Nabakanta Barua
Nabakanta Barua popularly known as Ekhud Kokaideu among assamese poples was an illustrious Assamese poet and novelist. He was born December 29 , 1926 in Guwahati to Nilakanta Barua who was a school inspector and later a teacher in school and Swarnalata Baruani . While initially the family lived in upper Assam, later on the family would move to Puranigudam and finally settled in Nagaon town .
Nabakanta Barua is better assimilated with several collections of poems, this includes Ratnaakar, Jati Aaru Keitaamaan Sketch, Mur Aaroo Prithiveer, Dolongot Taamighoraa, Selected Poems (in English). He is among the Sahitya Academy award winner, 1975 , Soviet Land Nehru award, Kabir Samman, Assam Valley Literary award etc..
He began his education in nearby school, he later joined govt Mojolia school. He entered in 1933 in Nagaon govt boys in class 3 and thereafter completed his matriculation in the year of 1941. She afterwards admitted Cotton College, but as he was sick for two years hence lost. In 1943, Nabakanta Barua got chance to go to Shantinikaton to study (West Bengal) and in 1947 he passes his B.A. in English honours and in 1953 M. A Aligarh Muslim University.
He worked in Uttar Pradesh Sokohabad in A.K collage , but he transferred to Jorhat’s Jagannath Barooah College. In 1954 he joined Cotton College by virtue of qualification until 1964. From 1964 to 1967, he worked in Assam Madhyamik Shiksha Parisod as an officer of English education (in Assam). Next he again joined Cotton College and retired in the position of vice principal in 1984 .
Apart from poems, Barua began writing for children in another shape altogether in the form of short stories and novels when there were not even decent books for children. Barua wrote so many books for children (and continued to write for children till the end). His contributions to the Assamese arts and literature can be credited by his 39 books: 11 of poem collections, 5 of novels, essays and short stories for children (Xeali palegoi ratanpur), song or lyrics (geeti). Some of his books have been translated to various Indian languages. Barua, in 1984, for the past appeared in the Assamese magazine Sirolu also has made a comeback as Natun Sirolu. In 1975, he was awarded with the Sahitya Akademi Award for his book Kokadeutar Har. He was awarded with the honor of Padmabushan award and everyone knows that it is prestigious; it was in the year 1976. In addition, the Assam Prakashan Parisod Award also for Mur aru Prithibir in 1974, Assam Valley Literary Award in 1993, Soviet Land Nehru award, Kabir Samman, etc. Nabakanta Barua was recognized alongside Amulya Barua and Hem Barua to represent the renaissance of modern poetry in the state. Barua’s contribution to other modes of writing as well (novels, short stories,) beyond poetry were both immense as well as contemporaneous. Barua debuted in his writing career predominantly in poems during the Second World War, received acclaim during the post-independence period. Barua also penned very controversial and recited poems such as Polokh, Monot porne Arundhati, Norokot DonJuan, and Crussot DonJuan.
Nabakanta Barua died on July 14, 2002.
Awards to Nabakanta Barua :
A) 1974: Assam Prakashan Parisod Award, Mur aru Prithibir
B) 1975: Sahitya Akademi Award to Assamese Writers, Kokadeutar Har
C) 1976: Padma Bhushan, Literature & Education
D) 1993: Assam Valley Literary Award