Ampati, Oct 17: Noted poet, writer and researcher Nirmal Koch of Tura, Meghalaya, was honoured with the Sahitya Award 2026 by Sahitya Charcha Kendra, Assam, in recognition of his lifelong contribution to literature and his efforts to preserve the Koch language, literature and cultural heritage while fostering literary and cultural ties between Assam and Meghalaya.
The award was presented during the ninth annual literary festival, Sharatar Duporiya, held at Schemio Global School in Azara on Friday morning. The programme, which commenced at 10 am under the presidentship of Kumar Dipak Das, president of Sahitya Charcha Kendra, Assam, featured book releases, musical performances and poetry recitations.
The ceremony was attended by several distinguished personalities, including Nandita Devi, Dr Sarat Chandra Rabha and Dr Dipamani Haloi Mahanta. While Koch received the Sahitya Award 2026, Jayanti Deep was conferred the Rajen Pam Artist Award 2026.
A prominent literary figure from the Garo Hills, Koch has made significant contributions to the study, documentation and preservation of the Koch language, literature, folklore, traditional practices and ethnographic heritage. His research-based writings on the social organisation, origins and migration of the Koch community, along with its traditional birth and death rituals, folk songs, dances and festivals, have been published in various journals, magazines and commemorative volumes.
Through his writings, Koch has highlighted the community’s close relationship with nature and its traditional way of life, including shifting cultivation, tree-felling songs and indigenous festivals. He has also documented traditional food, beverages and other cultural practices, helping preserve the community’s rich heritage for future generations.
His writings on the social conditions of the Koch community in the Garo Hills and the traditional Pabuni festival have earned appreciation. Besides his research and literary contributions, Koch has been actively involved in editing numerous journals, magazines and commemorative publications. His recent collaboration with foreign researchers in editing a Koch-English dictionary marks another important step towards documenting and preserving the Koch language.
The award citation acknowledged Koch’s lifelong dedication to literary pursuits and his sustained efforts to promote cultural understanding and literary harmony between Assam and Meghalaya. His contributions have been particularly significant in safeguarding the linguistic and cultural identity of the Koch community while strengthening literary connections between the two states.
The festival was organised by Sahitya Charcha Kendra, Assam, Guwahati-17. The organisation’s joint secretaries, Dr Paritosh Chakraborty and Dr Bhavesh Das, had extended invitations to distinguished guests, writers and literary enthusiasts to participate in the annual celebration.
Koch’s recognition is a matter of pride for the literary community of Meghalaya, particularly the Garo Hills, where his dedicated efforts to document indigenous knowledge, preserve linguistic traditions and promote cultural exchange continue to contribute to the region’s literary and cultural heritage.
