Bhabendranath Saikia: A Brief Celebration of Life

Dr. Bhabendranath Saikia was born in Nagaon on the 20th of February, 1932, to Bidur Chandra Saikia and Champabala Saikia. Dr. Saikia graduated from Nagaon Government Boys High School in 1948. He received his Bachelor's degree from Cotton College in Science with Honors. He received his Ph.D. from London University in Nuclear Physics. Dr. Saikia started his career as a faculty member at Gauhati University in the Department of Physics. He had assumed several positions of prominence such as the Secretary of University Textbook Production Department, Chairman of the North East Frontier Railway Agency, Chairman of Jyoti Chitraban, and Chairman of Assam Film Limited. He was the founding Chief Editor of the Assamese weekly Prantik. He was the editor of the children's magazine "Xo~fura". Dr. Saikia was instrumental in the establishment of the Srimanta Sankardew Kalakhetra in Guwahati and served as its Vice President. Dr. Saikia's is one of Assam's most well-known authors and film-makers. He was a great observer and analyst of life with a lucid and simple pen. He enriched Assamese literature with several novels and collections of short stories. A list of published books include "Aatonkor Xexot" (1952), "Prohori" (1963), "Gohbor" (1969), "Brindaabon" (1969), "Xendur" (1970), "Bhabendranath Xoikiaar Srestho Golpo" (1973), "Srinkhol" (1975), "Torongo" (1979), "Ontorip" (1986), "Aakaax"(1988), "Ei Bondoro Aabeli" (1988), "Romyobhumi" (1991), "Moromor Deutaa" (1991), "Upokonotho" (1992), "Xaanto-xishto-hristo-pusto Mohaadusto" (1996), "Mohaadustor Dushtobuddhi" (1998), "Tumaalukor Bhaal Howk" (1998), "Xaandhyo Bhromon" (1998), "Golpo aaru Xilpo" (edited by Hridayananda Gogoi), "Jiwon Britto" (Auto-biography, 1999), "Jiwon Rekhaa" (Selected journal entries), and "Shoy Doxokor Godyo" (edited by Utpal Dutta). Dr. Saikia received the Publication Board Award (Assam Government) in 1973 for the "Xendur" collection of short stories. He received the Sahitya Academy Award (New Delhi) in 1976 for his "Srinkhol" collection of short stories. He received the Assam Valley Award in 1990 for his unparalleled contribution to modern Assamese literature. He received the 1998 Srimanta Sankaradew Award for his untiring and influential work in Assamese literature and culture. In 2001, Dr. Saikia was awarded the Padmasri by the Government of India. Dr. Saikia was also a bright star in the world of Asssamese film. The movies Dr. Saikia directed are: "Xondhyaaraag" (1977), "Onirbaan" (1981), "Ognisnaan" (1985), "Koolahol" (1988), "Xaarothi" (1991), "Aaborton" (1993), "Itihaax" (1996) and "Kaalxondhyaa". He received the Best Regional Film "Rojot Komol" Award in 1977, 1981, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1996 for his movies named above. For his movie "Ognisnaan", he received the Best Screenplay Writing (India) award in 1985. Dr. Saikia also produced a movie, "Dorpohoron" in Hindi based on a story by Rabindranath Tagore. He also directed a short movie for the Small Deposit Division using computer animation. Dr. Saikia also wrote several screenplays and directed several plays for the well-regarded Traveling Play companies of Assam. His plays are: "Raamdhenu", "Ondokup", "Bondixaal", "Monikut", "Nilokontho", "Omrit", "Jonmobhumi", "Dinobondhu", "Godhuli", "Gohbor", "Mohaaronyo", "Romyobhumi", "Xotaabdi", etc. For his enormous contribution to literature, film, theater, and play-writing, Dr. Saikia received the Komol Kumaari National (India) Award in 2000. --- Jugal Kalita, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Sources: 1. "Xonkhipto Oxomiyaa Biswokooxh", Edition 1, Santanu Kaushik Baruwa, Jyoti Prakasan, Panbzar, Guwahati, Assam 2002. 2. "Xotaadhik Oxomiyaa Xaahityik", Samin Kalita, Student Stores, Guwahati, 2001. The author apologizes for any errors in translations from Assamese, particularly of proper names of organizations and awards.