GUWAHAT, June 17 ? The whole of the State today woke up to the tunes of the melodious, meaningful and aesthetic songs of Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwalla, the doyen of modern Assamese culture, to pour its heart out in the endeavour of start his birth centenary celebrations as that of a national hero. Various organisations have chalked out different programmes to celebrate the occasion throughout the year. In the city, a human chain was formed at the Guwahati Club point, at 7-43 am, the time the Rupkonwar was born at a century back, under the auspices of the All Assam Jyotiprasad Agarwalla Birth Centenary Committee. The Rupkonwar Janma Satabarsha Udjapan Samiti, Anundoram Borooah road, took out a procession from infront of its office at 8 am.
The Jyotiprasad Janma Satabarsha Udjapan Samity took out a cultural procession from the Cotton College Kalaguru Bishnu Rava (KBR) Auditorium campus at 10 am. Noted litterateur Prof Nalinidhar Bhattacharyye flagged off the procession, which had thousands of people including several veteran artists like Sri Dilip Sarma, Smt Sudakshina Sarma, Sri Pranabiram Baruah, Sri Ramen Baruah, Sri Khagen Mahanta, renowned litterateur Dr Hiren Gohain, employees from different government departments, like the Railways, artists? troupes from various places and students from various academic institutions of the city. The Udjapan Samiti, later organised a cultural function at the KBR Auditorium. Dr Hiren Gohain inaugurated the function, which began with Jyotiprasad?s immortal composition Tore more alokare yatra ..., rendered by a troupe under the direction of noted singer Loknath Goswami. Artists Dilip Sarma, Sudakshina Sarma, Dr Lakshya-heera Das, Ramen Baruah, Pranabiram Baruah, Khagen Mahanta and Rituparna Sarma also took part in the chorus.
Sri Dilip Sarma also led a chorus troupe which rendered Kon kon ahicha aaik pujibale .. and Jilika Pakhire o? kon mora charai, while Sri Rituparna Sarma and Smt Sudakshina Sarma rendered Luitare paani jabi o? boi ... as a duet. The NF Railway employees? cultural troupe Simanta Jyoti, Pratidhvani Sanskritik Gosthi, the students of the TC Girls? HS School, Angels of God School, Holy Child School, ?YWCA school, Axom Jatiya Vidyalaya, Noonmati, Kaliram Baruah Girls? High School, Kamrup Academy H S School, Uzan Bazar Balika Vidyalaya, Maharshi Vidya Mandir, Guwahati Don Bosco School, Manik Chandra Baruah High School, Cotton College also presented songs, dances and musical fares on the occasion. Besides, members of the Karara Jyotiprasad Janmasatabarshiki Samiti, Kharghuli Chemania Chora, Jorhat Silpi Sangha and troupes representing various ethnic cultures of the State also presented various items in the function.
The Udjapan Samiti also organised an on-the-spot painting exhibition at the Anundoram Barooah Boy?s Hostel of Cotton College. Renowned artist Nilpawan Baruah inaugurated the exhibition. Altogether 30 artists and nine students of the Government College of Arts and Craft took part in the exhibition. Veteran freedom fighter Smt Puspalata Das received the Jyoti Sikha carried by the members of the All Assam Jyotiprasad Agarwalla birth Centenary Committee from Dibrugarh Tamolbari Tea Estate on cycle, at here Bhaskar Nagar residence here this afternoon. Noted poet Navakanta Barua inaugurated the Committee?s celebation formally at Latasil ground in the afternoon.
The Rupkonwar Jan-masatabarsha Udjapan Samiti organised a seminar on the contribution of Jyotiprasad in the field of art and culture at the Institrution of Engineers here this afternoon. Noted social scientist Dr Amalendu Guha conducted the seminar, which was addressed, among others, by noted film maker Padum Baruah. Describing Jyotiprasad as the leading architect of modern Assamese culture, Asam Sahitya Sabha president Homen Borgohain said the unique thing about him was that not only did he strive to unite the diverse elements of the State to shape a greater and composite Assamese society, but was also successful in projecting our culture before a worldwide audience. He was, in a way, like a bridge joining the Assamese culture with those of the outside world, he added. Borgohain was addressing a function ?Jyoti Chetana? organised by the Asam Sahitya Sabha at the Bhagabati Prasad Baruah Bhavan.
Inaugurating the proceedings, noted litterateur Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi termed Jyotiprasad as a visionary who could think far ahead of the age that he belonged to. A true artiste, he never ignored the cultures of the world outside while striving to promote the indigenous culture, she said. Assam Assembly Speaker Prithvi Majhi, while speaking as the chief guest, termed Jyotiprasad as the forerunner of Assamese modern songs. Noted lyricist Prof Tafajjul Ali presented an analytical evaluation of Jyotiprasad?s songs and said his lyrical achievements were yet to be surpassed. A major attraction of the function was the presentation of Jyoti Sangeet by 36 prominent singers of the State which included Anima Choudhury, Queen Das, Namita Bhattacharya, Kula Baruah, Jyotirmoy Kakoti, etc.
Synchronising with the centenary celebrations, an ultra-modern sound recording studio and archive was inaugurated by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra this morning. Gogoi said the archive will go a long way in preserving the treasure of age-old traditional music of the State. Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia, Prof Tafajjul Ali, Cultural Affairs Minister Pronoti Phukan and Cultural Affairs Commissioner and Secretary JP Saikia also spoke. It may be mentioned that the studio has been built with the help of Rs 5 lakh donated by Dr Usha Bora in the memory of her husband Dr Purna Chandra Bora, noted educationist. The Asom Natya Samiti also organised a cultural evening at the Kumar Bhaskar Natya Mandir to mark the occasion.
Noted lyricist Prof Tafajjul Ali presented an analytical evaluation achievements were yet to be surpassed. A major attraction of the function was the presentation of Jyoti Sangeet by 36 prominent singers of the State which included Anima Choudhury, Queen Das, Namita Bhattacharya, Kula Baruah, Jyotirmoy Kakoti, etc. Synchronising with the centenary celebrations, an ultra-modern sound recording studio and archive was inaugurated by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra this morning. Gogoi said the archive will go a long way in preserving the treasure of age-old traditional Music of the State. Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia, Prof Tafajjul Ali, Cultural Affairs Minister Pronoti Phukan and Cultural Affairs Commissioner and Secretary JP Saikia also spoke.