Sonowal meets 10-year-old Guwahati poet and her debut book
Synopsis
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal met 10-year-old Guwahati poet Lakshanya Agarwal, who presented him with her debut poetry collection 'A Book of Poesy For Creative Little Minds', earning praise from the former Assam Chief Minister for her creative achievement.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal met Lakshanya Agarwal , a 10-year-old from Guwahati , on 20 October 2026 .
Lakshanya gifted Sonowal a copy of her debut poetry book, 'A Book of Poesy For Creative Little Minds' .
Sonowal, also a former Chief Minister of Assam, praised the young author's 'poetic imagination' on social media.
Guwahati is the largest city in Assam and a recognised centre for education and culture in Northeast India.
Sonowal expressed hope that Lakshanya's work would inspire other children to 'dream, create and express'.
A ten-year-old from Guwahati walked into Union Ports and Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's office on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, and walked out having gifted a senior Cabinet minister her very first book of poetry.
Lakshanya Agarwal, a 10-year-old resident of Guwahati, presented Minister Sonowal with a copy of her debut work, 'A Book of Poesy For Creative Little Minds' — a poetry collection aimed at young readers. Sonowal, who is also a former Chief Minister of Assam, took to X to share the moment and extend his encouragement to the young author.
'Lakshanya's poetic imagination is a wonderful testament to the limitless potential of our young minds,' Sonowal wrote, adding that he hopes 'her words continue to inspire countless children to dream, create and express.'
A young voice from Assam's cultural capital
Guwahati, the largest city in Assam and a longstanding hub for education and the arts in Northeast India, has a tradition of nurturing literary talent. That a child as young as ten has authored and published a poetry collection speaks to the creative energy the city continues to produce.
Lakshanya's book, as the title signals, is crafted specifically for young minds — an attempt to kindle imagination and self-expression in early readers. The gesture of personally presenting the book to a senior national minister gave her debut a moment of quiet, national visibility.
Sonowal's Assam connection
For Sonowal, the meeting carried a personal dimension beyond routine protocol. As a former Chief Minister of Assam who represented the state for years before moving to the Union Cabinet, encounters with achievers from his home region carry visible warmth. His post framed Lakshanya's achievement not merely as personal but as proof of the 'limitless potential' of India's younger generation — a note of encouragement directed as much at parents and educators as at the child herself.
Point of View
Whose political roots run deep in Assam, spotlighting a Guwahati child-author reinforces his continuing engagement with the state even from Delhi. The moment is ceremonial, but it feeds a broader BJP narrative of celebrating grassroots talent and youthful aspiration. Whether it translates into any structured support for children's literature in Assam remains an open question.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lakshanya Agarwal?
Lakshanya Agarwal is a 10-year-old from Guwahati, Assam, who authored the poetry book 'A Book of Poesy For Creative Little Minds' — her debut publication, which she presented to Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on 20 October 2026.
What is Sarbananda Sonowal's current role?
Sarbananda Sonowal is India's Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. He is a senior BJP leader and served as Chief Minister of Assam before joining the Union Cabinet.
What is the book 'A Book of Poesy For Creative Little Minds' about?
It is a poetry collection by 10-year-old Guwahati author Lakshanya Agarwal, aimed at young readers and designed to encourage creativity and self-expression in children.
Why did Sonowal post about meeting Lakshanya Agarwal?
Sonowal shared the meeting on X to acknowledge Lakshanya's achievement and encourage young children across the country to pursue creative expression, calling her imagination 'a wonderful testament to the limitless potential of our young minds'.
Is Guwahati known for literary culture?
Yes. Guwahati is the largest city in Assam and has long been a centre for education, arts, and cultural activities in Northeast India, with a tradition of supporting literary talent.
