From a Correspondent
Tezpur, Jan 17: Different organizations remembered Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala by observing the 68th death anniversary of the cultural figure on Wednesday. The Tezpur chapter of Axam Xahitya Xabha organized a tribute programme as part of Silpi Divas at the Tezpur Sahitya Sabha Bhawan. The programme started with the lighting of the earthen lamp by Hemanta Barua, president of Tezpur Sahitya Sabha, and it was followed by floral tributes to Rupkonwar by social worker Mrilini Chetia, artiste Krish Das th, veteran actor Arun th, intertiol photographer lini Barua and others.
Addressing the gathering, Hemanta Barua observed that Jyotiprasad Agarwala’s actual artistic and political journey began after 1930. He dedicated himself fully to the freedom movement and was even jailed for 15 months and was imposed fine of Rs 500 for his active involvement in the freedom movement. But he parallely worked on the art and cultural front and also for the uplift of the Assamese society.
He further said that the cultural icon started his writing from the age of 14 and wrote the famous play Sonit-Konwari. “For the next few years during his student life he wrote many short stories. Jyotiprasad was very good in child psychology and he wrote many stories for children,” Barua said and added that the cultural icon wrote more than 300 songs and gave music to most of them. Barua added that the most valuable gift of Jyotiprasad to Assamese cine world was Joymoti.
Paying tribute to the cultural legend, AASU, Tezpur unit, recalled the contribution of Rupkonwar towards the society and urged the Assamese people to come forward to follow the ideology of the cultural legend. Several programmes were also held at Poki where Rupkonwar used to reside. The Ban Theater family also organised competition and commemorative programmes. People also paid tribute to the legendary artiste at Trimurty Udyan.
At the samadhisthal, the family members of Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha, social worker Mikshi Agarwal and students of Kamala Prasad Agarwala Memorial School paid tribute to Rupkonwar.