GUWAHATI, July 14 ? Assam?s undisputed Samrat of modern poetry Padma Bhusan Navakanta Barua, who reigned over the State?s realm of poetry with uninterrupted dominance for over five decades, is no more. He breathed his last all of a sudden around 1 pm today at his Silpukhuri residence here while attending to some teachers from Mangaldoi College. He was 76. According to family sources, the poet had arranged for a family dinner with special hilsa dishes on the occasion of his youngest daughter Late Jhunuka Acharya?s marriage anniversary, at his residence. His eldest daughter Ainu and sons-in-law Udayan Hazarika and Pradeep Acharya and some relatives and family friends were invited to the dinner.
Junuka died on November 28, 1999 and the memory of that incident left an indelible scar in the heart of poet Navakanta, who is known as Akhud Kakaideo by the children of the State for his unparalleled contribution to children?s literature. The feast was abandoned following the sudden tragic development concerning the poet and the festive mood immediately transformed into that of overwhelming grief. Though immediately rushed to the Down Town Hospital, the poet was declared brought dead by the Hospital doctors. The Mangaldoi College teachers came to invite Sri Barua to deliver a lecture on Sankaradeva and folk-tradition on the occasion of their College golden jubilee celebration on September 10 next. He leaves behind his wife Bina Barua, daughter Ainu, and a host of relatives. His last rites were performed at the Navagraha crematorium here this evening.
Noted poet Hiren Bhattacharyya described the demise of Navakanta Barua as the exit of a total poet. Sri Barua was a total poet and his poetic approved encompassed all aspects of life, said Sri Bhattacharyya. Sahitya Akademi Fellow Nilamoni Phukan described the loss as an irreparable one in the sense that such a colourful, cultured personality is a rarity in Assam. Reminiscing his long 50 years? association with Sri Barua, Sri Phukan said that Sri Barua was ?a source of inspiration? for him. Eminent poet and lyricist Keshab Mahanta, who was a close friend of Sri Barua, said that with the demise of Sri Barua he had become vulnerable to loneliness. ?Navakanta brought new life to Assamese poetry. He was a poet with a touch of originality. His development is also remarkable. His works and life are inseparable,? Sri Mahanta said.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi described Sri Barua as a litterateur of such a high order for which the State could be proud of. The State will always remember Sri Barua for his contribution to the world of literature, Sri Gogoi said. Born to Late Nilakanta Barua and Late Swarnalata Barua at Guwahati on December 20, 1926, Sri Barua, the youngest brother of poet-turned politician Late Devakanta Barua, joined the Cotton College in 1954 after doing his MA in English from the Aligarh Muslim University. He married Smt Bina Das in 1957. Sri Barua, who also served as the Head of the Department of English at Cotton College, retired from the same College as its Vice-Principal in 1984. He received the Publication Board, Assam Award in 1974 for his collection of poems Mor Aru Prithivir, the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Kakadeutar Har in 1975, the Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1980 for his translation of Puskin?s Wonded Swan as Ahata Moral, the Padmabhusan in 1976. He was honoured so the distinguished litterateur at the third Biswa Hindi Parishad conference at Delhi in 1983. He presided over the poetry session of the 1968 Dhing session of the Asam Sahita Sabha. In 1990, he became the president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha and during the same year, he also became the chairman of third convention of the All India Writers? Association held at Calcutta.
The Magor Education Trust present him the Assam Valley Literary Award in 1993 for his contribution to the world of literature. In 1996, the Madhya Pradesh Government honoured him with the title of a national poet. Dibrugarh University honoured him with an honorary D Lit degree in 1997. The next year he was honoured with an emeritus fellowship by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry. Besides, the Sahitya Akademi nominated him as one of its members, the same year. The Kamal Kumari foundation honoured him with the Kamal Kumari Award in 1998. He has a number of poetry titles to his credit. Of which, mention may be made of He Aranya, He Mahanagar (1951), Jyoti Aru Keitaman Sketch (1960), Samrat (1962), Mor Aru Prithivir (1973). His latest poetry title was Dalangat Tamighora (2000). His novels include Kapilipariya Sadhu (1953), Kakadeutar Har (1973), Garama Kunwari (1980), Manuh Ataibor Dweep (1980), Apadartha (1981) and Patachara. He translated in total 13 titles from English, Bengalee and Hindi into Assamese and the tribal lullabies of the State into English. He wrote eight books for the children, including Akharar Jhakhala (1958), Shiyalee Palegoi Ratanpur (1956), Hat Ukare Hu (1960), Kishore Ramayan (1987), Kishore Upanishad and Umala Gharar Puthi.
Sir Barua also authored four plays ? Eti Geetar Janma Hal, Sukh Jatak, Abhirupananda, Patachara. He also edited children magazines ? Jonbai (1950-62) and Pohar (1969-70) and the literary-cultural magazine Shiralu (1983-85). His Kapilipariya Sadhu was translated into 14 languages by the National Book Trust (NBT). The same Central Government publication firm translated his Kakadeutar Har into Hindi, Malayalam and Oriya. His poems were translated into many languages, including Bengali, Oriya, Russian and Spanish. Sri Barua also toured many countries in connection with literary conferences etc. On receiving the news of his demise the entire city was shocked this afternoon and mourners thronged his residence. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his Ministerial colleagues Dr (Smt) Hemaprova Saikia and Sri Pankaj Bora and all eminent personalities of the city paid visit to Sri Barua?s residence to pay their last respect to this doyen of modern Assamese poetry. His cremation was also largely attended. The Asam Sahitya Sabha, the Guwahati Press Club, the Journalists? Union of Assam, All Guwahati Students? Union, the Yuvateertha, the Asom Gana Parishad, the State committee of the SFI and Pub-Silpukhuri Durga Puja Committee have also mourned the death of Sri Barua.