Documentary film on life and works of Sashi Sarma released

lbari, April 12:  A documentary film “SAAGNIK – the preserver of fire” on the life and works of prominent litterateur, social thinker and messiah of peace Sashi Sarma, made by eminent theatre persolity and former Principal of Cotton College Dr Sitath Lahkar, was released on Saturday  at tyamandir auditorium in lbari. The film was released by Sarma himself and lbari Deputy Commissioner Dr Om Prakash.

It was followed by a special screening of the film, organised jointly by District Administration and lbari Press Club.

Talking about the film, Dr Lahkar said: “The documentary is an attempt to dig out some unique and untold stories of Mr Sarma, who despite being a litterateur giant is a lesser ‘recognised’ me in Assam. Such are the conflicting traits of his colourful life that make it difficult to find out what should be told and what not about him. Of course, it will be too much over enthusiastic to try to project this rare persolity in only one film.”

The greatest of the features of his life is humanism, being practiced completely in tune with that of Vaishvite saint Mahapurush Sankardeva and great Pir Ajan Fakir, added Dr Lahkar.

The film highlights the fact that the messiah of peace and unity has not only preached about religious tolerance and existence of all religions, but practiced the same wholeheartedly by getting married his eldest

daughter to a non-Brahmin and the next one to a Muslim boy that too in accordance with Islamic customs.

Dr Lahkar said, “This documentary film tries to look at and explore the untold side of Sarma – that is his humanism.”

‘SAAGNIK – the preserver of fire’ is just a small endeavour to pay respect to this tall and uncompromising persolity, who has always been neglected by establishments almost at all levels of this land, he added.

The octogerian distinguished scholar has written around 100 books on politics, different social issues, art, folk culture and literature.

Releasing the film, Dr Prakash said: “Persolities like Sashi Sarma are born in the society only once after many years and we are lucky to have him among us. We should try to spread and preserve the messages of Sarma for our future generations. I thank Dr Lahkar for making the film on Sarma’s life, which will surely inspire the younger ones in future.”

The film has been made in a docu-feature way, in which some incidents of Sarma’s life were re-ected but without any distortion of the facts.

The documentary was made over a period of eight years since 2007.

“SAAGNIK – the preserver of fire” has been produced by Angeekar Films. The research, script and direction of the film are by Dr Lahkar. He was assisted by Trideep Lahkar and Smita Lahkar. Camera works are done by Dr Lahkar, Trideep Lahkar, Prabjyoti Bharali, Indra Dorji and Gagan. Hrishikesh Das has done the editing of the film. While Pankaj Sarma rendered the music in the film, playback singers are Prajn Barua and Smita Lahkar.