GUWAHATI, June 9 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has mourned the untimely demise of eminent theatre personality Sukracharya Rabha yesterday at the age of 41.
In a statement here today, Chief Minister Sonowal said, �I express my heartfelt condolences on the untimely demise of Sukracharya Rabha who contributed immensely to the promotion of theatre in the State, particularly in rural Assam. With his death, the State has lost a promising theatre exponent who worked untiringly to popularise theatre in the villages.�
Known for his annual open air theatre festival �Under the Sal Tree� held under the aegis of the group Badungduppa which he founded, Rabha died of cardiac arrest at his Rampur village home in Goalpara district last night. Sympathising with the bereaved family, Sonowal prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul.
Rabha was honoured with the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar of Sangeet Natak Akademi for the year 2009. His last rites were performed with full State honours.
Chief Minister�s Media Advisor Hrishikesh Goswami also condoled the untimely demise of noted theatre personality Sukracharya Rabha.
Asam Natya Sanmilan, Mahanagar Zila unit, has mourned the untimely demise of eminent theatre artiste Sukracharya Rabha. In a condolence message, the Sanmilan said that Rabha gave an altogether new look to the art of theatre by staging plays amid Nature.
�His contributions to theatre will always be remembered. A pioneer in popularising amateur rural theatre, his group Badungduppa played a key role in infusing a new dynamism to theatre besides popularising stage play across the State,� the Sanmilan said. It extended its sympathies to the bereaved family of Rabha.
Socio-cultural organisation Jyotirupa also condoled Rabha�s death, terming the loss an irreparable one to the State�s cultural spheres. In a condolence message, Jyotirupa recalled Rabha�s stellar role in popularising amateur theatre across the State and even abroad.
�He took stage play into the sylvan surroundings of Nature, lending it in the process a unique identity. His contributions will continue to inspire generations,� Jyotirupa president PG Baruah and general secretary Naren Hazarika said in a statement.
The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) today paid its last tribute to theatre maestro Sukracharya Rabha who passed away yesterday.
A delegation of the AASU comprising its president Dipanka Nath and chief adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya among others visited Rabha�s residence in Goalpara and paid their tributes.
�The cultural spheres of the State have lost an icon. His contributions to the growth and popularity of amateur stage play are unparalleled and will inspire generations,� it said in a statement.
Rabha�s annual open air theatre festival brought theatre lovers from across the country and abroad to the remote village in Goalpara district.
Some of Rabha�s prominent plays are Tikhar, Chankoy, Rupalim, Lovita, Poidom, Madaiah Muchi, Dangai and Damukuchi.
Meanwhile, Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary and APCC president Ripun Bora have also condoled Rabha�s death.
