Contribution of Bodo revolutiory singer Dwikhrong Kh. Basumatary recalled

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, Jan 29: The adhya shraddha of Bodo revolutiory singer Dwikhrong Khunggur Basumatary was socially performed at North Dotma in Kokrarjhar district on Sunday under the aegis of All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) and Dularai Boro Harimu Afad (DBHA). Several dignitaries and hundreds of people, including renowned singers and artistes, attended the public ritual held in open an field.

In the morning, the wife of Dwikhrong Khunggur Basumatary, Kalyani Brahma paid floral tribute at the portrait of her husband. The president of ABSU, Promod Boro, Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) president Dr. Kameswar Brahma, president of All Bodo Artistes’ Association (ABAA) Bikash Basumatary, president of DBHA-Billa Brahma, former Rajya Sabha MP UG Brahma and other dignitaries paid their last respect and offered floral tribute at his portrait.

A memorial lecture on the contribution of Dwikhrong Khunggur Basuamtary was also held at North Dotma with Jayanta Basumatary, speaker of ABSU, in the chair. The general secretary of DBHA, Jogeswar Brahma gave the welcome address while ABSU general secretary Lawrence Islary gave the introduction of family members of Basuamtary who hailed from Gohpur of Sonitpur district. The memorial lecture was iugurated by renowned singer and adviser of DBHA, Rohen Brahma. The meeting was addressed by former Rajya Sabha MP UG Brahma, president of DBHA, Billa Brahma and other guests.

The president of ABSU, Promod Boro said that the student body had decided to give a suitable title to Dwikhrong Khunggur Basuamatary and it would be announced during the golden jubilee celebration of the ABSU to be held from February 12 to February 15 at Jangkrithai Fwthar, Kokrajhar. He said the contribution of Basumatary towards the Bodoland movement was quite praiseworthy as he could unite the people and inspired them to work for the community through his revolutiory songs.

Talking to media persons on the sidelines of the meeting, renowned singer Sulekha Basumatary, who is known as melody queen of the Bodos, said she met Dwikhrong while he came to Kokrajhar in the late 80s in a meeting during the Bodoland movement launched by the ABSU. She said Basumatary had superfluous talent that made him popular and he received a lot of praise for his heart-rending revolutiory songs.

General secretary of DBHA, Jogeswar Brahma said Dwikhrong Khunggur Basumatary’s untimely demise had caused great loss to the Bodos. He said their organization made all efforts to help him recover from a serious disease but lack of fincial support and the effect of demonetization made them helpless and filly he breathed his last on December 17, 2016. He also said that everybody should come forward to keep Basumatary’s creative works alive and appealed to the BTC administration to extend help for construction of a memorial site.

ABSU general secretary Lawrence Islary said the student body had deep respect towards his contribution in the Bodoland movement as he played an important role through his revolutiory songs. He said Basuamtary worked as an awakening force during the movement. He also said the ABSU would remember him always and a title would be given to him during the celebration of the golden jubilee of the ABSU.

Earlier, a souvenir in memory of Dwikhrong Khuggur Basumatary was released by the president of the BSS, Kameswar Brahma. Basuamatary was born on 14 April, 1963 at Sapkaiti in Udalguri district. His family shifted to Sapkaiti from Baribanda near Khandikor of Baksa district and later shifted to Simen Chapori and to Gohpur. Dwikhrong Khunggur Basumatary became well known after he was given a chance to sing his revolutiory song at Bashbari convention of the ABSU in the then undivided Dhubri district in 1988. He was loved by Bodofa Upendra th Brahma and got invitation to go to the Bashbari convention while he visited Bodo villages in Gohpur area of Sonitpur district.