Bhabananda Deka

Bhabananda Deka (19 August 1929 – 4 December 2006) was a pioneer Assam economist and author who conducted novel research on the economy of the far eastern part of India. He is a leading Indian-Assamese litterateur of the famed 'Awahon-Ramdhenu Era' of Assamese literature during the mid-20th century. He authoredf 115 English and Assamese books including textbooks on a range of fifteen subjects including economics, ancient Assamese literature, philosophy, education, religion, mythology, archaeology, tribal study, poetry, drama, memoirs, civics, political science, biographies; he also edited books and journals. He authored a variety of research papers and articles about the state of Assam, a state in the north-eastern part of India. He pioneered the writing of books on Economics in Assamese. His Assamese book Axomor Arthaneeti was the first ever research-based comprehensive book on Assam Economics, which was published for the first time in 1963. He was conferred with the honorary title of 'Asom Ratna' -- 'Jewel of Assam' by the intellectuals of Assam on 19 August 2007 at a public meet held under the presidency of Prof. (Dr) Satyendra Narayan Goswami.

Biography

Early life and education Deka was born to Late Baliram Pathak and Late Sayatri Bala Pathak at Byaskuchi Satra, Barpeta sub division of undivided Kamrup district, Assam. He completed his graduation in Economics from Cotton College, Guwahati, in 1954 and gained a postgraduate qualification in Economics from Gauhati University in 1957. Before his graduation, he gained teaching experience by working as part-time teacher at Sarthebari High School. After graduation, he went back to hometown and worked for a year as a teacher at Chenga High School. During that period, he also served historic Byaskuchi Satra (Monastery)'s governing body 'Bhattadeb Milan Samiti' as a secretary and was instrumental in re-establishing the Satra at a new compound together with the first Library (Bhattadev Puthivoral) at Byaskuchi Satra. He served the locality by opening up an income generating mechanism for covering the running expenses of the Satra by aligning with the annual Fishery allotment of the nearby Kapla Bil, the big lake and conservatory of various fish species.

He returned to Guwahati City to resume post-graduation studies in 1955, and had to earn his livelihood while learning in the University by working as Economist at Assam State Congress office under the patronage of state Congress President and ex-Chief Minister Mahendra Mohan Choudhury. After post-graduation examinations, he worked as teacher at two schools Kamrup Academy and North Guwahati Girls' School until the results were declared. With the newly acquired MA(Economics) degree, he received the first invite from iconic litterateur and founder of Arya Vidyapeeth College Prof. Giridhar Sarma to join in his newly founded College as a professor and Head of Economics Department. From 1957, he briefly worked in Arya Vidyapeeth College before joining another similar institution Pragjyotish College.

Career On 1 September 1958 Deka joined Pragjyotish College in the Economics Department as the professor and Head. He retired as Principal of Pragjyotish College in 1992. He was the Founder Principal of Bapujee College in Sarthebari in 1970. While he was working at Pragjyotish College, he took leave for a year and worked as a Senior Research Officer in the Language Unit of Union Public Service Commission, Delhi. He worked as Principal of 4 (four) other Graduate and Postgraduate Colleges in Assam. These Colleges were: Tamulichiga GKB College, Jorhat; Hajo BEd College, Dadara; Sarukehtri College, Borkapla and Guwahati Night College, Guwahati, Assam.

Deka was a leading member of Asom Sahitya Sabha. In public recognition of his immense literary contributions, he was unanimously elected as the last President of the undivided Kamrup District Sahitya Sabha in 1982. He was the founder of Assam Economic Association, Assam Foundation-India and Srimanta Sankardev International Foundation, and a frontline advocate of the rich literary and cultural heritage of Assam all over the world.

Book author He authored a total 115 books, apart from many articles, essays and research papers. He wrote books on diverse subjects like classical Assamese ancient literature, philosophy, vaisnavite study, economics, Assam economy, political science, civics, education, heritage study, mythology, tribal study, poetry, travelogue, and biography.

His books have been used as textbooks and reference materials in universities in Northeast India. Some of his works, including Asomor Arthaniti (“Economy of Assam”), have been published in multiple editions. He has written on the life and works of Vaishnavite scholar Srimanta Sankardeva and his disciples, including Madhabdev, Damodardev, and Haridev, as well as on Vaishnavism and Sankari culture and philosophy. He has also translated Kirtan Ghosa, written by Srimanta Sankardeva, from Assamese into English. His English biography Sreemanta Sankaradeva covers the life and works of the scholar.

Editor of journals and magazines Deka was offered the editorship of a literary journal Ami in the year 1948 when he was an eighth standard school student at Barpeta Government High School. His foray into editing was a success, leading to more editing offers during later years in his life. Because of his love and dedication to the cause of Assamese literature, he accepted several such editing offers while he was at the peak of his professional career as a college professor and India government's bureaucrat. He jointly edited an iconic literary journal Udaygiri in 1964 while he was a college teacher. Almost all the top Assamese poets, essayists and story-writers of the time were regular contributors in this journal. He discovered several new literary talents and established them in the literary world by highlighting their works in his edited journal. His co-editor of this journal was Assamese literary critic Prof. Rammal Thakuria. He was the editor of several other literary and philosophical journals and magazines including Rastrajyoti and Gobinda. Rashtrajyoti was the first bilingual literary journal combining two of major Indian languages Hindi and Assam, and it received nationwide success for its innovative journalism.

The Sentinel further illustrates diverse quality of his works with this description-- "Principal Bhabananda Deka was the first Assamese economist–litterateur to initiate Assam–specific study and research of local economy and other social aspects. Apart from authoring total 115 books, he wrote in famous literary journals like Awahon, Ramdhenu, Amar Protinidhi, Manideep, Natun Asomiya, Asam Bami, Dainik Asam etc., right from mid–1950s. Just before his death on 4 December 2006 he finished English prose–translation of timeless Assamese classic 'Kirtan Ghosa' of Srimanta Sankardev." The same writing further focuses on other areas of his social activities pivotal to further propagation of Assamese literature and culture outside Assam's geographical and political boundaries-- "During his Delhi stint as senior bureaucrat, he played a pivotal role in setting up Assamese departments in the UPSC and Delhi University during 1968–69. He was instrumental in bringing Hollywood personalities to Guwahati in 1995 and subsequent production of first one-hour documentary film on life and works of Srimanta Sankardev in 1996. Because of his untiring efforts, this film was screened in the USA, Canada and other countries, and preserved in the National Museum of Switzerland. In recognition of his pioneering role as economist his death anniversary is observed every year as 'Artha Divas' or Day of Economics."

Honors Deka was the recipient of the Literary Pension (2004) and Golden Jubilee of Indian Independence Literary Award(15 Aug 1997) offered by the Government of Assam.

He was bestowed with the honorary title of Asom Ratna -- 'Jewel of Assam' by the leading intellectuals in Assam on the occasion of his 78th birthday celebrations publicly on 19 August 2007, in a programme held in Guwahati city under the presidency of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore Professor of Gauhati University Dr Satyendra Narayan Goswami. A prestigious volume of compilations of tributary articles by leading scholars and some interviews of the departed scholar published during his lifetime under the name and style of Asom Ratna Principal Bhabananda Deka edited by leading Assamese poet Prof. Sushil Sarma conferring the said honorary title upon Deka was officially released in the same programme by several leading scholars jointly including Prof. Upendra Nath Sarma, Abanindra Bora, Er. Arnab Jan Deka, Prof. Biswesear Hazarika joined by the editor Prof. Sarma and president Dr Goswami. Deka was the first scholar to be conferred with this prestigious title by intelligentsia in Assam. Subsequently, Assam Government was inspired by this event to declare establishment of an 'Asom Ratna Award' in 2008 and two other fellow Assamese had been awarded including Dr Bhupen Hazarika in 2008 and Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami in 2014.

After his demise, Pragjyotish College of Guwahati, Assam, India, has been organising Bhabananda Deka Memorial Lecture in Guwahati every year since his first death anniversary on 4 Dec 2007. The 6th edition of this Memorial Lecture series was held on 25 April 2015, wherein the former Principal of ADP College, Nagaon, Dr Ram Chandra Deka spoke about the rich qualities of Deka. Prior to the Lecture programme, floral tributes were paid on the portrait of the departed scholar as a homage to his memory.

An award-winning novel on his life titled 'Bhaba Ananda Sambad'(2007) authored by Arnab Jan Deka was published by the Assam Government through its official literary body Assam Publication Board.

A documentary film with the title 'Golden Jubilee of Assam Economics Research & the Pioneer Assam Economist-Litterateur' highlighting his pioneering role as an Assam Economist and scholar premièred on 4 Dec 2014 in Guwahati City. This film had been directed by documentary filmmaker-actor Arnab Jan Deka.

Books and articles

Books in English Industrialisation of Assam (1961) Assamese Language & Literature & Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaroa (literary history) (1968) Sreemanta Sankardeva (biography) (2003) Dimbeswar Neog – Life and Work (biography) (1999) Elements of Economics (1963) Elements of Political Science (1963)Elements of Indian Economics (1963) Studies in Economics Theory Element of Civics and Economics Elements of Political Science Economics Foundation Course Sankardev's Kirtan Ghosa (2006) Last Testament (2009) Bishnuram Medhi : A Political Study (PhD thesis) (2010)

Books in Assamese Bhattadev Pratisthapit Byaskuchi Satra (archaeology) (1955) Asomor Arthaneeti (Assam Economics) (1963) Prachin Asomiya Bhakti Sahitya Aru Dhammapada (literary criticism) (1992) Prabandha Bichitra (literary criticism) (1989) 5 Centuries Assam Economy (research papers) (2013) (compiled & edited by Arnab Jan Deka) Raghuvamsa (mythological story) (1971) Punyabhoomi Asom (essays on archaeology) (1973) Mahapurushar Kotha : Katha Guru Choritor Santa Mahanta (biography) (2004) Bhaorather Bamsa Aru Baliram Pathakar Jivan Kriti (biography) (1986) Amrit Putra Dhruva (mythological play) (1987)Dharmatatwa (religious philosophy) (2013) Awahon Ramdhenur Pate Pate (literary criticism) (2013) (compiled & edited by Arnab Jan Deka) Manimugdha (poetry) (1992) Mor Kobita (poetry) (2007) (compiled & edited by Arnab Jan Deka) Srimanta Sankardev (2015) Sri Sri Damodar Dev (biography) (1989) Bhattadev (ভট্টদেৱ) (biography) (1989) Mother Teresa (biography) (1996) Rupkonwar Aniruddha (mythological play) (1994) Saptarathee (mythological play) (1994) Udham Singh : A Martyr of India's Freedom Movement (biography) (2015) Bharatar Ajokoka Dadabhai Naoroji (biography) (2015)

Research papers & essays in English Rural Economy of Assam – (Khadi Gramodyog Commission, Bombay) (1963) Bhakti Ratnakar of Sankardeva (Pragjyotishiya) A Peep into the Economy of Guwahati (Paura Bichitra) (1978) Economic Condition of the Citizens of Guwahati (Paura Bichitra) (1984) Char Economic – Assam InformationNeed for a Change in Quality of Education (Pragjyotishiya) Sankardeva (Assam Tribune) (1998) Sankardeva as a Social Thinker (Press Information Bureau) Rangali Bihu : the Spring Festival of Assam (The Northeast Daily) (13 April 2000) Buddha Bargeet (2003) Buddhism and its Teaching (2004)

Research papers & essays in Assamese Brass & Bell Metal Industry in Assam (Asam Bani) (1955) Powers of India's President & Constitution (Ramdhenu) (1960) Assamese Vaisnav Religion & Humanism (Awahon) (1968) Employment Problems in Assam & Solutions (Amar Desh) (1969) Bonhomie between Families of Sankardev & Damodardev (Awahon) (1973) 19th Century's Economy of Assam (Dainik Asam) (1978)Need for Moral Planning (Notun Asomiya) (1961) Assam Economy During Sankardev's Times (Monideep) (1964) Assamese Villages (Awahon) (1965) Buddhism in Assam as Depicted in History of Kamrup (Awahon) (1968) Ways to Celebrate Assamese Spring Festival Bihu (Awahon) (1971) Assam's Char Economics (Janasikhsha, Assam Govt.) (1978)

Books about Bhabananda Deka & his works A series of books had been published on the life and works of Deka highlighting their intellectual and social significance, including:

Arthanitigya-Sikshabid-Sahityik Adhyaksha Bhabananda Deka (edited by Arnab Jan Deka) (2006) Asomor Arthaniti Chorchar Baatkotiya Adhyaksha Bhabananda Deka (authored by Arnab Jan Deka) (2007) Jewel of Assam Principal Bhabananda Deka (edited by Arnab Jan Deka) (2008) Adhyaksha Bhabananda Deka : Hridoy Jar Axomiya (edited by Arnab Jan Deka) (2012) Awahon-Ramdhenur Pate Pate Adhyaksha Bhabananda Deka (edited by Arnab Jan Deka) (2013) Sahityik Dampati Adhyaksha Bhabananda Deka Nalini Prava Deka (edited by Arnab Jan Deka) (2014) An Extraordinary Assamese Couple (edited by Arnab Jan Deka) (2015) Awahon-Ramdhenu Jugor Xahityik Adhyaksha Bhabananda Deka (edited by Arnab Jan Deka) (2016)Axom Ratna Adhyaksha Bhabananda Deka (edited by Prof Sushil Sarma) (2007) Mor Kobita by Bhabananda Deka (edited by Arnab Jan Deka) (2008) Last Testament of Principal Bhabananda Deka (2009) Bhupen Hazarika-Bhabananda Deka-Mamoni Raisom Goswami : Tini Axom Ratna Tini Batkotiya (edited by Arnab Jan Deka) (2011) Dharmatatva by Bhabananda Deka (edited by Arnab Jan Deka) (2012) 5 Centuries Assam Economics by Bhabananda Deka (edited by Arnab Jan Deka) (2013) Assamese Language & Literature by Principal Bhabananda Deka & others (edited by Arnab Jan Deka) (2014)