Tributes Paid to Bodo Litterateur Kamal Kumar Brahma on 19th Death Anniversary

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: Family members, well wishers and literary circles on Friday remembered former president of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS), a noted writer late Kamal Kr. Brahma on the occasion of his 19th death anniversary.

Tribute by well-wishers and writers to widely respected late Kamal Kumar Brahma (1929-2006) was paid on his 19th death anniversary. He was born on August 2, 1929 at Dhouliguri village in Kokrajhar district. He was the son of Madaram Brahma, the first Padmashree Award winner among the Bodo community from the Government of India, and Rupeswari Brahma, a housewife. Kamal Kumar Brahma spent his childhood in Bhabanipur village of Bongaigaon district. His early education started from Bongaigaon. In 1955, he completed his matriculation and pursuing higher education. He did his graduation and post-graduation in 1958 and 1963 from Gauhati University, Guwahati. After completion of education, he became a teacher in Kokrajhar High School, Kokrajhar and Kokrajhar Government College, and also the principal of Kokrajhar Basic Training School. He married Milabathi Brahma, the daughter of Parmeswar Brahma of Bandwguri village, Kokrajhar. They were blessed with seven children.

Late Kamal Kumar Brahma started his writing career from his school life. His literary contributions to Bodo as well as Assamese literature are considered to be valuable. He was one of the greatest playwrights in the history of modern Bodo literature. As a playwriter he has more than six dramas both social and historical to his credit namely, Gwdan Fwisali (1959), Gwrwnthini Unao (Not published-1964), Mandarni Mwdwi (Not published-1967), Mimangni Simang (1977), Raja Iragdao (1978), Gwswni Jaiklong (1986), Horbadi Khwmsi (1993) etc. In 1990, he was elected as the president of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha.

As a poet he has published two poetry books, both in Bodo and Assamese languages including- Dulali (Assamese-1954) and Amarni Methai (2000). The second poetry book was translated by him into Bodo from the book the ‘Rubaiyat of Amar Khayyam’. He was also a grammarian as well as the first Bodo grammarian in the history of Bodo language. He published two books written about Bodo language namely ‘Gibi Raokhanthi’ (1968) and ‘Gwnang Raokhanthi’ (1972). He also worked and dedicated his life for the development of Bodo culture and Bodo cinema. In 1983, he became the president of Bodo Film Society, which was the first film company in the history of Bodo cinema. He was the script-writer for ‘Daina’ (1984), the first documentary film in the history of Bodo cinema, and ‘Jiuni Simang’ (1987), the second feature film in the history after ‘Alayaron’, which was directed by Jwngdao Bodosa alias Pradeeb Brahma and screenplay by noted Bodo short story writer late Nilkamal Brahma and late Heramba Narzary in 1986. The movie ‘Jiuni Simang’ was based on his full-length and most tragedy social drama in Bodo literature ‘Mimangni Simang’. Kamal Kumar Brahma will always be remembered by the people of the region for his tremendous contributions to Bodo culture, language and literature.

He was also the secretary of Bodo Textbook Productions Committee from 1963 to 1975. He also served as the Academic Officer of the Assam Textbook Productions and Publication Board. In 1990, he was elected as a president of Bodo Sahitya Sabha. He was awarded the ‘Rangsar Literary Award’ from the Bodo Sahitya Sabha in 1997 for his most famous and best-selling drama book ‘Horbadi Khwmsi’.

It may be mentioned that the noted playwright Kamal Kumar Brahma breathed his last on April 4, 2006 at the age of 77. Brahma dedicated his life to develop Bodo medium school as well as Bodo literature. In the name of him, the “Kamal Kumar Brahma Derhasat Banta” is conferred every year to the top ten HSLC passing students from the Bodo medium school across Assam since 2006.

Also Read: Assam: Pabitra Margherita attends BJP organizational meet in Demow

Also Watch: