Homen Borgohain: A Stalwart of Assamese Literature and Journalism

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)