Death anniversary of Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha observed in Rangjuli

Correspondents

Boko: Kalaguru Bishnuprasad Rabha’s 50th death anniversary was observed as Bishnu Rabha Divas 2019. A programme was organized by the Assam State Cultural department in collaboration with Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and Goalpara district administration at Tahsil Maidan in Rangjuli under Goalpara district on Thursday.

On this occasion, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal took part as the chief guest while State Cultural Affairs Minister Naba Kumar Doley, CM’s press advisor Hrishikesh Goswami, Dhudhnai constituency MLA Dipak Kumar Rabha and RHAC Chief Executive Member Tankeswar Rabha took part as distinguished guests. All guests paid floral tribute to Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha. Colourful traditional dances were performed. Deputy Commissioner of Goalpara district, Varnali Deka presided over the programme.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal gave away the Bishnu Rabha Award to Reba Kanta Mahanta, famous mask maker, and Manipuri cultural dance artist L. Ibempishak Devi. Sonowal also flagged off an ambulance for Goalpara district provided by Oil India Limited under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and distributed 35 water purifiers to 35 schools in Goalpara district, also provided by Oil India Limited’s CSR fund.

Goalpara district administration has taken initiative for women’s education and as part of this, under the Rangjuli Tribal Development Block a programme was launched on Thursday by the Chief Minister. Under this programme, 6,895 illiterate women will become literate before International Literacy Day this year.

TINSUKIA: The Tinsukia district administration under the aegis of the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Assam organized the 50th death anniversary of Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha at Manab Kalyan Puja Bhavan on Thursday in a befitting manner.

Celebrated centrally, the event witnessed lecture programme, recitation of Rabha poems, Rabha Sangeet performed by students, academicians and artistes in the presence of a large gathering of students, officials and teachers from across district. While Punya Saikia lit the ceremonial lamp, Oinam Sarankumar Singh, the Deputy Commissioner of Tinsukia, Sanjay Kishan, MLA of Tinsukia, and other dignitaries paid floral tributes at the portrait of Rabha. In his address as chief guest, Punya Saikia, a noted intellectual of Digboi while narrating his experience with Rabha, said that the relevance of Rabha’s contribution in present day context could not be ignored. Every facet of his life one way or the other influenced Assamese society. Rabha’s revolutionary, romantic and humanitarian thoughts had influenced many luminaries of Assam, including Bhupen Hazarika, Saikia observed. Among others who addressed the gathering were Rana Kumar Changmai, Principal i/c of Tinsukia College and MLA Sanjay Kishan.

PATHSALA: Lurin Jyoti Gogoi, general secretary of AASU, expressed serious concern over the fact that till now the residence of Bishnu Prasad Rabha had not been turned into a museum for preservation of his works as the government had promised. He also said that the ideals of Bishnu Rabha were very important at this critical juncture in the society. Gogoi was speaking at the open meeting held Pathsala on Thursday on the occasion of Rabha Divas.

The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) on Thursday centrally observed Rabha Divas at Bhagabati Kshetra, Pathsala with various programmes. On the occasion of Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha’s 50th death anniversary, the All Barpeta District Students’ Union, in association with Bajali subdivision students’ union, Pathsala Anchalik Students’ Union’ and the people of greater Bajali area centrally organized a two-day convention at Pathsala- Bhagawati Khetra on June 19-June 20.

In the programme, Dipanka Nath, AASU president, hoisted the AASU flag and Lurinjyoti Gogoi performed the swahid tarpan. After that Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya, chief advisor of AASU, garlanded the portrait of Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha.

The open meeting was inaugurated by Munindra Sarma, Deputy Commissioner of Barpeta. The meeting was graced by Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya, Dipankar Kumar Nath and Lurin Jyoti Gogoi along with many other AASU leaders and a number of guests. A souvenir published in the occasion was released by Dr. Ranjit Deka, Rector of Anundoram Barooah Academy, Pathsala. Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya appealed to introduce Rabha’s life in textbooks and said that in the present times there was need of a well-planned cultural revolution in the State.

TANGLA: In commemoration of the unmatched contribution of cultural icon and revolutionary figure Kalaguru Bishnu Prashad Rabha on his death anniversary, Bishnu Rabha Divas was also observed here at Orang in Udalguri district on Thursday. The event, which was hosted by Orang unit of Axam Xahitya Xabha (AXX), kicked off with hoisting of organizational flag by its president Jayram Bora followed by floral tributes to the portrait of Bishnu Rabha. The women members also enthralled the gathering with Rabha Sangeet.

Speaking on the occasion, retired Principal of Asomjyoti College, Keshab Ch. Baruah spoke on the importance of the day and recalled the contributions of the cult, stating that Kalaguru was himself an institution, a versatile genius as well as an expert in politics, sports, architecture, acting, dancing and writing. He added that Bishnu Rabha was a good politician and great social reformer and urged the government to establish a museum to preserve his historic creation.

The event also witnessed the release of a collection of poems, Sagor Tolir Manik by former president of Udalguri chapter AXX, Manik Sarma which has been written by litterateur Jitendra Nath Deka. The poet also recited a poem on the occasion.

Kokrajhar: Along with the rest of the State, the district administration of Kokrajhar, in collaboration with the Cultural Affairs department of BTC, observed the 50th death anniversary of Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha at Basic Training Centre. After floral tribute at the portrait of Kalaguru, an open meeting on the life and contributions of Rabha was held. Noted writer Arun Kr Borgoyary in his speech said that Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha was one of the great personalities of the State who immensely contributed for the development of culture and literature in Assam. He said Rabha was a distinguished figure of the State whose contributions could not be forgotten. “He was born to a Bodo family but brought up in a Rabha family. He has a lot of contributions to Bodo literature,” he said, adding that the present generation should follow his ideals and philosophy. He also recalled his early life and dedication.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Kokrajhar, Debeswar Bora also spoke on the occasion. The programme was attended by the officials of the Cultural Affairs department of BTC.

Also read: Bishnu Rabha Divas observed across State