HT Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, Sept 1: As part of the lecture series organised by the Dr Birendra Kumar Bhattacharjya Birth Centenary Celebration Committee, Rajib Bora, noted poet and associate professor at Nazira College, delivered a lecture on the ‘Progressive Streak in Dr Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya and Nalinidhar Bhattacharya’s Poems’ at the Aikya Lecture Hall on Sunday.
Rajib Bora said that both poets were brothers and shared an important common factor in their poems: a deep love for the land and people of Assam. He noted that time, family legacy, and the social environment of their era contributed to the emergence of geniuses like the two poets in the same family. “The continuity and creativity of thought keep their poems relevant in changing times,” he said.
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Bora added that Nalinidhar Bhattacharya, who died at 94, continued to inspire the younger generation until his last days. It is exceptional that the eras in Assamese literature were named after certain magazines like Ramdhenu, Jonaki, Abahan, Jayanti, and Posuwa, and the Bhattacharyas belonged to the Ramdhenu Yug (1952 to 1963).
Bora further stated that the future of all humanity was the central concern of both poets. It was natural that Bishnu Rabha became a central character in Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya’s popular poem ‘Bishnu Rabha Etiya Kiman Rati’. Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya’s poems reflected the pathetic condition of the tea garden workers of his time. Both poets rose above the petty propagandist socialistic wave that affected the poems of many others, expressing instead the inner conflicts, anger, and pain of genuine human suffering.
Rajib Bora remarked that a flame of fire ran through all of Nalinidhar Bhattacharya’s poems. He wished to see the indomitable spirit that would lead to a bright future for humanity in the 21st century. Unfortunately, Nalinidhar Bhattacharya did not receive the recognition he deserved as a poet in Assam. His name was not even mentioned in the three important Assamese poetry collections edited by Nilmoni Phukan, Mahendra Bora, and Maheswar Neog. However, he never cared about being overlooked and continued writing great poems like ‘Nani Gharat Asane’.
Attending the function as the chief guest, Dr Rajiv Bhattacharjya, son of poet Nalinidhar Bhattacharjya, said that both Bhattacharjya brothers had a propensity to go beyond their narrow surroundings and reach out to the wider world, a trait reflected in their writings. They achieved fame despite the distress of poverty. Bhattacharjya also sang two songs written by his father.
Juga Gogoi, former president of Sivasagar Jila Sahitya Sabha, delivered the welcome address, and Ranjit Phukan delivered the vote of thanks. Bibhuti Chetia, Ranjit Phukan, secretary of the Birth Centenary Committee, anchored the event. Pratap Chandra Dutta and Hem Baruah lit the ceremonial lamps. The Sundaram Kabya Kanan School team, Pallovi Phukan, Mandip Gogoi, and Jamtumoni Saikia, recited poems written by Birendra Kumar Bhattacharjya. Anindita Baruah, Sruti Viswakarma, and Samrina Sadique sang songs written by Birendra Kumar Bhattacharjya.
