GUWAHATI, June 17 - �There cannot be a greater tribute to a creative genius than pursuing his creations to bring Assamese culture to the global arena,� observed Governor Banwarilal Purohit while speaking at a function to commemorate the 114th birth anniversary of Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala at the District Library here today.
Paying his rich tributes to the cultural doyen, Governor Purohit said that like Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara, the three greats namely Jyotiprasad Agarwala, Bishnu Prasad Rabha and Dr Bhupen Hazarika are also inseparable. They are the real sons of the soil and the pride of the land. He added that Jyotiprasad, apart from being a creative genius, � poet, musician, lyricist, playwright and filmmaker � was also a sagacious sage. He dedicated his life to the greater cause of Assamese literature and culture.
The Governor said, �We must emulate the ideals of Rupkonwar and work untiringly to bring Assamese culture to the global arena. We should all work relentlessly and selflessly to accomplish the dreams knitted by the cultural doyen.� He asked the students present at the function to imbibe the teachings, sense of patriotism and the path shown by Rupkonwar for a beautiful society.
The function, which was organised by the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Foundation in association with the district administration and Directorate of Cultural Affairs, paid rich tributes to Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala on the occasion of his 114th birth anniversary and the day has also been observed as Dignity of Labour Day.
President of the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Foundation educationist Prof Amarjyoti Choudhury, noted singer Sudakshina Sharma, Rupkonwar�s daughter Gyanashri Pathak, District Development Commissioner Barnali Sharma and a host of other dignitaries were present at the function.
The Guwahati Senior Citizens� Association (GSCA) also paid rich tributes to the Rupkonwar on his 114th birth anniversary today at a function presided over by senior journalist DN Chakravartty.
Appointed speaker Ramanikanta Deka and Hemchandra Sarma dwelt at length on the manifold contributions of Jyotiprasad as a composer, lyricist, poet, dramatist, revolutionary, freedom fighter, filmmaker and a great artiste.
They mentioned how Jyotiprasad embarked on a most ambitious and difficult task of producing and directing two Assamese films at a time when the entire film industry in India was in its infancy.
Jyotiprasad displayed his genius as an accomplished director with the rare techniques introduced in Joymoti where royal palaces were built only with skins of banana trees.
Chinmoy Kataki and Gopal Krishna Hazarika presented two patriotic songs of Jyotiprasad.
Chakravartty, in his presidential address, compared Jyotiprasad with the great Italian painter and artiste Leonardo da Vinci and said that Jyotiprasad might be described as the pioneer of modern Assamese drama. �It was indeed inconceivable that a masterpiece like Sonit Kunwari was written originally by Jyotiprasad when he was only 14 years old with slight revision made by him when he was in Class X,� he said.
Anjali Agarwala, daughter-in-law of Jyotiprasad, who attended the meeting as special guest recalled her sweet memories as a daughter-in-law of the great Agarwala family in which every person was patriotic and true disciples of Srimanta Sankaradeva.
The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution to declare 200 hectares land of Bholaguri Tea Estate as a State heritage site and to set up a Jyoti Tirtha with full complement of song, drama and all cultural arrangements for preservation and enrichment of Assamese songs, drama and music. The meeting also suggested erection of statues of Jyotiprasad at appropriate places in the State.
Earlier, Baneswar Khound, member in charge of administration welcomed the guests and explained the purpose of the meeting.
