Assam Announces 2025 Civilian Award Recipients
Assam Announces 2025 Civilian Award Recipients
The Assam government has announced the recipients of the Assam Baibhav, Assam Saurabh and Assam Gaurav awards for 2025. Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the names following a Cabinet meeting held in Dispur on Friday.
Dr Harsha Bhattacharya to Receive Assam Baibhav
The Assam Baibhav, the state’s highest civilian award, will be conferred on renowned ophthalmologist Dr Harsha Bhattacharya. He is a founding trustee of Srimanta Sankaradeva Nethralaya, one of the leading eye-care institutions in the Northeast, located in Beltola, Guwahati.
Assam Saurabh Award Recipients
Four distinguished individuals have been selected for the Assam Saurabh award this year:
- Padma Shri Dr Kushal Konwar Sarma — Veterinarian and elephant expert
- Padma Shri Nuruddin Ahmed — Painter and sculptor
- Pulak Banerjee — Musician
- Dr Purnima Devi Barman — Biologist and naturalist
Assam Gaurav Award Recipients
A total of 13 individuals and two organisations have been selected for the Assam Gaurav award for 2025.
The recipients include:
- Debi Prasad Bagrodia — Noted social worker
- Halicharan Narzary — Footballer
- Simu Das — Visually impaired woman cricketer
- Harkanta Basumatary — Pioneer in palm oil cultivation
- Dhanjit Talukdar — Sanchipat manuscript preserver
- Nivedita Yen — Woman entrepreneur
- Mayang Chakraborty — Chess player
- Jiten Sarangphangsa — Ginger farmer
- Tanumaya Sonar Biswakarma — Lakhpati Baideo beneficiary
- Dikpal Lahon — Travel and tourism entrepreneur
- Kolong Kapili — Voluntary organisation
- Padum Pathar Agro Organic Producer Company Limited, Golaghat — Farmer Producer Organisation
According to the Chief Minister, the 2025 awards will be presented in December this year. The government has also decided to announce the Assam Baibhav, Assam Saurabh and Assam Gaurav awards for 2026 within the current year.
Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award to Be Presented for the First Time
In another significant decision taken at the Cabinet meeting, the government announced that the Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award would be presented for the first time during the concluding ceremony of the birth centenary celebrations of the legendary singer.
The event will be held on November 29 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Renowned Indian singer Usha Mangeshkar will receive the inaugural award.
According to the Chief Minister, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the ceremony and present the award.
The award will be conferred once every three years and will carry a cash prize of ₹10 lakh along with a citation. The government plans to honour an internationally acclaimed artist on each occasion.
Cash Prize for Srimanta Sankaradeva Award Increased
Meanwhile, the Cabinet meeting held on Friday approved a proposal to increase the cash prize of the Srimanta Sankaradeva Award to ₹15 lakh.
