The phrase “Apramadi Kobi” (অপ্রমাদী কবি) translates to “Peerless Bard” or “Unerring Bard.” It’s a title that honors the Assamese poet Madhava Kandali, renowned for his incredible translation of the Valmiki Ramayana into Assamese.
Key Points:
- Madhava Kandali was a pre-Sankarite era poet, renowned for his translation of the Valmiki Ramayana into Assamese, known as the Saptakanda Ramayana.
- Srimanta Shankardeva, a prominent figure in Assamese literature and culture, designated Madhava Kandali as “Purva Kobi Apramadi” (Peerless Bard of the Eastern Region).
- His translation of the Ramayana made the epic accessible to the common Assamese people, and his work was influential in the development of Assamese literature.
- Madhava Kandali is also credited with composing “Devajit”, a poem where he portrays Lord Krishna as the greatest incarnation of Lord Vishnu.