Guwahati, Oct 23: The Assam government on Friday announced the recipients of the Assam Baibhav, Assam Saurav and Assam Gaurav awards for 2025, with Dr Harsha Bhattacharyya, president and founder trustee of Srimanta Sankaradeva Nethralaya, selected for the state’s highest civilian honour, Assam Baibhav.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the names at a press briefing at Lok Sewa Bhawan following the state Cabinet meeting. He said the 2025 awards could not be presented last year and the government was announcing the list now. The awardees for 2026 will be announced within a month.
Sarma said a Cabinet sub-committee comprising ministers Keshab Mahanta, Ajanta Neog, Ranoj Pegu and Jayanta Mallabaruah was constituted to oversee the selection process.
“The Assam Baibhav, Assam Saurav and Assam Gaurav awards for 2025 have been finalised. As we could not confer the awards last year, we are announcing the 2025 list now. The list of awardees for 2026 will be announced within a month, and the two sets of awards will be presented separately,” the Chief Minister said.
The 2025 awards will be presented in December this year, while the 2026 awards will be conferred in January 2027, he added.
Assam Baibhav award
Dr Harsha Bhattacharyya, president and founder trustee of Srimanta Sankaradeva Nethralaya, has been selected for the Assam Baibhav award in recognition of his contributions to the field of eye care and healthcare services.
The Assam Baibhav is the highest civilian award conferred by the Assam government.
Four selected for Assam Saurav award
Four individuals have been selected for the Assam Saurav award for their contributions across wildlife conservation, cultural heritage and the arts.
The recipients are Dr Kushal Konwar Sarma, Padma Shri awardee and noted wildlife expert; Padma Shri awardee Nuruddin Ahmed; singer Pulak Banerjee; and Dr Purnima Devi Barman, renowned for her efforts to conserve the greater adjutant stork, locally known as the hargila.
Assam Gaurav awardees
The Assam Gaurav awards will recognise individuals, an organisation and a farmer-producer company for their contributions across sports, agriculture, entrepreneurship, cultural preservation and tourism.
The selected recipients include Devi Prasad Bagrodia, Holicharan Narzary (footballer), Simu Das (visually handicapped cricketer), Harakanta Basumatary (recognised for successful palm oil cultivation), Dhanjit Talukdar (for his work in manuscript conservation), Nibetiya Yein (food and tourism entrepreneur), Mayong Chakraborty (chess grandmaster), Jiten Sarangfangsa (agricultural entrepreneur known for ginger cultivation in Karbi Anglong), Tanumaya Sonar Bishwakarma (a lakhpati baideu), Dikpal Lahon (associated with travel and tourism in Lakhimpur), Kolong Kopili (a non-governmental organisation) and Podum Pathar Agro Organic Producer Company Limited(a farmer-producer organisation).
The selection reflects a broad range of contributions to Assam’s social and economic development, including sporting achievements, agricultural innovation, preservation of cultural heritage and entrepreneurship.
Sarma said the government would announce the 2026 awardees within this year.