3 months ago
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GUWAHATI
The originative works of Bhupen Hazarika and Navakanta Barua, 2 of Assam’s tallest taste and literate figures, volition beryllium showcased during a poetic lawsuit connected February 13 astatine the historical West Bengal assemblage founded by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
The Assam-based Raul Kaushik Nath Foundation, connected Sunday (February 8, 2026), announced the docket of the sixth variation of ‘Monkobita’ astatine Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan. Held each February, Monkobita is an inaugural of the instauration to observe the works of Assam’s legendary poets.
“This variation of Monkobita volition honour 2 iconic personalities whose creations inactive interaction and mould Assamese lit and music: Navakanta Barua and Bhupen Hazarika. Besides celebrating their singular creator legacies, Monkobita 2026 holds peculiar value arsenic it commemorates the 100th commencement day of some taste figures, celebrating the enduring interaction of their contributions to literature, music, and the corporate imagination,” a connection from the instauration read.
The Santiniketan lawsuit is being organised successful concern with Visva-Bharati University’s Department of Assamese and the Bhupen Hazarika Cultural Trust.
Hazarika, affectionately called Sudhakantha (the nectar-voiced) and celebrated arsenic the Bard of Brahmaputra, was a multifaceted genius—singer, composer, filmmaker, lyricist, poet, and visionary — whose enactment transcended determination boundaries and tackled cosmopolitan issues of humanity, unity, and societal justice.
Although rooted successful Assam, his creator travel forged important and lasting connections with West Bengal and its taste landscape. Starting successful the 1950s, Kolkata became a important creator centre for him; helium lived and worked successful that metropolis for galore years, gathering relationships with Bengali artistes and enriching the region’s lively euphony scene.
The Bengal transportation extended beyond specified geography; it symbolised a blending of taste perspectives that enriched his creator look and enabled his connection of cosmopolitan unity to widen good beyond.
A poet, novelist, and writer of children’s literature, endearingly known arsenic Ekhud Kokaideu (the small large brother), Barua remains a salient fig successful modern Assamese literature. He was 1 of the astir respected Tagore scholars successful Assam.
In 1943, Barua began a fulfilling world travel astatine the Visva-Bharati University, wherever helium pursued his studies earlier obtaining a B.A. Honours successful English successful 1947. His tenure astatine Santiniketan broadened his intelligence horizons and immersed him successful the fusion of taste tone and literate traditions advocated by Tagore, which profoundly influenced his position arsenic a writer and humanist.
This year’s Monkobita volition see 2 components — an world conception and a taste segment. The world league volition instrumentality spot astatine the university’s Bhasha Bhavana, portion the taste lawsuit volition beryllium held astatine the Lipika Auditorium, featuring a scope of programmes including poesy recitation, songs, and dances.
Monkobita is curated by Bipuljyoti Saikia and Nayan Prasad, successful relation with the trustees of Raul Kaushik Nath Foundation, who see histrion Adil Hussain, movie professional Utpal Borpujari, media property Kaushik Nath, and entrepreneur Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.
Apart from Monkobita, the instauration organises Mongeet, Montulika, Monmrittika (residential workshops for budding musicians, painters, and sculptors), Aharar Akholi (a store focusing connected accepted cuisine), and Xotphool (a summertime euphony store for schoolhouse children) each year.
