Homen Borgohain (b. 1932 Assam) is a
Indian writer, poet, critic, columist and editor in
Assamese language . He was awarded the 1978
Sahitya Akademi Award in
Assamese language for his novel,
Pita Putra .
Homen Borgohain is one of those few
Assamese writers whose works have attracted the attention of a wide number of readers and many acclaimed critics alike. He has carved a niche for himself in the domain of Indian literature by the magic of his words and his refined and dignified personality. He is one of those rare artistes who has allowed the flow of life to find its own form in art.
Though he is a natural columnist, yet his multifaceted genius exhibits its prowess in the genres of novel, short story and poetry with equal aplomb. He is a prolific writer but that has in no way jeopardised his own artistic integrity. Writing for him is a deep ethical commitment. In spite of having rural roots, Borgohain’s work shows a deep understanding about urban complexities. In the early phase of his life Borgohain led an almost bohemian existence and the reflection of that particular life can be visualised in many of his early stories.
Life
Born in a small village of upper Assam, Homen Borgohain came to Guwahati to study in
Cotton College, the most prestigious college of
India's North East. He was married to Niropoma Tamuli Phukan, famous in Assam as
Niropoma Borgohain : one of the most popular writers of her generation and an exponent of early feminist writings in Assam. They were divorced after a few years and
Niropoma Borgohain wrote for a living to raise their two sons. Niropoma, too won the
Sahitya Akademi Award for her novel
Abhijatri and their son
Prodipto Borgohain is also a writer and academic who teaches at the
Gauhati University. The writer couple wrote a novel called
Puwar Purobi Sandhyar Bibhash, which is the first and perhaps the only joint-novel written in Assamese. Sahitya Akademi Award winner
Rita Chowdhury's bestselling as well as controversial novel
Popiya Torar Sadhu probably derives inspiration from Homen Borgohain and Niropoma Borgohain's life.
Works
Though Borgohain has penned many controversial and thought provoking works like
Subala,
Pita Putra,
Timirtirtha,
Kushilab, etc, yet the novels in which he most successfully scans the existence of man with all its complexities are
Astarag and
Edinar Diary. In
Astarag, Borgohain shows us what it means to be alive in a world which is full of pain and suffering. The heartrending agony of old age is portrayed so vividly in the novel that the readers are drowned in a well of sympathy for both Dilip and his father. Borgohain strives to prove the truth that life is an indefinite reprieve from death and to be alive is to gradually wither away.
In Edinar Diary, Borgohain goes one step forward and tries to understand the essence of existence with a philosopher’s profound quest for truth. Borgohain is a widely read man and the gems of his erudition are scattered throughout the pages of the book which help us to come to terms with our existence in a better way. The sense of alienation, despair, boredom all find manifestations in that particular work and we close the book with an enhanced understanding of our existence. As one character,
Aditya Baruah says towards the end of the novel – “Life must be having a meaning; I will endeavour to find out that meaning from today”.
He wrote all the novels after doing great amount of research. Some of his novels itself contains a part of his life.
Pita Putra,
Astarag,
Saudar Puteke Nao Meli Jai are such examples.
Matsyagandha, is one of his most famous works - the story of Menaka, a lower
caste woman. It was made into a major motion picture with
Nikumoni Barua in the lead character.
Currently, he serves as the editor of
Amar Asom, the most presigious daily in Assam. He is known to encourage and discover a host of new writers in Assam who are established names in Assam now; such as
Anuradha Sharma Pujari,
Manikuntala Bhattacharya,
Pranab Kumar Barman,
Jayanta Saikia,
Anamika Bora,
Archana Borthakur,
Dhanada Devi,
Aruni Kashyap, and many more.
Indira Goswami mentions fondly how she was encouraged by Homen Borgohain to write her autobiography, which went on to become a legendary book in Assamese literature. Homen Borgohain's style of personal essays, that effortlessly combines with the social and the political is called "Homenism" by a critic in
Satsori journal, one of many literary publications he founded and edited.
Novels
Autobiography
Non-Fiction
Awards
See also
