tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26836068117987411392024-03-13T19:43:07.380-07:00Assam Ratna Prof Bhabananda Deka | an Assamese writerWriter, Economist, Playwright and a pioneer in writing of books on Economics in AssameseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683606811798741139.post-10721446639633178532018-10-17T01:44:00.002-07:002018-10-17T01:44:53.289-07:00Pragjyotish College Guwahati organizes the 8th Bhabananda Deka Memorial Lecture<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs73ctnRUNHnEeg8yKb7j1Sc80ygKnp6-_H0LCf6UqaAifm4BJLyBktTKDwBz_e1dWXxzDj9O_nGDkV4LQUclsv-aUvhR7JGmlhm-BaBkso9iaCGFzFOq3DI5ajwetSPRhUDSrDYXtS3bW/s1600/2018-10-17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="799" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs73ctnRUNHnEeg8yKb7j1Sc80ygKnp6-_H0LCf6UqaAifm4BJLyBktTKDwBz_e1dWXxzDj9O_nGDkV4LQUclsv-aUvhR7JGmlhm-BaBkso9iaCGFzFOq3DI5ajwetSPRhUDSrDYXtS3bW/s1640/2018-10-17.png" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prof. Bhabananda Deka</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Economic Planning Forum, Department of Economics, Pragjyotish College Guwahati organized the <b>8th Bhabananda Deka Memorial Lecture</b> on 22rd April, 2017 at 11 A.M. at Pragjyotish College Conference Hall, Assam. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Joydeep Baruah, Associate Professor, Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social change & Development on the topic of “Understanding the connection between Diversity and Human Development: The Case of Assam”.<br />
<br />
Diversity is linked to development. So a differentiated approach rather than a homogeneous one is very much required for proper development of a state like Assam which is marked by enormous diversity. This was the observation made by promising economist Dr Joydeep Baruah, in the lecture. <br />
<br />
Dr Baruah, who was speaking on the topic ‘Understanding the Connection between Diversity and Human Development: The Case of Assam’, maintained that Assam has profound spatial, geographic, demographic and institutional diversities. Therefore, in understanding and evaluating different development outcomes here, attention is to be paid to all such diversities.<br />
<br />
Dr Baruah, closely associated with the preparation of the Second Assam Human Development Report as the Principal Coordinator and Lead Author, stressed that we need to understand various diversities and specificities of the State if we wish to improve the overall condition of human development in the State.<br />
<br />
“Development means capability enhancement and today there is a paradigm shift from commodity and income to capability, that is, human development. Development needs to be people-centric,” he said, recalling the capability framework pioneered by Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen.<br />
<br />
Besides the faculty members of the economics department and students of economics major, the lecture was attended by faculty members of other departments of the college as well. It was followed by a question-answer session.<br />
<br />
Earlier, Dr Ira Das introduced the guest speaker and later Dr Namita Das, offered the vote of thanks.<br />
<br />
Dr Paramananda Rajbongshi, Principal in-charge, Pragjyotish College, also addressed the meeting and Atanu Kumar Chowdhury, Head of the Department of Economics, presided over the same.<br />
<br />
The meeting also saw the ceremonious release of a report on the socio-economic survey of the historic Jonbeel Mela by Dr Joydeep Baruah. The report was compiled by the economics major students of the college. The survey was conducted in January 2017.<br />
<br />
</div>OK North Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664207612723775398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683606811798741139.post-53287488890049497372016-08-09T23:41:00.000-07:002016-08-09T23:41:07.443-07:00Prof. Bhabananda Deka 7th Memorial Lecture<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The '7th Bhabananda Deka Memorial Lecture' was held at the premises of Prajyotish College, Guwahati on April 26, 2016. The featured speaker was Dr. Arup Jyoti Choudhury, Dean Academic of KKHSOU, Guwahati who spoke on the subject "Evolving a philosophy of development for North East India".<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkGhyuRU_pOdYoJcyWm4oWSQk62ojTltoHrj01OvSkS5mNb4BhYiabmbe8WeqoWJpZgb6sY7FqzaRJh_2fP4nzjZrik1S3T3CTjoWLhO8rRso7QWHPIfaBU-G_dZWWgWLT5667GvSmN9L/s1600/2016+0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkGhyuRU_pOdYoJcyWm4oWSQk62ojTltoHrj01OvSkS5mNb4BhYiabmbe8WeqoWJpZgb6sY7FqzaRJh_2fP4nzjZrik1S3T3CTjoWLhO8rRso7QWHPIfaBU-G_dZWWgWLT5667GvSmN9L/s640/2016+0.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7th Bhabananda Deka Memorial Lecture (April 26, 2016)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYm4xIfD70EdhOdYq05GalKAyzjNL-ypnxZH0TSHCm6tJ67iuURExiX268DfaqMF1EC3WtL1JdnvBGJ1k-5hBV4ppH5RW7JVbsx3OHHAwTrlOFAUS46i1Y28ZX_Uyh_s6Q_-75oP8yAOLM/s1600/2016+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYm4xIfD70EdhOdYq05GalKAyzjNL-ypnxZH0TSHCm6tJ67iuURExiX268DfaqMF1EC3WtL1JdnvBGJ1k-5hBV4ppH5RW7JVbsx3OHHAwTrlOFAUS46i1Y28ZX_Uyh_s6Q_-75oP8yAOLM/s640/2016+a.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Paramananda Rajbongshi at <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">7th Bhabananda Deka Memorial Lecture (April 26, 2016)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3eXRSaC9sdPsoM4hdEf5eQsxVglAmcdKLmXS_r3KB-NmX49M7o_p0R72i5uGNCnmWSYY5Wqf5DWjJNdFrAZSjf281uvf1bH3qYMd2ubg8uPz_1MUQQuXEe3nYXbqNBMNkvMRLOcf6zYp/s1600/2016+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3eXRSaC9sdPsoM4hdEf5eQsxVglAmcdKLmXS_r3KB-NmX49M7o_p0R72i5uGNCnmWSYY5Wqf5DWjJNdFrAZSjf281uvf1bH3qYMd2ubg8uPz_1MUQQuXEe3nYXbqNBMNkvMRLOcf6zYp/s640/2016+b.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Arup Jyoti Choudhury at <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">7th Bhabananda Deka Memorial Lecture (April 26, 2016)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfHqjEASzmNA25JxsZG-L_Z_WN4MmEHZmYRLgcQYDDc3FM4kCwnavBBsxzlpEvdkfNrGXkcOju4RzepYyx_OwpBGWWxCxWIBTY0WIT58gCaecdQ_cSa1yIfTyjD5Y-k4nwS0KylYM6U6W/s1600/2016+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfHqjEASzmNA25JxsZG-L_Z_WN4MmEHZmYRLgcQYDDc3FM4kCwnavBBsxzlpEvdkfNrGXkcOju4RzepYyx_OwpBGWWxCxWIBTY0WIT58gCaecdQ_cSa1yIfTyjD5Y-k4nwS0KylYM6U6W/s640/2016+c.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spectators at <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">7th Bhabananda Deka Memorial Lecture (April 26, 2016)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BKkUNiOSXFgA5iU_k9WXcSZhoqmIty-tHT9wfZzc_7hIhfWhqLmdioFrYnx4pC6RP3rYcwQjqsis1uDIu6G8L3H366BMzKZ2ICEq3ZefZjIHXWcIeihsClMQUqT15aoNbr7SRqdsaMub/s1600/2016+d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BKkUNiOSXFgA5iU_k9WXcSZhoqmIty-tHT9wfZzc_7hIhfWhqLmdioFrYnx4pC6RP3rYcwQjqsis1uDIu6G8L3H366BMzKZ2ICEq3ZefZjIHXWcIeihsClMQUqT15aoNbr7SRqdsaMub/s640/2016+d.jpg" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spectators at <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">7th Bhabananda Deka Memorial Lecture (April 26, 2016)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div>OK North Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664207612723775398noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683606811798741139.post-27426657330544300022015-04-29T01:28:00.000-07:002015-04-29T01:28:17.945-07:006th Bhabananda Deka Memorial Lecture - Niti Aayog, Co-operative Federalism and the Economy of Assam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVWW8L-zE1EyY_b5jzC4IyZnFYMogWxCVLOTVeMfwYdRZiPlv0i9h1FVMA5c9Tmljmq2bG_ileFEXwkJu_QHI9HX0s3cqFJ4mVH6QFEt1usivhp2YAWnx43CuotPnBmW0GlWwPucGJJEw/s1600/Bhabananda+Deka+Memorial+Lecture+-+April+28,+2015+Assam+Tribune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVWW8L-zE1EyY_b5jzC4IyZnFYMogWxCVLOTVeMfwYdRZiPlv0i9h1FVMA5c9Tmljmq2bG_ileFEXwkJu_QHI9HX0s3cqFJ4mVH6QFEt1usivhp2YAWnx43CuotPnBmW0GlWwPucGJJEw/s1600/Bhabananda+Deka+Memorial+Lecture+-+April+28,+2015+Assam+Tribune.jpg" width="100%" /></a></div><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Lecture on Niti Aayog delivered | The Assam Tribune</h2><br />
GUWAHATI, April 27, 2015 — The Niti Aayog emphasises co-operative federalism. It wants more funds to be routed through the Finance Commission. A constitutionally designated body rather than centrally sponsored schemes (CSS). This was the observation made by economist and former Principal of Cotton College Prof Dilip Kumar Barua. He was delivering the 6th Bhabananda Deka Memorial Lecture at Pragjyotish College here on April 25, 2015. <br />
<br />
The lecture titled 'Niti Aayog, Co-operative Federalism and the Economy of Assam was organised by the Department of Economics of the College under the aegis of its Economic Planning Forum. said a press release. Prof Barua stated further that the Niti Aayog. which replaced the 65-year old Planning Commission from January 1, 2015, is for indicative planning with no centrally determined targets but only general goals and objectives as indicative of general goals of planning through programmes like <br />
Swach Bharat, Make in India, Skill India, Inclusive Growth. etc. <br />
<br />
Prof Barua began his lecture with a simile, moments after the devastating earthquake struck northern South Asia hitting Nepal the hardest, that compared the far-reaching changes in the India's planning structure and process as akin to the 'earthquake economics' of the 1930s epoch-making changes brought about by legendary economist John Maynard Keynes in his theory providing solution to the Great Depression which had afflict-ed the western economies then. <br />
<br />
"Look East and Act East policies should not make Assam and the North-East mere bystanders and they should take advantage of the new regime's policy of enhancing financial autonomy of the states. States require good governance and work culture for success in the new paradigm of healthy cooper-ation and not political con-frontation with the centre," concluded Prof Barua.<br />
<br />
Prior to the start of the lecture, floral tributes were paid on the photo of Late Bhabananda Deka, Dr Ram Chandra Deka, former Vice-Principal, Pragjyotish College and former Principal ADP College, Nagaon spoke a few words on the rich qualities of Late Deka. Late Deka was the third Principal of Pragjyotish College. <br />
<br />
Atanu Kumar Chow-dhury. Head of the Econom-ics Department. Presided over the meeting and gave the welcome address.. Pallabi Sarmah, Principal in-charge briefly addressed the gathering. Dr Ira Das of the Economics Department introduced Prof Barua. Later, Prof Dilip Kumar Banta released a report on the socio-economic survey conducted by the department under the aegis of the Economic Planning Forum on the Clay Artisans of Salmon village of Majuli in Jorhat District in the first week of March. Anirban Das of 6th Semester made a power point presentation on the survey and the report, said the press release.<br />
<br />
</div>OK North Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664207612723775398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683606811798741139.post-24128470459779884262014-04-14T03:49:00.000-07:002014-04-14T03:50:58.014-07:00Bhabananda Deka: The Pioneering Assamese Economist–Scholar–Litterateur–Educationist | The Sentinel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: #999999;"><i>- by Sneha Hazarika | </i>Melange, The Sentinel | April 13, 2014</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig13UBsEqQJPJRrrj7oW_QykmOPo7dsKT20f4hW6HnioVank3eTp9BRUr78FF3V_M8fACL_1Dim0Ti2-Pabw9v7J64wLIL7HGyVve74oURdkjS1ijQIpcICigSuhxHB4NMCBOYjDTtpV59/s1600/bhabananda+deka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig13UBsEqQJPJRrrj7oW_QykmOPo7dsKT20f4hW6HnioVank3eTp9BRUr78FF3V_M8fACL_1Dim0Ti2-Pabw9v7J64wLIL7HGyVve74oURdkjS1ijQIpcICigSuhxHB4NMCBOYjDTtpV59/s1600/bhabananda+deka.jpg" height="320" width="204" /></a>To all avid research scholars and students of Assam Economics, Principal Bhabananda Deka is a very familiar name as the pioneer of study and research on Assam’s Economy in its local language. For the uninitiated, we must add that he has a total of one hundred and fourteen books on topics ranging from Assam economics, economic theory, heritage and tribal culture of Assam and Northeast, Education, Vaisnavite literary study, Philosophy, Religion, Education and Political Science which had already attained iconic status among the Assamese intelligentsia.<br />
<br />
Yes, this legendary personality was the first Assamese Author on Assam Economics and Civics, as well as a renowned Litterateur, Research Scholar and Educationist. He had been rightfully bestowed with the title of ‘Asom Ratna’ (‘Jewel of Assam’) by his admirers and senior intellectuals of Assam as he had served the cause of Assam and Assamese all throughout his outstanding life<br />
<br />
Principal Bhabananda Deka was widely known and acclaimed as a teacher of outstanding character and merit, and apart from his brief stint in the Indian bureaucracy for the cause of his home state and its literary mission, he spent his life in establishing a very high standard in education delivery system and bringing the higher education closer to the underprivileged rural folks all over the state of Assam. It is really incredible that he is the only Assamese Educationist to have taken up the challenges of setting up four higher institutions of learning in far–flung areas of Assam covering almost the entire Brahmaputra valley right from upper Assam to lower Assam.<br />
<br />
His authority and command over Assam economics is a universally accepted fact, and scholars, students and governmental policy makers hugely benefited from his in–depth extensive research on this vital topic for almost five decades. It is also significant that he published many research papers on phase wise economic study of Assam extending up to five centuries from the time of Srimanta Sankardev, encompassing periods of 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries– both pre and post–independence phases. A historic compilation of some of these research papers was published for the very first time in book format on the occasion of golden jubilee of Assam economics study.<br />
<br />
He also authored the first comprehensive Assamese Dictionary on Economics and Commerce. Many of his books on Economic Theory, Assam Economics and Indian Economics had been widely recommended as text–books by almost all Universities and Boards of North East India besides Assam. However, his enviable success as economist and educationist could not overshadow his zeal in studying other topics of interest, as reflected by his innumerable research papers and articles published in leading newspapers, periodicals and research journals, besides his wide ranging selection of books.<br />
<br />
His writings started appearing from early 1960’s in the legendary Assamese literary journals of mid–twentieth century like ‘Awahan’ and ‘Ramdhenu’, and by the end of that decade his was widely accepted as one of the prominent litterateurs of the famous ‘Ramdhenu–Awahan Era’. His traditional upbringing in the frugal monastic tradition drew his attention towards the unexplored vast reservoir of Vaisnavite literature left behind by middle age Saints and social reformers like Srimanta Sankardev, Madhabdev, Damodardev, Haridev and Bhattadev. He devoted his entire life in bringing these gems of Assamese literature as well as the philosophies propounded by these saints to the domain of modern literary study. In the process, he not only authored several biographies on these saints in English and Assamese, but accomplished the monumental task of translating the timeless Assamese literary classic ‘Kirtan Ghosa’ of Srimanta Sankardev into simple and lucid English prose for the benefit of the modern English readers of the world.<br />
<br />
Followers of his work remember, Principal Deka as a true spirited leading light on the intellectual horizon in India of the 20th century who had enriched the society with his wisdom, path–breaking research, and historic achievements on the social front to such an extent that his contributions and personality will continue to inspire all the future generations to work for the development of their motherland and its people. Principal Bhabananda Deka had dreamt of a pure, peaceful, developing greater Assam, and all his research and literary works reflect that insurmountable love for his motherland.<br />
<br />
It is worth remembering everyday the memorable services rendered by Principal Bhabananda Deka for the cause of propagating the glory and effect of the Assamese language and literature everywhere. He was also the first and only Assamese Senior Class–I Officer to be appointed to head the newly constituted Assamese Department of the Indian Constitutional body ‘Union Public Service Commission’ (UPSC) in the late 1960s, in New Delhi. During his sojourn in this highly coveted chair in the capital, he realized that Assamese language and literature had not found its rightful place in the Indian capital and its intelligentsia. He vowed to correct this injustice during his short tenure in Delhi and he made up his mind to firmly establish Assamese as a leading Indian language in the capital city. The obvious outcome of this historic oath was in the form of introduction of the Assamese subject and Assamese medium in the all India level competitive examinations conducted by the UPSC to select the top bureaucrats to serve Indian government, which had benefited many generations of Assamese civil service aspirants in the following decades.<br />
<br />
Principal Bhabananda Deka was also instrumental in setting up of the Assamese Department within the Modern Indian Languages Department in the Delhi University in 1969, and also paved the way of establishing the highly prestigious Srimanta Sankardev Chair in that Department almost four decades later. In this manner, Principal Bhabananda Deka carried on serving his people and he did it remarkably without the privilege of public attention or publicity, by convincing two eminent organizations like the UPSC as well as Delhi University about the heritage and long literary tradition of Assamese language and its literature.<br />
<br />
He also undertook an extensive study of several ethnic groups and communities and their dying culture in the Brahmaputra valley and surrounding hills in Assam and Meghalaya. This long and tedious unheralded research yielded in several Research Papers and books on Hajong, Karbi and Lalung or Tiwa communities, bringing the unique tradition and heritage of these tribes to the forefront of intellectual attention. His comparative study of different religions and philosophies of the religions of all around the world and its outcome in the shape of many research papers and books also played a crucial role in asserting communal harmony and social amity amidst different religious groups in these trying times of religious intolerance that has engulfed the whole world of the modern times.<br />
<br />
He was also instrumental in the production of first one hour documentary film on the life and works of Srimanta Sankardev in 1996 which was subsequently screened in the USA, Canada and other countries, and is currently preserved in the National Museum of Switzerland.<br />
<br />
His masterly works for the growth and development of Assamese literature had earned him literary honours and recognitions in the shape of presidentship of the undivided Kamrup District Sahitya Sabha, the premier literary body in Assam. The Assam government also recognized his vast literary contributions by bestowing upon him the Literary Award on the occasion of the golden Jubilee of Indian Independence on 15 August 1997. Subsequently, the state government also conferred upon him the Literary Pension as a leading litterateur of the state in the year 2004.<br />
<br />
During his lifetime, a novel ‘Bhaba Ananda Sambad’ was authored upon his illustrious life, which managed to win an award by the Assam Publication Board. A full–length film ‘Portrait of a Pioneer Assamese’ on his life and works is also currently under production, and would celebrate his glorious life till the year 2006.</div>OK North Easthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664207612723775398noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683606811798741139.post-82240611464721720532009-04-22T20:19:00.001-07:002011-01-04T22:35:29.114-08:00Prof. Bhabananda Deka<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GW3a-1KrH5QC478cgflXpoqQOK5WoxDB1k1TaX2T-bBFjKKYR0IsQzqdIrkQBp4exNALTVuPyTC0v6phF4ZqYr5CSqutLPntyiLNp3Oa4k3KMGz8SkRNkHgSHbI41DjBevwDMxkC388/s1600-h/25072008(002).jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="229" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256476538092186498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GW3a-1KrH5QC478cgflXpoqQOK5WoxDB1k1TaX2T-bBFjKKYR0IsQzqdIrkQBp4exNALTVuPyTC0v6phF4ZqYr5CSqutLPntyiLNp3Oa4k3KMGz8SkRNkHgSHbI41DjBevwDMxkC388/s320/25072008(002).jpg" style="float: left; height: 163px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 173px;" width="267" /></a><b><span style="font-size: 180%;">P</span></b>rof Bhabananda Deka is a multi-faceted writer of more than three hundred Books, Text Books on Economics and Political Science and Articles from <a href="http://jim.pank.googlepages.com/musicofassam" target="blank_" title="Assam"><span style="color: #000099;">Assam</span></a>, a state in the <a href="http://jim.pank.googlepages.com/musicofassam" target="blank_" title="North-East India"><span style="color: #000099;">north-eastern</span></a><span style="color: #000099;"> </span>part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" target="blank_" title="India"><span style="color: #000099;">India</span></a>. As a <b>writer</b>, he was affluent in <b>Assamese literature</b> and was known for his crisp flawless diction in both Assamese and English language. His prose and parables touch on a wide range of themes ranging from the social to cultural and political commentary. He was an <b>Economist</b> and was one of the first Assamese to form <b>Asomiya Sahitya Samaj</b> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi" target="blank_"><span style="color: #000099;">Delhi</span></a> along with Parikshit Hazarika and Upendra Nath Goswami in 1968. They were subservient in the introduction of <b>Assamese Language</b> in <b>MIL Department</b> of <a href="http://www.du.ac.in/" target="blank_"><span style="color: #000099;">Delhi University</span></a> (DU) by convincing the then UGC chairman D.S. Kothari in this regard. </div><div align="justify"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzL-Yq5RrIEToCvgsu4dbcZe-LCwjIyDX9QcF0EibPvqxIdenAhoJhriWiwZe6zYowVtDiViWbQFOWrAX7vTu2Xqidb2SsC7Uxl34PRDTKcecmcsrGG2BuiDF4hDdysDSXFw4YGA5EIEc/s1600-h/DSCN350004.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376473418836402610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzL-Yq5RrIEToCvgsu4dbcZe-LCwjIyDX9QcF0EibPvqxIdenAhoJhriWiwZe6zYowVtDiViWbQFOWrAX7vTu2Xqidb2SsC7Uxl34PRDTKcecmcsrGG2BuiDF4hDdysDSXFw4YGA5EIEc/s320/DSCN350004.JPG" style="float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bhabananda Deka with his wife and writer Nalini Prava Deka</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: 180%;">P</span></b>rof Bhabananda Deka was born to Late Baliram Pathak and<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHR4Tx93g5xrxVbL700B4_Vpjau9h2TkX0GOVC-CZydx42Njw0CyDRkVpslhy6aKd-ara9aOjwdogWYAkPkVB_mA8HnrbMC-bLaRzCuCnE2E8ujgu5oNrsIW96nQoMnVttdVJQAscgaM/s1600-h/DSCN350004.JPG"></a> Late Sayatri Bala Pathak on August 19, 1929 at Byaskuchi Satra, Barpeta sub division of undivided Kamrup District, Assam. He passed his matriculation from <b>Barpeta Government High School</b> with 1st Division and distinction in three subjects. He later joined <b>Cotton College</b> and completed his graduation in Economics in 1954 and did his post graduation in Economics from <a href="http://www.gauhati.ac.in/" target="blank_"><span style="color: #000099;">Gauhati University</span></a> in 1957. While at Cotton College, he was also selected as the <b>General Secretary</b> of the <b>Students Union</b>. Right after passing his post graduation, he worked for <b>North Guwahati Girls High School </b>for two months and later joined <b>Kamrup Academy High School</b> as a <b>teacher</b>. While he was in the first year of his post graduation, Prof. Deka worked for <a href="http://www.assampcc.org/" target="blank_"><span style="color: #000099;">Assam Pradesh Congres Committee</span></a> as an <b>Economist</b>. After his post graduation, he went to his hometown and worked for <b>Bhattadeb Milan Samiti</b> as a <b>secretary </b>and was instrumental behind the building of the first Library (Bhattadev Puthivoral) in Byaskuchi. He was the <b>Founder Principal </b>of <a href="http://bapujicollege.org/thecollege.htm"><span style="color: #000099;">Bapuji College</span></a><b> </b>in Sorthebari. He also worked with <a href="http://www.aryavidyapeethcollege.org/" target="blank_"><span style="color: #000099;">Arya Vidyapeeth College</span></a> as a <b>Professor</b> for sometime. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><b><span style="font-size: 180%;">O</span></b>n 1st September, 1958 Prof. Bhabananda Deka joined <a href="http://www.pragjyotishcollege.org.in/" target="blank_"><span style="color: #000099;">Pragjyotish College</span></a> in the <b>Economics Department </b>as a <b>Professor</b> under the Principal Late Tirthanath Sharma. The college was only four years old then. That was when he met some of the prominent scholars like Late Haliram Deka, Late Sarbananda Rai, Prof. Gurusaran Medhi, Madhu Ojha, Prof Binoy Ghosh etc.. In 1964 he got married to Assamese writer and poet Nalini Prava Deka. While he was working for Pragjyotish College, he took leave for a year and worked as a <b>Senior Research Officer</b> in the Language Unit of <a href="http://www.upsc.gov.in/" target="blank_"><span style="color: #000099;">Union Public Service Commission</span></a>, Delhi. He was retired as <b>Pricipal</b> of Pragjyotish College in 1992.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><b><span style="font-size: 180%;">H</span></b>e was very much Influenced by Sankari Culture in his life time and was known for his active participation in setting up Belbari Satra (Vaisnavite Monastery) in Barpeta District. He has written hundreds of Aricles and Books on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srimanta_Sankardeva" target="blank_"><span style="color: #000099;">Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva</span></a> and Sankari Culture. Before his death on 4th December, 2006, he traslated the <b>Kirtan Ghosa</b> (Poetic works of Srimanta Sankardeva) from Assamese to English. He was a dynamic member of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axom_Xahitya_Xabha" target="blank_"><span style="color: #000099;">Asom Sahitya Sabha</span></a> and was made <b>President</b> of <b>Kamrup Sahitya Sabha</b> in 1982. </div><div align="justify"><b><span style="font-size: 180%;">P</span></b>rof. Bhabananda Deka was known for his Gandhian philosophy and humbleness. He was always one to keep a low profile. After his death on 4th December, 2006, Literature society is going to miss him to an exceedingly great extent.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683606811798741139.post-46829001675198513352008-11-01T15:38:00.000-07:002011-04-13T20:13:31.720-07:00Rongali Bihu: Heralding spring By Bhabananda Deka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div align="justify"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em>(Prof Bhabanada Deka wrote this article in The Northeast Daily on April 13, 2000)</em></strong></div></div><div align="justify"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XlRIFIuoZvdkUi6xLVlrym4STEQfvtsCuG7_CsfQa3NMyVFMCvvLt7Nv0etv2CcjaY10u_arzZ3HHPfVsv_vSppVQVGgXKc8-Uz-5PZ7dZrPhHUMwRgeYYTsBDca93XCfxfeqir7WGc/s1600/rongali_picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XlRIFIuoZvdkUi6xLVlrym4STEQfvtsCuG7_CsfQa3NMyVFMCvvLt7Nv0etv2CcjaY10u_arzZ3HHPfVsv_vSppVQVGgXKc8-Uz-5PZ7dZrPhHUMwRgeYYTsBDca93XCfxfeqir7WGc/s320/rongali_picnik.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>F</strong></span>rom time immemorial, Assam has had various kinds of folk songs and dances sung and played at differ-ent seasons of the year by the common folk of the countryside when festivals are held to make merriment of various kinds. Among the festivals, the new year festival is celebrated with great pomp and grandeur in the spring season when the sky is overwhelmed with the utterances of the coming of the Bordoichila. All classes of people, irrespective of caste, creed and religion take part in the new year spring festival. This festival in Assam is known as Rongali Bihu. The most significant part of the spring festival, also called as Bohag Bihu, is the songs and dances which are sung and played expressing delight and also the love for life, society and friendship. Young girls from the countryside sing and dance to welcome Bihu. Nature begins to bloom with new colours and a new urge for recreation. This is expressed through various rites and festivals, song and dances and merry making.<br />
<br />
Among the seasonal festivals, the Bihus have a wider popularity. There are three Bihu festivals in Assam which mark the agricultural season. The first is celebrated at the beginning of cultivation. The second is at the time when the seeds sown begins to appear as seedling, and the third is at the time of harvesting. The Rongali Bihu or spring festival is celebrated at the beginning of the period when seeds are sown in the field. Bhogali or Magh Bihu is observed at the period of harvesting of crops. Further, there is the Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu when agricultural fields are blooming with new crops — greenish in colour at first and gradually turning into yellowish colour and the time for harvesting approaching.<br />
In Bohag there is the completion of the sowing of seeds and there is the hope of getting good returns. The returns depend on the fertility of the earth and good weather. In order to propitiate nature, men and women, young boys and girls begins to worship nature in many ways.<br />
<br />
Of the three Bihus, the Bohag Bihu is the most important ceremony. It is celebrated when the Assamese new year enters on the Chaitra Samkranti day. In such a time spring touches the naked earth — everywhere there appears new life. During Rongali Bihu, nature is enlivened with a new spirit. It takes on a new life, with new colours in the sky, and in the forests and hills. Minds of men are vibrant with joy and they come out to make merriment through dances and songs. The girls come out with traditional dresses signifying their ripeness of youth. The red Riha is the symbol of ripeness. During this period nature is gay with new urge for creation. Nature also welcomes the song birds like the cuckoos who "pour out their music". The sky is bright and blue and occasionally "rolling drum of the thunder cloud is heard". The young boys wearing typical Bihu dress with Gamocha in the head come out with drums and different kinds of flutes.<br />
<br />
Bihu songs are typical folk-songs. The songs have deep meaning appealing to the mind. The songs are sung in the fields, by the river side and under the banyan tree. In the Bihu songs, there is the depiction of love — sweet love of man to man, love towards nature — river, forest, hills and birds.<br />
Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu festival continues for seven days. The Samkranti day of Chaitra (generally April 14) is the Garu Bihu (Cow Bihu). Other Bihus are Manuh Bihu, Hat Bihu, Senehi Bihu, Maiki Bihu, Rongali Bihu and Sera Bihu. The first day of the Bihu is the Garu Bihu which is celebrated to pay respect to the cows, which are used in agriculture.<br />
<br />
The remaining days of the Bihu are celebrated in merry making and participating in other social activities. The elders offer blessings to the younger ones. The young boys and girls pay respect to the elders offering them traditional Gamochas.<br />
<br />
The spring festival or Rongali Bihu has come a long way since its inception when people had to depend solely on nature. Gradually changes have taken place in the celebration of the Bihu and at present it has occupied a place of social coherence, brotherhood, fellow feeling, etc. Rongali Bihu is now the most important festival, which has been accepted by all classes of people as the meeting ground of unity in diversity. Rongali Bihu has been able to bring about a new philosophy of life — to live together, to sing together and to be one. (PIB Feature)</div></div></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0