Answer: Nilamani Phukan Jr.
Notes: Nilamani Phukan Jr. received the Jnanpith Award in 1979 for the Assamese work "Mrityunjoy". The Jnanpith Award is India's highest literary honor awarded annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith organization. No Assamese writer had won this award before 1979. Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya received the Jnanpith Award later in 1979 as well, but Nilamani Phukan Jr. is recognized as the first Assamese recipient.
