friday morning.
The event commenced under the leadership of Kumar Dipak Das, president of Sahitya Charcha Kendra, Assam. The festival featured book releases, musical performances and poetry recitations. Joint secretaries Dr. Paritosh Chakraborty and Dr. Bhavesh Das organised the gathering, bringing together notable guests and literary figures from across the region.
Several dignitaries attended the ceremony, including Nandita Devi, Dr. Sarat Chandra Rabha and Dr. Dipamani Haloi Mahanta. Jayanti Deep was also honoured with the Rajen Pam Artist Award for 2026.
Hailing from Tura in Meghalaya, Koch has spent years researching, documenting and preserving the linguistic, cultural and ethnographic heritage of the Koch community.
His extensive scholarly articles on the community’s social structures, origins, migration routes, traditional birth and death rituals, folk music, dances and festivals across Assam and Meghalaya have been published in journals, magazines and commemorative volumes.
His research also highlights the deep connection between Koch heritage and nature. It documents traditional practices such as shifting cultivation, tree-felling songs, indigenous festivals, food and traditional beverages.
Apart from documenting the traditional Pabuni festival and the social history of the Garo Hills Koch community, Koch has edited numerous literary journals. He has also recently collaborated with international researchers to co-edit a Koch-English dictionary.
The award citation recognised his sustained efforts to safeguard the linguistic heritage of the Koch community and strengthen cultural harmony between Assam and Meghalaya.
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