Members Bioprofile

SHASTRI, SHRI BISWANARAYAN, M.A., Sahitya Vyakaran—Mimansa Shastri, Kavyatirtha, (Cong.) Assam-Lakhimpur—1971, Son of late Shri Benikanta Dev Goswami, b. at Narayanpur, North Lakhimpur, March 1, 1923; ed. at Sanskrit College, Nalbari, Assam and Banaras Hindu University; m. Smt. Mira Devi, March 7, 1947; 1 s. and 3 d.; Educationist, writer and author; joined Quit India movement and directed it from North Lakhimpur and remained underground; served as the Principal of North Lakhimpur College and as Special Officer to the Government of Assam; Secretary, Publication Board, Assam; General Secretary, North Lakhimpur District Congress Committee, 1955-58; Chairman, School Board; North Lakhimpur, 1956-58; Member, (i) A.P.C.C, 1956-58, (ii) Executive Board Sahitya Akademy, 1967, (iii) Central Advisory Board of Education, 1967-70, (iv) Kendriya Sanskrit Parishad, 1970, (v) Rastriya Sanskrit Sansthan, 1970, (vi) Trade Advisory Council, 1969, (vii) Central Silk Board, 1967-69, (viii) Advisory Council Community Development and Panchayati Raj, 1968-70, and (ix) Assamese Glossary Committee, Government of Assam, 1967; President, Assam Research Society, Gauhati, Editor, Assam Sahitya Sabha Patrika 1963-65; Treasurer, Sangeet Akademy, Assam; Member (i) Fourth Lok Sabha, 1967-70, (ii) Privileges Committee, 1968-69, and (iii) Consultative Committee on Defence.

Social activities.—Closely connected with educational, literary, cultural and research institutions of Assam; was Chairman of the Assam Lekhak Samabaya, Gauhati; associated with Harijan and child welfare.

Hobbies.—Sight-seeing, deciphering inscriptions, collecting folk-tales of different places and tribes.

Favourite pastime and recreation.—Seeing pictures, reading, writing and travelling.

Special interests.—Indian History and culture, Buddhist lore, social anthropology and archaeology.

Books published.—Published more than 25 books in Assamese, Sanskrit and English which include—’Bharatiya Sabhyata am Sanskriti’ and “Sahityarathi Laksminath Bezbarua”; won consecutively two 1 st prizes in children literature competitions; produced and published more than a dozen, research papers.

Travels abroad.—West Germany and some neighbouring countries.

Permanent address.—(i) P.O. Panbari, Via Dikrong, North Lakhimpur, Assam.

(ii) ‘Ritayan’ Chandmari, Gauhati-3, Assam.