Context: Remembering Veteran journalist and Sahitya Akademi Awardee Homen Borgohain on his death anniversary.
Homen Borgohain:
Birth: December 7, 1932, Baligaon near Sariskia river, Dhakuwakhana, undivided Lakhimpur district.
Parents: Father - Indradhar Bargohain, Mother - Aita Bargohain.
Education:
Passed entrance exam (1950, first division) from Dibrugarh Government High School.
ISC (1952, first division) from Cotton College.
Graduated in English literature (1954, second class honors) from Cotton College.
Career:
Joined Assam Civil Service, 1955.
Resigned in 1968, became a full-time journalist.
President of Assam Sahitya Sabha (2001-2002).
Death: May 12, 2021 (age 88, COVID-19 complications).
Literary Contributions:
Editorial Work:
Founding editor of various publications including ‘Weekly Nilachal’, ‘Weekly Citizen’, ‘Lokayat’, Bengali newspaper ‘Aajkal’, magazines ‘Samakal’, ‘Sutradhar’, ‘Kishore’, ‘Assam Bani’, daily ‘Amar Assam’, ‘Dainik Samachar’, ‘Satsari’, and ‘Niyomia Barta’.
Involved in ‘Mukhamukhi’ show and ‘Katha-Barta’ program on ‘News Live’.
Short Stories:
First story "Abeli Alibat’s Song" in Cotton College mouthpiece Cottonian.
Collections like ‘Bivhina Chorus’ (1955), ‘Prem Aru Mrityur Karone’ (1958), etc.
Novels:
Xaudor Puteke Nau Meli Zay
Halodhiya Soraye Bau Dhan Khay ( Assamese movie based on ‘Halodhiya Charaye Baodhan Khai’ directed by Jahnu Barua won the National Award for best film in 1988.)
Ostorag
Timir Tirtha
Motsyogondha
Homen Borgohain and his wife Nirupama Borgohain wrote a novel called Puwar Purobi Sandhyar Bibhash, which is the first and perhaps the only joint-novel written in Assamese.
Non-fiction
Godyor Xadhona
Manuh Huwar Gaurab
Progyar Xadhona
Ussakangkhya
Poetry: Collection ‘Haimanthi’ (1987).
Autobiographical Books:
Atmanuxondhan
Mur Xangbadik Ziwan
Dhumuha Aru Ramdhenu
Mur Hridoy Ekhon Zudhyokhetro
Other Works: Includes ‘Jigyasha’, ‘In Search of Joy and Pain’, books promoting mental excellence like ‘The joy of reading books’, ‘Pride of being human’, etc.
Awards:
Assam Publishing Council Award (1977)
Sahitya Akademi Award (1978)( for his novel Pita Putra.)
Assam Valley Literature Award (1992)
Harnath Ghosh Medal (2000)
Nilmani Phukan Award
Journalist’s Lakshminath Phukan Award (2000)
Jayakrishna Ramdayal Award (2002)
Shrimanta Shankardeva Award (2007)
Matsandra Nath Award (2015)
Sadin-Daily Group’s ‘Lifelong Sadhana’ Award (2019)