MARIA'S PUBLIC SCHOOL

Poet Samir Tanti is the recipient of the Gyan Malini Kobi Mofizuddin Ahmed Hazarika Memorial Kavya Award 2022, as it was announced by the Founder and Managing Trustee, Maria’s Public School in the Award Ceremony of 22nd Mofizuddin Ahmed Hazarika Literary Festival on 31st August. Mr Samir Tanti is a widely acclaimed poet who gives voice to the unsaid and unheard trials and tribulations of the indigenous and less privileged sections of society and has contributed greatly towards the assimilation of a greater Assamese community. He has 12 collection of poems, four critical and literary essays, two translations of African poems and love songs and Japanese love poetry, and various prestigious awards to his credit.  

Worth mentioning that Maria’s Public School has been hosting the annual event, the MAH Literary Festival for 22 years providing a platform for budding writers, public speakers and quizzees. Since last year the event has gone global with schools participating from the Gulf region. The Mofizuddin Ahmed Hazarika Memorial Kavya Award was instituted on the occasion of the Gyan Malini Kobi’s 150th birth Anniversary in 2020. The first recipient of the Award was Dr. Nilima Thakuria Haque, a renowned poet. Journalist and writer Ms Teresa Rehman was the second recipient of the Award. 

The award ceremony was held virtually in a solemn manner this year due to a bereavement in the family of the Managing Trustee. Following the welcome addresses by Principal Mausumi Mahanta, Vice Principal Mr Anjan Gogoi and HOD, Assamese Mrs Madhobi Goswami, the results of the various competitions were announced by Mrs Ellie Dutta, Senior Faculty, Deptt of English. The first prize winners of the recitation competitions in Assamese,English, Hindi and Sanskrit enchanted the audience by reciting their prize winning pieces. 

Tinat Atifa Masood, faculty at MSME and Mentor at Entrepreneursface, who was one of the judges in the English Recitation Competition highly lauded the efforts of the school to hone the creative talents of young children. Mr Arshad Zaman, a grand child of the Gyan Malini Kobi spoke a few words on the celebrated poet. 

The audience were also enthralled by a dance performance and rendition of a Jyoti Sangeet by students of the school. The vote of thanks was offered by Nabanita Talukdar of Deptt of Assamese. The programme was compered by Ellie Dutta, Deptt of English and Tulika Bharadwaj of Deptt of Assamese.