Nabakanta Barua, also known as
Ekhud Kokaideu, (
December 26,
1926-
July 14,
2002) was a prominent
Assamese novelist and poet.
Biography
Early life and education
Nabakanta Barua was born
December 26,
1926 in Diboru to Nilakanta Barua, a school inspector and later teacher, and Swarnalata Baruani. He had three brothers: Debakanta, Jibakanta, and Sibakanta. (Debakanta Barua also became a well-known Assamese poet, best known for poem collection
Sagor dekhisa.) At first the family lived in upper Assam, then moved to Puranigudam and lastly lived in
Nagaon town.
He started his education at a nearby school, then joined govt Mojolia school. In 1933 he was admitted to Nagaon govt boys in class 3, from there he completed his matriculation in 1941. After that he got admitted to
Cotton College, but he lost two years due to illness. In 1943, he went to Shantinikaton (West Bengal). In 1947 he completed his B.A. with English honors and in 1953 M. A. from
Aligarh Muslim University.
Career
He worked in
Uttar Pradesh at Sokohabad at A.K collage , but the same year was transferred to
Jorhat's
Jagannath Barooah College. In 1954 he joined
Cotton College and worked there until 1964. From 1964 to 1967 he worked at
Assam Madhyamik Shiksha Parisod as an officer of English education . He again joined Cotton College, retiring as a vice principal in 1984.
He served as president of
Asam Sahitya Sabha's Dhing Adhibashan in 1968 and presided over Asom Sahitya Sabha's Bishwanath Chariali convention in 1990.
Death and afterward
Nabakanta Barua died on
July 14,
2002.
Published works
Barua wrote most criticized and recited poems like "Polokh", "Monot porne Arundhati", "Norokot DonJuan", and "Crussot DonJuan".
Barua's contribution to Assamese art and literature includes 39 books in all: 11 poem collections, 5 novels, essays, short stories for children (
Xeali palegoi ratanpur) and lyrics. Some of his works have been translated to different Indian languages.
In 1984, he published the Assamese magazine
Sirolu, later republished as
Natun Sirolu.
Awards
- 1974: Assam Prakashan Parisod Award, Mur aru Prithibir
See also
