Lakshminath Bezbarua

Lakshminath Bezbarua (1868–1938) was one of the pioneers of modern Assamese literature. He was a great poet, writer, satirist, playwright and children’s literature writer. It is Lakshminath Bezbarua who wrote the state anthem of Assam – O Mur Apunar Dekh. He is best known in Assam as the Sahityarathi (meaning Charioteer of Literature in English) and Rasaraaj (King of humor).

Biography:

Lakshminath Bezbaroa was born near Ahatguri, Nagaon on November 1868. His father was Dinanath Bezbaroa, a senior official with the British government. Due to the nature fo his father’s job, Lakshminath Bezbaroa spent his childhood in different places of the Assam. He received his early education Sibsagar Govt. High School at Sibsagar. Then he graduated from the City College in Calcutta. After graduation, Bezbarua secured his M.A. and B.L. degrees from the University of Calcutta. Their family finally they settled in Sibsagar.

Lakshminath Bezburuah married Pragyasundari Devi, a niece of the great Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore. He presided over the All Assam Students’ Conference at Guwahati in 1921. In 1924, Bezbarua became the president of the 7th annual session of Assam Sahitya Sabha held at Guwahati. Lakshminath Bezbarua died in Dibrugarh on March 26, 1938.

Works of Lakshminath Bezbarua:

• Poetry Collection: Kodam Koli (1913), Podum Koli (1968)
• Novel: Podum Kunwari (1905)
• Short Story Collection: Surabhi (1909), Xadhukathaar Kuki (1912), Jonbiri (1913), Kehokali
• Children’s literature: Junuka (1910), Burhi aair xadhu (1911), Kokadeuta aaru nati lora (1912), Baakhar
• Plays: Joymoti Konwari (1915), Chakradhwaj Singha (1915), Belimaar (1915), Litikai (1890), Chikarpati-Nikarpati (1913), Nomal (1913), Pachoni (1913)
• Comic Plays: Litikai (1890), Nomal, Paachani, Chikarpati – Nikarpati
• Autobiographical: Mor Jiban Sowaran, Patralekha, Dinalekha
• Biographies: Dinanath Bezbaruar Xankshipta Jiban Charit,  Sri Sri Shankardev, Mahapurush Sri Sankardev Aru Madhabdev
• Collection of satire essays: Kripabor Barbaruar Kaakotor Topola (1904), Kripabor Barbaruar Obhotani (1909), Barbaruar Bhabar Burburani, Barbaruar Bulani
• English Books: The Religion of Love and Devotion (1968),History of Vaishnavism in India, Rasalila of Sri Krishna

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