'Hemkosh' Publisher Warns Assam Govt Against Reprint Without Consent

The decades-old Assamese dictionary Hemkosh, considered a linguistic and cultural milestone in Assam, has become the centre of a legal battle between its publisher and the Government of Assam. Jayanta Baruah, Chairman of Sadin-Pratidin Group and legal heir of the Hemkosh legacy, has served a formal legal notice through his counsel, advocating against the state’s alleged move to reprint the dictionary without due authorisation.

The notice, dated July 18, 2025, has been addressed to the Chief Secretary of Assam by Advocate Rupam Jyoti Das of the Gauhati High Court. The letter asserts that the copyright of Hemkosh—India’s first Assamese dictionary—rests legally and exclusively with Jayanta Baruah, and that any attempt by the state government to reprint, distort, mutilate, or modify the publication without consent would be a direct infringement of his rights.

According to the legal notice, Jayanta Baruah is the son of Late Debananda Barua and the current authorised license holder of Hemkosh. The document states that the Copyright Office under the Government of India had issued a Registration Certificate (No. L-27621/2006, dated 28.12.2006) in the name of Late Debananda Barua for the literary work Natun Sanskaran Hemkosh. This registration, it notes, is in continuation of the original registration made in the year 1900, when Hemkosh was first published.

The notice also outlines the historical legacy of the publication, stating that Hemkosh has been in continuous circulation under the stewardship of the Barua family. It details the editions published over time, namely:

• First Edition: 1900

• Second Edition: 1941

• Third Edition: 1955

• Fourth to Fourteenth Editions: 1955, 1978, 1985, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2011

• Fifteenth Edition: 2023

“My client is the authorised person having the license of rights comprising the aforementioned copyright and the aforementioned Registration Certificate itself reflects the authorisation so bestowed upon my client,” reads the legal notice.

It further states that the Government of Assam, according to various media reports and public statements, including one made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the Assam Legislative Assembly, is contemplating publishing Hemkosh independently, citing that the copyright has expired after 50 years.

Strongly opposing this interpretation, the notice argues that Hemkosh does not fall under the category of works without copyright protections, since the original 1900 publication was republished well within the 50-year window—specifically in 1941 and again in 1955. The Barua family subsequently secured the official copyright in 2006, which remains in force.

Speaking to Pratidin Time, Jayanta Baruah stated:

“I have learned from various media platforms and also from the Chief Minister of Assam during his recent speech in the Assam Legislative Assembly that Hemkosh has turned 50 and thus, there is no copyright on the same and they will reprint it.
The fact is not that. In 1900, Hemkosh was first published and my grandfather Anandaram Barua came up with the second edition in 1941, then again in 1955. I have been republishing it till 2023.
Thus, Hemkosh—which was first published in 1900 and then again within 50 years—does not suit the category of works free from copyright.
The Hemkosh family received copyright in 2006. There have been various misinterpretations regarding this among the masses. Thus, a legal notice was served by my advocate to the Chief Secretary of Assam and the Secretary of the Publication Board.
We have informed them why they cannot print it without our consent as per laws. I hope the Government of Assam understands this; otherwise, we will have to proceed legally.”

The notice serves as a formal warning that any such move by the government would amount to violation of Section 13 and Section 22 of the Copyright Act, 1957, and that further legal actions—both civil and criminal—would be initiated if the matter is not addressed.

It concludes by stating that any act of publication, distortion, or modification of Hemkosh by the government will not only violate legal rights but also be “prejudicial to the honour and reputation” of the copyright holder.

This legal standoff comes at a time when the dictionary’s legacy continues to be a symbol of Assamese language and identity, and the outcome of this dispute may have far-reaching implications for literary copyright law and cultural preservation in the region.

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