HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, June 20: The 57th death anniversary of Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha was observed across Sonitpur district with cultural fervour and public participation on Friday.
Various socio-cultural organisations, educational institutions and citizens paid rich tributes to the cultural icon of Assam through music, dance and literary performances.
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The Kalaguru Samannay Kshetra in Tezpur witnessed a vibrant start to the day’s commemorative events with lighting of lamps and floral tributes led by Tezpur MLA Prithiraj Rabha and Sonitpur Deputy Commissioner Ankur Bharali.
The programme, organised by the Samannay Kshetra Management Committee, saw participation from members of Tezpur Sahitya Sabha, Baan Theatre, Srimanta Sankardeva Mandir, Sonitpur Shilpi Samaj, and several other organisations.
Students of the Prahlad Chandra Das Memorial Dance School, under principal Deepa Das, presented cultural performances, while MLA Prithiraj Rabha spoke on the life and contributions of Kalaguru and rendered his last composition “Ei Mor Xesh Gaan.”
DC Bharali also paid tribute with a rendition of the song “Porajanamar Xubha Lagonot.”
Singers Anwesha Kanchan Bora, Lakshmi Goswami, Bitopan Bora, Pritam Nath, Ajit Das, Rubi Kalita, Sanjushri Shivam and others presented songs and dances.
Noted contributors included retired teacher Mamita Bhattacharya, who recited a poem by Rabha, and woman farmer Mridula Saikia, who presented a sapling and a self-composed poem to Rabha’s son.
Senior journalist Manoj Bora gifted a rare framed photograph of Kalaguru Rabha taken in Tezpur.
Tezpur Sahitya Sabha held a tribute programme at its complex, led by president Dhrubajyoti Das and secretary Pallab Bhattacharya.
Former and current members including Ramesh Chandra Kalita, Dwijen Nath, Nabin Chandra Lahkar, Ajit Das, Pulin Bhattacharya and others participated in the event.
Various organisations such as Kalaguru Pragati Sanstha, Kalaguru Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Jyoti Bharati, Asomiya Bhasha Unnati Sadhini Sabha, Baan Theatre, Sadou Asam Lekhika Samaroh Samiti and several local committees conducted day-long programmes in honour of Kalaguru.
In the evening, the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam, and the Sonitpur District Administration jointly organised a cultural event at the DC’s conference hall.
The event was inaugurated by DC Ankur Bharali in the presence of additional DCs and senior officials. Performances were presented by Durgamayee Bora, Indrani Gogoi, Alimpon Choudhury, Pranab Lahkar, and dancers from Mayarani Bora’s troupe.
Seventeen artists received state government citations under the artist pension scheme, and 16 students who won various competitions organised by the district education department were also felicitated during the programme.
