The Assam government, has announced its decision to honor distinguished individuals with various Assam State Civilian Awards 2024. The highest state civilian award, “Assam Baibhav,” will be conferred upon former Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi. Notably, Justice Gogoi, hailing from Northeast India, made history as the first judge from the region to hold the prestigious post of Chief Justice of India. His tenure, from 2018 to 2019, saw significant legal milestones, including the verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi – Babri Masjid title suit.
In recognition of their exceptional contributions, the state government will also bestow the “Assam Saurav” award on several accomplished individuals. Kishan Chand Nauriyal, a cultural expert in the directorate of archaeology, indigenous and tribal faith, and culture department of the Assam government, will be among the recipients. With over 35 years of expertise in cultural heritage management, Nauriyal played a pivotal role in preparing the World Heritage Nomination Dossier for the maidams, the mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty at Charaideo in Assam.
Other notable recipients of the “Assam Saurav” award include Elvis Ali Hazarika, the first Assamese and Indian to complete a two-way swim of the English Channel; Hima Das, the first Indian athlete to secure a gold medal in a track event at the IAAF World U-20 Championships; and Nadiram Deuri, a distinguished exponent of Tiwa dance and music.
Furthermore, the “Assam Gaurav” award will be conferred upon 17 achievers from diverse fields. These include Bihu dance exponent Ranjit Gogoi, animal conservation activist Parvati Barua, film mixing engineer and sound designer Debojit Changmai, Ojapali dance exponent Drono Bhuyan, organic farmer Neelam Dutta, entrepreneur Anupam Deka, wildlife conservation activist Soumyadeep Dutta, progressive mushroom cultivator Basanta Chiring Phukan, bamboo craftsman Manendra Deka, ASHA worker Meenakshi Chetia, Karbi folk singer Pakhila Lekhtepi, tea grower and environmentalist Tenzing Bodosa, entrepreneurs Nirmal Dey and Jecin Kumbang Pao, Anganwadi worker Mary Hassa, black rice cultivator Upendra Rabha, and progressive farmer Rahul Gupta.
These awards serve as a fitting tribute to the exceptional accomplishments and contributions of these individuals across various fields, highlighting their significant role in shaping and enriching the cultural and social tapestry of Assam.
Here is the full list of awardees for the Assam Saurav and Assam Gaurav:
| Sl. No | Name of Recommended Awardee | Award Category | Field |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sri Ranjan Gogoi | Assam Baibhav | Law & Justice |
| 2 | Dr Kishan Chand Nauriyal | Assam Saurav | Art and Culture (Archaeology) |
| 3 | Elvis Ali Hazarika | Assam Saurav | Sports (Swimming) |
| 4 | Hima Das | Assam Saurav | Sports (Athletics) |
| 5 | Nadiram Deuri | Assam Saurav | Art & Culture (Tiwa Dance exponent) |
| 6 | Ranjit Gogoi | Assam Gaurav | Art and culture (Folk & Bihu Dance Exponent) |
| 7 | Parvati Barua | Assam Gaurav | Environment& Forest (Animal conservation activist,Human-Elephant conflict expert) |
| 8 | Debojit Changmai | Assam Gaurav | Art and Culture (Sound Engineer) |
| 9 | Drono Bhuyan | Assam Gaurav | Art and Culture (OjaPali) |
| 10 | Neelam Dutta | Assam Gaurav | Agriculture (Organic Farming) |
| 11 | Anupam Deka | Assam Gaurav | Entrepreneur (Industrialist) |
| 12 | Soumyadeep Dutta | Assam Gaurav | Environment& Forest (Wildlife Conservation) |
| 13 | Basanta Chiring Phukan | Assam Gaurav | Agriculture (Progressive Mushroom Cultivator) |
| 14 | Manendra Deka | Assam Gaurav | Craft and Bamboo artist (Handicraft) |
| 15 | Meenakshi Chetia | Assam Gaurav | ASHA Worker (Social Service) |
| 16 | Pakhila Lekhtepi | Assam Gaurav | Art and Culture (Karbi Folk Singer) |
| 17 | Tenzing Bodosa | Assam Gaurav | Environment& Forest (Elephant friendly Tea Estate Establishment) |
| 18 | Nirmal Dey | Assam Gaurav | Entrepreneur (ShitalPati) |
| 19 | Jecin Kumbang Pao | Assam Gaurav | Handlooms (Weaving) |
| 20 | Mary Hassa | Assam Gaurav | AWC (Social Service) |
| 21 | Upendra Rabha | Assam Gaurav | Agriculture (Black Rice Cultivator) |
| 22 | Rahul Gupta | Assam Gaurav | Agriculture (Hydroponic Farming) |
