NORTH LAKHIMPUR, Nov 10 - Renowned filmmaker, artiste, playwright and a leading figure of the Indian People�s Theatre Association (IPTA), Jiban Bora, passed away on Monday night at his residence here after a prolonged illness. He was 89. Jiban Bora was known for making two blockbuster Assamese films in the 1970s from North Lakhimpur. He made Opaja Sonar Mati (1972), directed by the legendary Brajen Baruah, winning a national film award, followed by Polashar Rang (1976), which he directed as well.
Born on November 14, 1931, at Panigaon in Lakhimpur, Bora took part in the freedom movement from 1944 to 1947 as a student leader. He studied at JB College, Jorhat, and the Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat, and served the State agriculture department in various capacities. A versatile artiste, Bora wrote, acted and directed many stage plays from a very young age. He became the president of Panigaon Pragati Sangha, once a cultural hub of the undivided Lakhimpur district, and worked with contemporary legends like Late Abdul Mazid and Late Mahendra Borthakur.
Besides being actively associated with the IPTA, Bora was also the president of the Lakhimpur Cine Club since its inception in 2008 and served in that capacity till his death.
Bora was conferred the Jeewan Ram Mungi Devi Goekna Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 and felicitated by the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Assam. He is also credited with a number of books on cinema, novels and translations.
Today, the public paid their last respects to him in the North Lakhimpur Govt HS School playground in a ceremony organized by the Lakhimpur unit of AASU. Thereafter, his mortal remains were taken to the office of the Nata Sainik in North Lakhimpur. His body was then taken to his native Panigaon where a tribute ceremony was held at Panigaon Pragati Sangha. His last rites were performed at Panigaon in the afternoon. Bora, whose wife predeceased him, leaves behind two sons and three daughters.
