Axom Xahitya Xabha
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Axom Xahitya Xabha (Assamese: অসম সাহিত্য সভা, Ôxôm Xahityô Xôbha or Assam Literary Society) was founded in 1917 in Assam, India to promote the culture of Assam and Assamese literature. Presently it has about one thousand branches all over Assam and also outside the state. The central office is at Jorhat a city of historical importance. The branches and the district units also have their offices in their respective places.
Till 1826 A.D. Assam was ruled mainly by Ahom and Koch dynasties. In 1826, Assam came under the rule of the British, and in the process it had become a part of the political map of India. Of course Assam was always an integral part of the cultural map of India.
However , the history of modern Assam, modern Assamese language and literature and culture found their starting points in the early part of the 19th century. Since 1872 some efforts were made to build up some organisations to work for the development of Assamese language, literature and culture of the modern period.
Ôxôm Xahityô Xôbha was the final results of all those efforts. In 1917 it came into being. The first conference was held in the month of December 1917 under the presidentship of Padmanath Gohain Baruah, a big name in the history of modern Assamese literature. Since then the annual conference, nowadays biennial, is held with great pomp and grandeur, and a writer of high reputation is elected to the presidency of the Society.
The conference of the Society become a big literary festival, unique in its character, which is attended by thousands of people. The writers of the state assemble, exchange their views and address the people. Currently, the 69th convention is being held at Chapar[1]
