Guwahati: The creations of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika and Nabakanta Barua, although primarily Assamese, have inspired and enriched every enthusiast of Indian languages, literature, and culture. This observation was made by Professor Mrinal Kanti Mandal, the Head of Bhasha Bhavana at Visva-Bharati University, established by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. He delivered this remark during the inauguration of a discussion forum, which is part of Monokobita 2026, organised by the Raul Kaushik Nath Foundation.
The seminar titled “A Commemorative Seminar on the Life, Literature and Cultural Contributions of Dr Bhupen Hazarika and Navakanta Barua” was conducted by Professor Ranjit Kumar Dev Goswami of the Srimanta Sankardeva Chair, Visva-Bharati University.
Participating in the discussion, Professor Bibhash Choudhury of the English Department of Gauhati University, Professor Shreela Basu of the Bengali Department of Visva-Bharati, and eminent critic and Professor Arindam Borkotoki of the English Department of Anandaram Dhekial Phookan College, Nagaon, shed light on the literary works, life, and philosophy of Dr. Hazarika and Nabakanta Barua.
“Dr. Hazarika’s songs find their foundation in humanism, nature, and a profound sense of social consciousness and brotherhood. Nabakanta Barua, a pivotal figure in Assamese literature, found his creations inspired by the ideals of universal humanity – ideals he imbibed as a student at Santiniketan, learning from the poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore,” Professor Mandal articulated this in his address.
In his speech, Professor Choudhury presented a comparative analysis of Nabakanta Barua’s poems with those of several distinguished poets of world literature, such as T.S. Eliot, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Walt Whitman.
Professor Sangita Saikia of the Assamese Department, Visva-Bharati, delivered the welcome address at the seminar, and Bipuljyoti Saikia offered the vote of thanks on behalf of the Raul Kaushik Nath Foundation. This year’s ‘Monokobita’ is being organised with partial financial support from HDFC Bank and Numaligarh Refinery Limited.
In collaboration with the Assamese Department and Bhasha Bhavana of Visva-Bharati and the Bhupen Hazarika Cultural Trust, the Raul Kaushik Nath Foundation organised this year’s ‘Monokobita’ in Santiniketan.
As part of the ‘Monokobita’ initiative, a captivating cultural programme featuring the songs and poems of Dr. Hazarika and Nabakanta Barua was organised in the evening at the Lipika Auditorium of Visva-Bharati. Joy Barua, Kalyan Baruah, Rupam Bhuyan, Arupjyoti Baruah, actor Tapan Das, Sattriya artiste Anita Sharma, Upashana Mahanta Gogoi, Banashree Bailung, and Manisha Majumdar and Pooja Singh from Bengal participated in this event. Priyanka Devi Mondal and Krishna Tamuli, students of Visva-Bharati, also presented songs and dances. Sattyakee D’com Bhuyan and Mintu Baruah anchored the discussion session and cultural programme.
Kaushik Nath, Krishna Barooah, Utpal Borpujari, and Anna Kaushik were present at this event on behalf of the Raul Kaushik Nath Foundation. It is noteworthy that Nayan Prasad and Bipuljyoti Saikia were the organisers of ‘Monokobita’.
