Poet Ujjal Saikia Passes Away in Doomdooma

A Correspondent

DOOMDOOMA: Ujjal Saikia, who tried his hand as a poet in the now extinct epoch-making monthly magazine Ramdhenu, died in the wee hours on Tuesday at his residence at Milantirtha, Rupaisiding. He was 83 and is survived by two sons and two daughters. His wife predeceased him a few years back.

A close relative of Sudhakantha Dr Bhupen Hazarika and noted film director-cum-short-story writer Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia, he drew immense inspiration from them in creative writing since childhood. Born in Budlabheta Tea Estate near Doomdooma on May 21, 1936, Ujjal Saikia studied in Dibrugarh Hanumanbox Surajmal Kanoi College, Dibrugarh and became its magazine editor. Although his first published work was a short story, yet he felt that it was not his cup of tea and instead he relentlessly started writing poems in the then famous monthly magazine Ramdhenu and soon carved a niche for himself as a poet.

Just after completion of his IA, he joined the forest department and retired as a Head Assistant from Divisional Forest Office, Doomdooma on December 31, 1993. He has two published books on poetry, Ejak Jonakir Jilmil and Akou Natun Abiskar Hobo to his credit. He was felicitated for his literary contribution by organizations like Tinsukia Zila Sahitya Sabha, Tinsukia District Journalists Association (TDJA), Tinsukia Zila Kabi Sanmilan and Tinsukia Zila Sahityasevi Mancha. He was closely associated with the social life of Doomdooma and was instrumental in organizing a felicitation programme of Sudhakantha Dr Bhupen Hazarika on completion of his 50 years’ association with music. His death has cast a pall of gloom and was widely mourned by different socio-cultural organizations, including Tinsukia Zila Sahitya Sabha, Assam Science Writers Association, Tinsukia Zila Kabi Sanmilan and Tinsukia District Journalists Association.

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