Assamese Greats- Jyoti Prasad Agarwala

Jyoti Prasad Agarwala was born on January 17, 1903 to Paramananda Agarwala and Kiranmoyee Agarwala in Tamulbari Tea Estate. He is the nephew of another cultural icon of Assam Chandra Kumar Agarwala. His forefather, Nabrangram Agarwala, had come to Assam in 1811 from the Marwar region in Rajasthan. After completing his studies in various schools in Assam and Kolkata, he matriculated in 1921. He went to Edinburgh in 1926 to study economics, but returned in 1930 before completing his course and on his way back he spent seven months at the UFA studio in Germany to learn film-making.
After his return to Assam, he involved himself in the freedom movement for Indian independence, in 1932 he was imprisoned for fifteen months. He established the Chitraban Studio at the Bholaguri Tea Estate and began filming the movie Joymoti in the year 1933. This was the first film from Assam. The film, released in 1935, was based on a play by Laxminath Bezbarua about a heroic Ahom princess imprisoned and tortured by a repressive Ahom Swargadeo. In 1942, he went underground to escape British repression. His radical vision was reflected in his works towards the end of his life. He died of cancer on January 17, 1951 at Tamulbari Tea Estate. His association with Bishnu Prasad Rabha and Phani Sharma started a new modern cultural era of the Assamese cultural arena.
Jyoti Prasad Agarwala had contributed around 300 songs, many of which he had set to music himself. Collectively, these songs are called Jyoti Sangeet along with quite a few dramas. He had many dramas and plays to his credit.

Here I mention a few of his literary creations-

Sonit Kuwari : drama (1917),
Karengar Ligiri : drama (1926),
Rupalim : drama (1936),
Nimati Kanya : drama (1936),

Sonpakhilee : drama
Khanikar : drama
Lobhita : drama (1947),

Jyotirdhara : (1961),

Luitar Paaror Agnisur : (1972),
Geeti Ramayan,
Chandra Kumar Agarwala :
Rupkowar : drama
Sundarkowar : drama
Kanaklata : drama
Jyoti Raamaayon-children book : poetry


(Produced first ever Assamese feature film in black and white in 1934 JOYMOTI at Bholaguri Tea Estate after establishing a studio there. Second film Indramalati in the year 1939.)

Birth:17th June 1903
Death: 17 January 1951

assamese great Sankardeva

Srimanta Sankardev is known as the father of the Assamese literature, culture and the society. Kusumbar Bhuya Kayastha Siromoni was his father. At a very tender age he became genius of scholars, till the age of 22 he was with his guru in Tol. Mahendra Kandali was his guru. He also traveled a lot of all important Mathas and Mandirs of India. After his pilgrimage he devoted himself to the religion, religious discussions, religious writings and thus social upliftment and to create a positive environment to the society. He along with his Sishyas established Satras Naamghars etc. There are so many books to his credit, all of these books establish him truly a gem of Assamese language and the Assamese society.

Harishchandra Upakkhyan: Based on Markandeyo Puran, it was his creation when he was a student.

Rukmini Haran: Based on Haribongsa, it was his tender age creation. We can find here a real reflection of the then Assamese society.

Uddhav Sambad: Many scolars termed it as Sankardev’s first creation. A complete glimpse of the Bhagawat Dharma was depicted here by him. It contains 166 podos.

Paasanda Mardan: It is collection of precies of different epics.

Ajamil Upakhyan: Ajamil Upakhyan passaged the Bhakti Patha, that if someone spells Harinaam for a single time then also he may have the Mukti.

Bhakti Pradip: It is based on discussions between two Mahabharat characters Arjun and Sri Krishna. There are 313 podos.

Anadi Patan: It was based on third skandha of Bhagawat and Bamana Puran.

Nimi Navasiddha Sambad: It was based on the eleventh skandha of Bhagawat.

Gunamala: Gunamala is a short verse but it may be symbolized as Sankardeva’s huge knowledge. It is like a sea in a small bowl. It is smaller version of the huge hindu religious book Bhagawat of twelve parts.

Uttar Kanda Ramayan: Probably it seemed to be incomplete to Sankardev that Madhab Kandali wrote Pancha Kanda Ramayan. He decided to write other two Kandas of Ramayan.and hence he himself wrote Uttar Kanda Ramayan and asked his Sishya Madhabdev to write the remaining Aadi Kanda Ramayan.

Bhakti Ratnakar: It is a collection of slokas from Puran.

Kurukhetra: One of Sankardev’s significant creation.

Balichalan: One of Sankardev’s significant creation.

Bhagawat: With the assistance if his sishyas Sankardev translated twelve Skandhas of Bhagawat. Among these Dasam Skandha Bhagawat is regarded as most remarkable.

Amrit Manthan: It is an independent translation of Astam Skandha Bhagawat.

Kirtan: Kirtan is a collection of twenty nine verses namely
Chaturbinsati Avatar, Naamaporadh, Paasonda Mordon, Dhyan Barnan, Ajamil Upakhyan, Prahlad Charitra, Gajendra Upakhyan, Harmohan, Boli Chalan, Sishulila, Raas Krirha, Kansa Badh, Gopi Uddhab Sanbad, Kubjir Bancha Puron, Ankuror Bancha Puron, Jarasandhar Juddha, Kaal Jawan Badh, Muchukunda Stuti, Shyamanta Horon, Naarodor Dwarika Darshan, Bipra Putra aanoyon, Bipra Damodar Aakhyan, Daibakir Putra Aanayan, Ved Stuti, Lila Mala, Sri Krishnar Baikuntha Prayan, Odesha Darshan, Sahasra Naam Brittanta, Ghunucha Jatra. Last two verse are said to be of Ananta Kandali and Sri Dhar Kandali. Borgeet,

Bhatima: It was written in the style of how Bhats sang their prayer songs. Bhatimas were categorized in thrre- Raj Bhatima (for king Naranarayana), Dev Bhatima (for Bhagawan Sri Krishna), Naat Bhatima ( as like as Dev Bhatima but in a dramatic way).

Chihnajatra: This was Sankardev’s first drama, staged at Bardowa for seven days and seven nights. Probably it was like a theatre which was not prevalent at least in India at that time.

Patni Prasad: It was written in between 1521 to 1533, against some social evils who disturbed Sankardev by intiating some misconception abut him to the King. It was staged on the mourning day of Madhabdev’s departed mother. It is based on a story from Bhagawat.

Kaliya Daman, Keli Gopal, Rukmini Horon, Parijat Horon, Ram Bijay, Janma Jatra, Kansa Badh all dramas certainly regarded as significant contributions from Sankardev.
His great creations are mentioned below-
Harishchandra Upakkhyan , Rukmini Haran,Uddhav Sambad, Paasanda Mardan, Ajamil Upakhyan, Bhakti Pradip, Anadi Patan, Nimi Navasiddha Sambad, Gunamala, Uttar Kanda Ramayan, Bhakti Ratnakar, Kurukhetra, Balichalan, Bhagawat, Amrit Manthan, Kirtan, Bhatima, Chihnajatra, Patni Prasad, Kaliya Daman, Keli Gopal, Rukmini Horon, Parijat Horon, Ram Bijay, Janma Jatra, Kansa Badh
Sankardeva is regarded as the first Assamese Drama Writer (Ram Bijoy).
Birth: 1371 Sakabda at Bardowa in Nagao district of Assam.

We shall discuss on him and his contributions later in this blog. Your kind support is highly solicited.