Writter's Forum :
Proffesor Maheswar Neog :

One of the most illustrious scholars of the last century, Professor Maheswar Neog had stood like a colossus in the world of academic, literary and cultural studies of Assam. With his holistic vision, Dr Neog was 'the last generation of the renaissance in this age of specialization' , to quote Dr. (Smt.) Kapila Vatsyayan . He delved deep into and enriched almost at disciplines of Indian studies with particular reference to this part of the country, viz Assam and left behind an enormous output which was so vast and varied.

While the study and interpretation of art and culture of Assam have been Dr. Neog's forte, his greatest contribution is towards Sankaradeva studies and more particularly in unfolding the great treasures of the Sankaradeva movement in 15-17th centuries. Dr. Neog lived the life of a crusader for the establishment of Assam's traditional music, dance and drama in their rightful places in the hall of glory of India's art and culture. With his skilful painstaking and exacting vision he steadily and relentlessly carried on his crusade presenting papers and giving academic discourses in such major events as the Technical and Fine Arts Section. All India Oriental Conference as its President (1957). National Dance Seminar Organized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (1958), Indian School of Drama and Asian Theatre Centre (1962). History and Culture Section, International Congress of Orientalists (1964). The Manipur State Kala Akademi etc. where he unfolded before the cognoscenti of Indian art the distinctive traditions of Assam enduring as ritualistic ones in the monasteries (sattras) or as parts of socio-religious pursuits. The Sangeet Natak Akademi, with which Dr. Neog was associated in various capacities, extended its much-needed support to the efforts undertaken by Dr. Neog in the sixties in this direction. Besides these, Dr. Neog contributed spate of leamed paers in leading reasearch journals-all devoted to the same cause i.e. better placement and recognition of music and dance traditions of Assam. While these writings are themselves among the best on the subject with the relevant materials culled both from the old texts as well as from the best known institutions and individuals engaged in the pursuit of the arts concerned, the works that merit the greatest interest and critical esteem are the three volumes being the results of Dr.Neog's far-going investigations into the intricacies of the classical music and dance style of Assam. Based primarily on research projects sponsored under the auspices of the Sangeet Natak Akademi in three different stages, these-volumes, viz- Swara-rekhat Bargit (1958) Rhythm in te Vaishnava Music of Assam (1962) and Sattriya Dance and their (Rhythms (1973) are really outstanding in their scope, organization and treatment. Another remarkable contribution of Dr. Neog in this field is the very competent editing of the Sri Hasta-muktavali by Subhankara, an old treatise on dance, popular in this part of the country.
The recognition of the Sattriya Dance as a Major Tradition of Indian Dance by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000 is the culmination of long-drawn efforts first undertaken by Dr. Neog in association with the Akademi & in itself is a homage to this great tradition, its exponents in the past and present , and specially to the contributions of Dr. Neog.
The Srimanta Foundation for Culture & Society gratefully remembers this great savant and dedicated this Evening of Sattriya Dance as a humble tribute to his memory.