Bhabendra Nath Saikia (20 February 1932 – 13 August 2003) was a novelist, short-story writer, editor and film director from

Assam Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...

, India. Saikia received his doctorate in physics from the University of London. He began his career as a reader in the Department of Physics, University of Guwahati. He later played an important role in the publication of college level textbooks in the Assamese language during his tenure as the Secretary of the Co-ordination Committee for production of textbooks in regional languages.He was the pioneering motive behind the publication of college level textbooks in Assamese language during his tenure as the Secretary of the Co-ordination Committee for production of textbooks in regional languages. Saikia was the founding editor of the Assamese language weekly Prantik and the children's magazine Safura. He has written plays for radio and theatre. He was the director and screenplay writer for eight Assamese language films, receiving the Rajat Kamal Award from the

Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...

for seven. He won the Sahitya Academy (1976), and was also recognised with the

Padma Shri The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...

in 2001. He was awarded the 'Assam Valley Literature Award' in 1990.

Biography

Bhabendra Nath Saikia was born on 20 February 1932 at

Nagaon Nagaon is a city and a municipal board in Nagaon district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Assam. It is situated east of Guwahati. With a population of 1,16,355 as per 2011 census it is an AMRUT City and 4th biggest city ...

town. He passed his matriculation examination in 1948 from Nagaon Government Boy's Higher Secondary School (where he was founder editor of school magazine 'UDAY') and the intermediate examination in Science in 1950, both with first division marks. He passed BSc Examination in 1952 with honours in Physics from the Cotton College of

Gauhati University Gauhati University also known as GU, is a collegiate public state university located in Guwahati, Assam, India. It was established on 26 January 1948 under the provisions of an Act enacted by the Assam Legislative Assembly and is the oldest un ...

. He received a post graduate degree in Physics from the Presidency College of

Calcutta University The University of Calcutta, informally known as Calcutta University (), is a Public university, public State university (India), state university located in Kolkata, Calcutta (Kolkata), West Bengal, India. It has 151 affiliated undergraduate c ...

. He obtained his PhD in physics from the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a collegiate university, federal Public university, public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The ...

in 1961. He also obtained a diploma from the Imperial College of Science & Technology, London, in 1961. He later worked as reader in Physics at the Gauhati University. He became a member of

Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in English language, English) is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India. It is an autonomous body of the Ministry of Culture (India) ...

, India. Saikia edited the '' Prantik (প্ৰান্তিক)'', an Assamese monthly magazine, and a children's magazine named ''Xaphura'' (সঁফুৰা), both in the

Assamese language Assamese () or Asamiya ( ) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam, where it is an official language. It has long served as a ''lingua franca'' in parts of Northeast India."Axomiya is the major langu ...

. He was also the president of the Jyoti Chitraban which was for a long time the only

film studio A film studio (also known as movie studio or simply studio) is a major entertainment company that makes films. Today, studios are mostly financing and distribution entities. In addition, they may have their own studio facility or facilities; how ...

in Assam. He had the unique distinction of having won the National Awards for each of his seven Assamese films. For his services to the

literature Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially novels, Play (theatre), plays, and poetry, poems. It includes both print and Electroni ...

culture Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...

and cinema of Assam, Saikia was awarded the

in 2001. Having spent his childhood in poverty, Saikia established the Aarohan Trust in Guwahati using the money he received from the Assam Valley Literary Award to provide free training to poor children interested in art, theatre, and music. Saikia died on 13 August 2003 in Guwahati, survived by his wife Preeti Saikia and two daughters. The Assam Government has named a road in Guwahati and a state award in his honour.

Works

Many of Saikia's stories have been translated into English, Bengali, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati etc. He had also written a large number of plays for

All India Radio All India Radio (AIR), also known as Akashvani (), is India's state-owned public broadcasting, public radio broadcaster. Founded in 1936, it operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broa ...

(AIR). The plays ''Kolahal'', ''Durbhiksha,'' and '' Itihas'' were taken up by the AIR as national plays. He has written many plays for the Mobile Theatre of Assam, and a number of one-act plays. Saikia directed eight feature films, which have been screened at International Film Festivals held at various places such as Cannes, Madras, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Bangalore, Calcutta, Karlovy Vary (Czechoslovakia), Nantes (France), Valladolid (Spain), Algiers (Algeria), Pyong Yong (North Korea), Sydney, Munich, Montreal and Toronto. He has also directed one episode of a Doordarshan series on

Rabindranath Tagore Rabindranath Thakur (; anglicised as Rabindranath Tagore ; 7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941) was a Bengalis, Bengali polymath who worked as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer, and painter of the Bengal Renai ...

's stories in Hindi. Seven out of Saikia's eight films have been selected for Indian Panorama Section of the

International Film Festival of India The International Film Festival of India (IFFI), founded in 1952, is an annual film festival currently held in Goa, on the western coast of India. The festival aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excel ...

. He received the Sahitya Akademi (India) Award in 1976, the Rajat Kamal Award of the Government of India for the film ''Sandhyarag'' in 1978, Anirban in 1981, Agnisnan in 1985, Kolahal in 1988, Sarothi in 1992, Abartan in 1994 and for '' Itihas'' in 1996. He was adjudged as one of the "Twenty one Great Assamese Persons of the twentieth century" in a literary weekly news magazine of Assam. '' Sringkhal'' (The Quiver), an Assamese film based on a short story written by Bhabendra Nath Saikia, was released on 17 October 2014. Directed by Prabin Hazarika, ''Sringkhal'' was co-produced by the Assam State Film (Finance and Development) Corporation Limited with Preeti Saikia, Partha Pratim Bora, Sangeeta Saikia, Dipendra Patowary and Prabin Hazarika. He was actively involved with the Assamese Mobile Theater industry, most notably with Abahan Theater.

Feature films

Assamese

* ''Sandhya Raag'' (Rajat Kamal award, 1977; screened at the

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...

in 1978) * ''Anirban'' ��নির্বান(Rajat Kamal award, 1981) * '' Agnisnaan'' ��গ্নিস্নান(Rajat Kamal award, 1985) * ''Kolahal'' ��োলাহলRajat Kamal award, 1988) * ''Sarothi'' ��াৰথিRajat Kamal award, 1992) * ''Abartan'' ��ৱর্তনRajat Kamal award, 1994) * '' Itihas'' ��তিহাসRajat Kamal award, 1996)

Hindi

* '' Kaal Sandhya'' ��ালসন্ধ্যা1997) deals with the insurgency in the North East and was screened at the

and the Cairo International Film Festival.

Novels

* ''Antarip'' ��ন্তৰীপ the cape] * ''Ramyabhumi'' ��ম্যভূমি the accoland* ''Atankar Shekhot'' ��তংকৰ শেষত at the end of the panic

Short story collections

* ''Prahari'' (প্ৰহৰী) the watchman* ''Sendur'' (সেন্দুৰ) indur* ''Gahabar'' (গহ্বৰ) he cave* '' Srinkhal'' (শৃংখল) he chain* ''Upakantha'' (উপকন্থ) nearby place* ''Ai bandaror abeli'' (এই বন্দৰৰ আবেলি) fternoon of this port * ''Brindabon'' (বৃন্দাবন) rindabon-name of a person * ''Taranga'' (তৰংগ) wave * '' Sandhya Bhraman'' (সান্ধ্য ভ্ৰমণ) vening walk * ''Galpa aru Shilpa'' (গল্প আৰু শিল্প) Story and art Edited by Shri Hridayananda Gogoi * ''Akash'' (আকাশ) he sky

Plays

* ''Romyabhumi'' (ৰম্যভূমি) * ''Neelakontho'' (নীলকণ্ঠ) * ''Mahaaranya'' (মহাৰণ্য) * ''Deenabandhu'' (দীনবন্ধু) * ''Paandulipi'' (পান্দুলিপি) * ''Aamrapaali'' (অম্ৰপালি) * ''Aranyat Godhuli'' (অৰণ্যত গধুলি) * ''Monikut'' (মণিকুট) * ''Gahbor'' (গহ্বৰ) * ''Gadhuli'' (গধুলি) * ''Amrit'' (অমৃত) * ''Barnamaalaa'' (বর্ণমালা) * ''Bandeexaal'' (বন্দীশাল) * ''Paramaananda'' (পৰমানন্দ) * ''Xubho-xongbaad'' (শুভ সংবাদ) * ''Bixkumbha'' (বিষকুম্ভ) * ''Andhakup'' (অন্ধকুপ) * ''Digambar'' (দিগম্বৰ) * ''Swarnajayanti'' (স্বর্ণজয়ন্তী) * ''Swargar Duwar'' (স্বর্গৰ দুৱাৰ) * ''Raamdhenu'' (ৰামধেনু) * ''Xataabdee'' (শতাব্দী) * ''Xamudra Manthan'' (সমুদ্ৰ মন্থন) * ''Junak Rati'' (জোনাক ৰাতি) nfinished* ''Brindabon'' (বৃন্দাবন) * ''Janmabhumi'' (জন্মভূমি) * ''Pratibimba'' (প্ৰতিবিম্ব) * ''Ejaak jonakir jilmil'' (এজাক জোনাকীৰ জিলমিল) ne-act play

Children's books

* '' Maramar Deuta'' (মৰমৰ দেউতা) ear Father* ''Tumalukor bhal houk'' (তোমালোকৰ ভাল হওক) ay you all prosper* ''Xantaxista Hristopusto Mahadusta'' (শান্ত-শিষ্ট হৃষ্ট-পুষ্ট মহাদুষ্ট) he quiet one, the physically fit one, and the immensely notorious one. All India Radio children's play on two brothers, a friend, and a sister* ''Mahadustor Dustobuddhi'' (মহাদুষ্টৰ দুষ্টবুদ্ধি) (Mischief) * ''Maram'' (মৰম) ove

Collection of essays

* ''Xekh Pristha'' (শেষ পৃষ্ঠা) ol-1* ''Xekh Pristha'' (শেষ পৃষ্ঠা) ol-2* ''Xekh Pristha'' (শেষ পৃষ্ঠা) ol-3* ''Xekh Pristha'' (শেষ পৃষ্ঠা) ol-4

Autobiographies

* ''Jeebon Britta'' (জীৱন বৃত্ত) * ''Jeebon Rekha'' (জীৱন ৰেখা) * ''Mur hoishab, mur koishur'' (মোৰ শৈশৱ, মোৰ কৈশোৰ) y childhood, my teenage

Humor books

* ''Kalpalukor Kahini'' (কল্পলোকৰ কাহিনী) * ''Xampadokor Kuthalit'' (সম্পাদকৰ কোঠালিত

Magazines

* '' Prantik'' (প্ৰান্তিক) – He was the founder editor of this Assamese magazine published fortnightly from Guwahati since 1981. It plays a vital role in the socio-political lives of the people of Assam. * '' Sofura'' (সঁফুৰা) – He was the founder editor of this popular Assamese children's magazine.

Awards and legacy

* Assam Publication Board award (1973) *

Sahitya Akademi The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of the Indian government. Its off ...

(1976) * Assam valley Literary award( 1990) * Srimanta Sankardeva Award (1998) *

(2001) * Degree of D.Litt,

honoris causa An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...

(2001) * Saikia was honoured posthumously with the naming of the Dr. Bhabendra Nath Saikia Road, in Guwahati, India * Saikia was honoured posthumously with the naming the Dr. Bhabendra Nath Saikia children's amusement park at the Sri. Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati, India * Saikia was honoured posthumously with the naming the Dr. Bhabendra Nath Saikia Library at the Sri. Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati, India * Saikia was honoured posthumously with the naming the Dr. Bhabendra Nath Saikia Cultural Award. The first recipient (2010) was film maker

Jahnu Barua Jahnu Barua (born 1952) is an Indian film director. He has written and directed a number of Assamese language, Assamese and Hindi films. Some of his notable films are ''Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai'' (1987), ''Firingoti'' (1992), ''Xagoroloi B ...

from the Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi.

Leadership

Saikia was a Member of

; Member of the Executive and General Council of

; Member, Indian National Council for co-operation with UNESCO; Member, Academic Council, Gauhati University; President of Jyoti Chitraban (Film Studio) Society; Member, Advisory Body, All India Radio, Guwahati; Chairman, Assam State Film (Finance and Development) Corporation Ltd; Member., Governing Body, North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur; Member, Governing Body, East Zone Cultural Centre, Kolkata; Member of Court of the Gauhati University, Assam; Member, Society of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Member, Board of Trustees, National Book Trust of India. He also worked in the creation, proposal, construction, and planning of the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati, Assam, a cultural center and a tourist attraction for the state of Assam. He served as the first Vice-President of the Kalakshetra, under the governor of Assam as the President. This center was built in the memory of Assamese cultural legend Srimanta Sankardev (1449–1568).

References

External links

"Dr Saikia's death condoled"
'' The Sentinel'', 26 August 2003
" for 'Sir'"
''

Deccan Herald ''Deccan Herald'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper published from the Indian state of Karnataka. It was founded by businessman K. N. Guruswamy and launched on 17 June 1948. It is published by The Printers Mysore, a privately hel ...

'', 31 August 2003
"Sringkhal to Release on 17th October"

About ebooks of Dr. Bhaben Saikia
*

''Reel-life characters make a mark''
''

The Telegraph ''The Telegraph'', ''Daily Telegraph'', ''Sunday Telegraph'' and other variant names are often names for newspapers. Newspapers with these titles include: Australia * The Telegraph (Adelaide), ''The Telegraph'' (Adelaide), a newspaper in Adelaid ...

''
The Gentle Genius is no more

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20091027150631/http://www.geocities.com/bipuljyoti/authors/bhabendranath.html www.bhabensaikia.com – Official Website {{DEFAULTSORT:Saikia, Bhabendra Nath 1932 births 2003 deaths Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Assamese Screenwriters from Assam University of Calcutta alumni Alumni of Imperial College London Alumni of the University of London People from Nagaon district Indian male screenwriters Assamese-language film directors Academic staff of Gauhati University Cotton College, Guwahati alumni Recipients of the Assam Valley Literary Award 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Indian novelists 20th-century Indian short story writers Film directors from Assam Novelists from Assam 20th-century Indian male writers Best Original Screenplay National Film Award winners 20th-century Indian screenwriters Assam Valley Literary Award Deaths from cancer in India