Publication Delays Plague Bhupen Hazarika's Legacy Book Across India

The Assam government's effort to publish a book celebrating the life of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika in 22 languages has encountered serious delays, leaving many translators frustrated and without copies of their work. Initially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2025, the project aimed to honor Hazarika's legacy but has faced significant bottlenecks in publication and distribution. Translators have expressed concerns about the lack of communication from the Publication Board Assam, leading to skepticism about the government's commitment to the initiative. As the PBA plans to distribute copies to libraries in 2027, many are left wondering about the future of this important literary work.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 10, 2026, 15:13 IST

Introduction to the Publication Issue

File image of PM Modi honouring Bhupen Hazarika in Guwahati (Photo: @narendramodi/x)

Guwahati, Nov 10: An initiative by the Assam government aimed at sharing the life and contributions of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika with readers nationwide in 22 languages is currently facing significant publication and distribution challenges.

Translators Left in Limbo

The project, overseen by the Publication Board Assam (PBA), has left numerous translators awaiting their copies for over a year since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's launch in September 2025. Initially written in Assamese, the book has been translated into 21 additional languages, yet many translators express feelings of disillusionment after such a prolonged wait.

The translations include English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Bodo, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Nepali, Konkani, Malayalam, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Kashmiri, Dogri, Odia, Punjabi, Santhali, Tamil, Urdu, Bangla, and Maithili.

Anantha Narayanan, the Malayalam translator, shared his frustration, stating, "They sent two dummy copies at the time of the release. I and other translators corrected and submitted them promptly, but since then, we have received no updates."

Concerns Over Government's Commitment

When asked about communication from the PBA regarding the delays, Narayanan mentioned they were merely advised to "wait for some time." He expressed skepticism, suggesting that the government's initiative might have been more of a public relations stunt than a genuine effort.

The book was authored by senior journalist Anuradha Sarma Pujari, while the project was managed by renowned film critic and poet Aparajita Pujari, who stated that her responsibilities concluded upon submission of the project. She remarked, "Printing and distribution are not within my purview, so I cannot comment further."

Translators Seek Resolution

Other translators echoed Narayanan's sentiments. Tamil translator K Nallathambi reached out to Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in July, highlighting the PBA's negligence in printing the book and requesting the chief minister's intervention. Following his email, the PBA managed to publish the final Tamil version and sent five copies to him.

On October 17, Nallathambi shared on Facebook, "After a year of efforts, this book has been published by the Assam government. It has been translated into 21 languages, though it's unclear if it has been published in all languages. However, it has finally been released in Tamil."

Future Plans for Distribution

In a recent Facebook video, Konkani translator Lilesh Vasudev Kudalkar expressed disappointment, stating that despite completing their work promptly for the launch, they have yet to receive any copies. The PBA has announced plans to print sufficient copies in all translated languages by 2027 and distribute them free of charge to libraries in the respective states.

PBA Secretary Pramod Kalita confirmed that only a few copies had been sent to translators, acknowledging the delays. He stated, "We have asked translators to inform us of their copy requirements, and we will fulfill those requests. Our goal is to provide the book to libraries in all states next year, which is why we initially distributed only a limited number of copies."