Asom Sahitya Sabha, the apex literary body of Assam, is all set to kick-start its 74th biennial conference from Wednesday at the Bodousa Samannay Kshetra, Ritukathalguri in Bordumsa of Tinsukia district and also in some parts of nearby Dumsa in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The main agenda of the conference has been slated to be held at Singpho Cultural Heritage Centre.

The enthusiasm among the people of  both the States of Assam and Arunachal is noteworthy in the sense that rising above the differences, the people are committed to realise the common objectives of the five-day-long colourful agenda promoting a strong sense of fraternity, cultural affiliation enhancing mutual trust and assistance among the border people.

The first two-day agenda of the Asom Sahitya Sabha kicked off at Bodousa Samannay Kshetra with the inauguration and opening of various commercial and cultural stalls and exhibitions along with the traditional huts and delegations’ centre that would be made open on its second day.

While a mammoth cultural procession, which is slated for February 2, would be flagged off from the soil of nearby Arunachal Pradesh for the first time at the Singpho Heritage Centre in Dumsa, located around 9 kilometres away from Bodousa Samanya Khetra at Ritukathalguri in Assam.

The newly-elected President of Asom Sahitya Sabha, Parmananda Rajbongshi together with a host of learned dignitaries including poets, writers, playwrights and eminent scholars across Assam would participate in the procession along with people from both Assam and Arunachal.

However, keeping other things constant, the preparation was afoot on war-footing till the filling of this report amidst confusions and speculations among the members, office-bearers and local residents centering round the smooth conduct of the entire proceedings of the five-day-long agenda of the Sabha in the light of inadequate arrangements of basic requirements including the roads, power, transportation facility and above all the financial crunch.

The main welcome entrance point of the Sabha’s venue is yet to come up while the main stage is also under construction till the filling of this report.

The road electrification job was also underway. The organizers have also allegedly not received the CM’s fund as assured earlier.

Contrary to the tall claims of Rameshwar Teli, the president of the reception committee and two local MLAs Bhaskar Sharma and Suren Phukon, both being the vice president of the committee of securing all possible helps from the State Government along with huge financial aid extended by Arunachal Government, Rabin Moran, the secretary of the committee and other members and office-bearers expressed that the reception committee has faced acute financial crisis.

The contrasting comments of the members of different committees and sub-committes have rather bewildered the people and have exposed the inadequate coordination and planning among themselves just few hours before the commencements of such a huge programme of Assam’s most prestigious literary organisation.

“Assam Chief Minister  Sarbananda Sonowal, who had installed the Lai Khuta for the 74th session of Asom Sahitya Sabha on December 6, may not attend the session due to the Global Investors’ Summit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Guwahati,” an office-bearer of the reception committee informed.

Sources at Arunachal government informed the reporter on Tuesday that Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy CM Chownamin have assured all possible help for the session.

The local MLA of Bordumsa, Nikh Kamin has also extended departmental helps for the smooth conduct of the session in Bordumsa.