Assam: Jorhat jail inmates remember Hiruda on his birth anniversary

Various programmes marked the birth anniversary of Sugandhi Pokhilar kobi Hiren Bhattacharyya here on Saturday.  The Sahitya Akademi awardee who won hearts with his simple style of writing poems was born in 1932 at a government quarter at Jorhat Jail near Rowriah where his father was posted as the jailor.

Eminent scientist Paran Baruah who inaugurated a programme to observe his birth anniversary at the North Jorhat Jatiya Vidyalaya at Charigaon said that Hiruda’s ways with simple words influenced a whole generation of poets who came after him.  The programme was organised by Uttar Paschim Jorhat Kavi Sanmilan.

Baruah said that Hiren Bhattacharyya had set a new simple style which was emulated by others and many people took to writing poetry in Assam in his footsteps. As it was Hiruda’s 86th birth anniversary, Baruah also recited a poem, Janmadin penned by the poet in 1972.

Indrajit Baruah, former deputy commissioner, Jorhat critically analyzed the poems of Hiren Bhattacharyya in his speech on the occasion.

Several people in the locality recited his poems in the programme. Baruah said that in the evening a poetry recital session, organised by All Assam Poets Association of which he is the advisor, was held at the place in which Hiruda was born.

Baruah said that earlier inmates of Jorhat open air jail had also recited his poems. In the morning the inmates of the jail had sung naams in memory of the Prem aru Rodalir kobi.  This was organised by Jyoti Cine Club,  Jorhat in collaboration with Hiren Bhattacharyya Smriti Sangrakhyan Samiti,  Assam.

The two organizations observed Hirudar Din, and in keeping with the occasion awarded actor Bishnu Khargharia with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Jorhat Theatre Hall.

The award was handed over to Khargharia by Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly and Jorhat MLA Hitendra Nath Goswami.

A short film fest was also organized on the occasion in a bid to search for talented new directors and film makers.
The evening was marked by song, dance and recitations of Hiruda’s poems.