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Litterateur Joykanta Gondhiya passes away

By Correspondent

DOOMDOOMA, Dec 14 - Noted Assamese litterateur, a scholar of Assamese folk culture, especially Bihu, literary and artiste pensioner, State award winning teacher and former president of Tinsukia Zila Sahitya Sabha, Joykanta Gondhiya passed away this afternoon at AMCH, Dibrugarh. He was 76 and was suffering from post-Covid complications. He leaves behind his wife and three daughters besides a host of relatives and admirers.

Born on February 21, 1944 at Koronga Gondhiya Gaon in Jorhat district, Joykanta Gondhiya received his primary education at Halowa Gaon LP School. He passed his matriculation examination from Chinamora High School and studied at Jorhat College. He took training from Jorhat Normal Training Institute and joined in Dhollajan ME School as a teacher in 1966. He later served as a teacher in Tinsukia ME School. He also served as a dance teacher at Asom Kola Kendra, Tinsukia. On June 21, 1976 he joined the Central Assamese LP School of IOC (AOD), Digboi as an assistant teacher and later became the Headmaster of the school. In 1997 , he was transferred to Public Relation Department of IOC (AOD) from where he retired in 2004.

As a writer he enriched the granary of Assamese literature with more than 62 books. Among them, 31 novels, 8 collection of short stories, 13 collection of articles on various topics, especially on Bihu, one textbook, two books written for children and seven books edited by him are prominent.

He carried out research on various elements of Bihu since 1980. He produced three audio cassettes of Bihu Naam in 1995 and 2009.

Joykanta Gondhiya was the executive member of Asam Sahitya Sabha from 1995 to 1998, president of Digboi Sahitya Sewa Samity in 1996-97, president of Tinsukia Zila Sahitya Sabha for two terms in 1999-2000 and 2011-2013. He was the chief advisor of Bihu Suraksha Samity established in 2010. Currently, he was also associated with Tinsukia Zila Sahitya Sewi Mancha.

Gondhiya received the State award of �Best Teacher� in 1996 and received literary pension in 2003 and artiste pension in 2007. Besides, he received many other awards and recognition in Assam as well as at the national level.

His death has been widely mourned in the entire Tinsukia district. Tinsukia Zila Sahitya Sabha, Tinsukia Zila Sahitya Sewi Mancha, Tinsukia District Journalists� Association, Digboi Sahitya Sewa Samity, various units of Asam Sahitya Sabha of Tinsukia district, All Moran Students� Union, Doomdooma Press Club, the vice president of Assam Union of Working Journalists (South-East Zone) Kamal Talukder, Doomdooma branch of Sadou Asom Lekhika Samaroh Samity, Bihu Suraksha Samity and many other organisations and individuals mourned the death of Joykanta Gondhiya.

His body was brought to his residence at Digboi Jyoti Nagar this evening and his last rites will be performed tomorrow morning.

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