A SHORT HISTORY OF BANI MANDIR - THE PRIDE OF NORTH EAST BOOK-TRADE : BANI MANDIR is a North East Book Publication and Book Distribution House was established on 29th January 1949, at Dibrugarh, Assam, under the leadership of its Founder Lt. Chandrakanta Hazarika with a set of story books for children. It published its first book PHEHUJAALI (meaning: Early Dawn/Pre-Dawn) in 1956. The book was conceptualized in such a way no one had thought about. It was to provide a wholesome and variety of books to the knowledge seekers of Assam. Later between 1956-60 it started trading reference books of Arts stream for the Higher Secondary and U.G. students. This particular set of books was instantly accepted and became a hit amongst the students and the teachers, from then they have witnessed remarkable growth all through their unparalleled endeavors. Later in the year 1984 the Organization was taken over and expanded to Guwahati, Assam by the elder son Mr. Surjya Kanta Hazarika. In 1988 he also expanded the business by establishing a printing press which is named after his father “CHANDRAKANTA PRESS PVT. LTD.”. There he also started a newspaper named “NATUN DAINIK” under the editorial post of Lt. Chandraprasad Saikia in the year 1990. Some of the notable contributions of Mr. Surjya Kanta Hazarika to the society are magazines like SANDHYA BATORI, KHEL SANBAD, CHITRA SANBAD AMAR PROTIDHWONI under the editorial supervision of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, TV serials like BRIKUDOR BORUA BIYA, , documentary like RUPKUOR JYOTIPRASAD AGARWALLA/ BISHNU RABHA/ DR. BHUPEN HAZARIKA BRINDAVANI VASTRA/ SIRA SENEHI MUR BHAKHA JONONI, movies like SHRIMANTA SHANKARDEVA under the banner of S.H. film production center and many more due to which he is also honored with the prestigious award PADMASHRI by the Government of India in the year 2008. Alongside with his father, around 1979-1982, the second son, Mr. Ujjal Hazarika helped to expand the business in Dibrugarh as well as in upper Assam. But after the sad demise of their father, the founder, Lt. Chandrakanta Hazarika in the year 1995,Mr. Ujjal Hazarika continued to expand the business by making his father’s dream to provide knowledge and education to the masses a long lasting legacy in Dibrugarh with his father’s blessings. With the same vision and mission, CHANDRAKANTA HAZARIKA SATRIYA SANGEET MAHAVIDYALAYA was started under the wing of CHANDRAKANTA SEWA ASHRAM in view of expanding and giving recognition to SATRIYA DANCE. And also CHANDRAKANTA HAZARIKA B.ED COLLEGE was established in 1994. . Recently in 2018 they had established one more branch of BANI MANDIR within the campus of Dibrugarh University, DIBRUGARH, ASSAM, under the leadership and guidance of Mr. Ujjal Hazarika along with his wife Mrs. Rituparna Hazarika. After that by 1990, it is taken cared by Mr. Utpal Hazarika(Guwahati Branch), the youngest son of the founder. During his tenure of business he introduced the trading of NCERT books in Assam as well as in the whole North East and continued to expand the business with constant support of his wife Mrs. Manasmrita Hazarika. Under their guidance and supervision the publication of books of BANI MANDIR was expanded. Moreover the Tezpur branch as well as Jorhat branch was established. For expanding the vision of publications, LABANYA PRAKASHAN was established in 2005 under their supervision. BANI MANDIR has always striven to maintain the quality of service as they have expanded over the last 39 years. It currently has 5 branches in Assam(DIBRUGARH, GUWAHATI, JORHAT, TEZPUR, DIBRUGARH UNIVERSITY IN-CAMPUS ) and looking to expand a few more within the next couple years. Now with the duration of almost 70 years, all the three brothers see a vision to expand their business in different parts of North East India as well as all over India, where they would stand out for their unique selling point. The organization has almost 300 employees with a turnover of around six crores in all the outlets in North East India. It offers a wide range of books from 20 rupees up to 2000 rupees, which includes story books, text books, reference books, guide books, sample papers, entrance books, biographies, encyclopedia, religious books and many more. It also includes books on the all the Literary works of Assam’s icon such as Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, Laxminath Bejboruah, Atul Chandra Hazarika as well as some documentary films of Literary and Cultural icons of Assam. They have done more than 1000 notable publications so far.BANI MANDIR had also successfully supplied books to the Central Library Kolkata, Directors of Adult Education, Arunachal State Library as well as to various Universities of North East India (such as GUWAHATI UNIVERSITY, DIBRUGARH UNIVERSITY, ASSAM MEDICAL COLLEGE, ASSAM UNIVERSITY, CENTRAL UNIVERSITY, AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY etc.). Due to the notable publications by them, they have been awarded Printing Awards in 1986 by ASSAM SAHITYA SABHA and in 2006 by THE APEX LITERARY ORGANISATION OF ASSAM. It cannot be forgotten that BANI MANDIR is one of the prestigious organizations that have participated in various National as well as international Book Fairs. Due to this involvement BANI MANDIR is now not only famous for their Assamese Book publications but well known for showcasing the North East culture through books internationally. The main mission and vision of the founder and a son of Majuli Lt. Chandra Kanta Hazarika(1918-1995) along with his wife Lt. Labanya Hazarika(1934-2003) is to promote the Education sector and provide knowledge all over the North East, for which their son had established another book publication wing named as S.H. EDUCATIONAL TRUST. An esteemed educational institution S.K. HAZARIKA COLLEGE (Zoo Road, Guwahati and Lakhra, Guwahati) was also established in 1990 under the supervision of Mr. Surjya Hazarika(Eldest Son) along with the support of his wife Dr. Eva Hazarika. With the same noble motive, a well renowned and a prestigious eri and muga silk production unit, AARHI was established by Mrs. Manasmrita Hazarika in 2004. Also in 2019, a food production unit ROHDOI as well as a painting and hardware of home accessories RAINBOW COLOURS was started under her supervision. Meanwhile as the legacy continuous, the third generation of HAZARIKA FAMILY, Mr. Sudipta Sankar Hazarika, after completing his studies from Manchester University started the next level of advanced printing press LABANYA PRINTING PRESS with modern printers procured from Japan. It may be a noteworthy information since inception of Book industry in Assam, BANI MANDIR can claim the first and the only excellence recognition of PADMASHRI award till date. BANI MANDIR has helped in creating new writers all over North East by encouraging their writings and spread over the states of North East.For such contributions to the society, in memory of Lt Chandrakanta Hazarika, his family made a entrance gate in Bordua Satra(in Nagaon) named as SHRIMANTA SANKARDEVOR JANMA STHAN SHRI SHRI BOTODRUA THAN PRABESH DWAR. And in memory of Lt. Labanya Hazarika, Assam Lekhika Sanstha started an award ceremony to be bestowed every year named as LABANYA HAZARIKA ADARSHA MATRI BOTA.
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