Guwahati: The first Braille dictionary published in Southeast Asia, “Hemkosh,” was published thanks to the efforts of Jayanta Baruah, the Chairman of the Pratidin Media Network of Assam.
Taking to twitter, PM Modi complimented Jayanta Baruah and wrote, “Glad to have received a copy of the Braille version of ‘Hemkosh’, which was among the earliest Assamese dictionaries dating back to the 19th century. I compliment Mr. Jayanta Baruah and his team for his efforts leading to the publication of the Braille version.”
In New Delhi earlier today, Jayanta Baruah officially handed Prime Minister Modi “Hemkosh,” the first Braille dictionary in South-East Asia.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal were also present at the occasion.
The first Assamese Braille dictionary in South-East Asia is called “Hemkosh.” Hemchandra Baruah edited the first Assamese dictionary in the nineteenth century. The Editor of Asomiya Pratidin, Shri Jayanta Baruah, has designed and released a Braille version of “Hemkosh” after more than 125 years.
Notably, the Pratidin Media Network of Assam publishes a number of weekly and monthly periodicals in addition to Asomiya Pratidin, the state newspaper with the greatest circulation.
Late Hemchandra Baruah created the first Assamese language dictionary, known as “Hemkosh,” in the latter part of the 19th century. It was released four years after his passing. Hemkosh Pran Debananda Baruah, the father of Mr. Jayanta Baruah, who currently owns the media conglomerate of Assam known as “Pratidin Media Network,” compiled and edited the subsequent editions of the dictionary, which were published by the following generations of his family. This was particularly true of the fourth edition to the fourteenth edition.
Shri Jayanta Baruah conceptualised and released the “Hemkosh” Braille version in an effort to uphold the book’s legacy as the grandson of the late Hemchandra Baruah. This copy of “Hemkosh” spans more than 15 volumes and contains over 10,000 pages.
This edition’s first phase, which was produced in five volumes and is already available for distribution, consists of chapters on “Swarabarna.” The publication procedure is also underway for the latter phases (Vyanjanbarna). This marks the beginning of the illustrious endeavour to print the full Assamese lexicon in Braille.
Notably, this Hemkosh translation into Braille would be the second full-language dictionary after Oxford.