Nagen Saika, the living legend of
Assamese language and literature always brings to our mind the name of Suniti
Kumar Chattopadhyay from Bengal and like the author of ODBL he too will be
remembered in Assam as author of the "Background of Modern Assam Literature".
DrNagen Saikia is one of
the most prominent persons to enrich the Assamese literature. Saikia's writings
are the evidence of a true writer and a composer in him. His
mastery over Assamese literature can be seen in his wide range of works, which
mark him as poet, story writer, novelist, researcher, critique, travelogue
writer, biographer, autobiographer and opinion
maker. He has authored 43 original works and 55 edited works
to date. His AndharatNijorMukh,an Akademi Award winning Assamese
short story collection was published
in 1995 containing 26 selected stories of the writer which won a
Sahitya Akademi Award in 1997. Sahitya Akademi published
this book in Bengali, translated by Pallab Bandyopadhyay .With
Satyendra Narayan Choudhury Dr Nagen
Saikia wrote Bangla
AssamiyaDwibhasikAbhidhan in 2018. His Doctor Hem
Barua-Grantha-Trayeefrom the house of Assam Publishing Company is all about thefiction of Doctor Hem Barua.RupkonwarJyotiprasadRachanabali edited by Dr Nagen Saikia was published
in 2020and BharatiyaAtijya(Indian Tradition) was published in 2019, the latter is a collection of
essays written in Assamese on Indian traditions,A PragyadhikariMuninBorkotoky written by Dr Nagen Saikia was published by Purbanchal Prakash in 2015,Background of Modern
Assamese Literature published in 2011 is a valuable collection of
research papers presented by a host of college teachers and scholars at the
national seminar organised by the Sociology Department of Dhakuakhana College
in Assam.The book has focussed on the various issues, problems and challenges
faced by women in the northeastern region. It has also suggested some measures
for the uplift of women.It will go a long way in helping the policymakers to formulate necessary schemes to improve the condition of women by empowering them. The book explores the entire spectrum of women's empowerment with an emphasis on the northeastern region.Dr Saikia has been conferred the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship,
Saikia was born on February 11, 1939 atHatiakhowa to UmaramSaikia and HemaprabhaSaikia, in Golaghat district of Assam. He started his primary education in Borkathoni LP school and later went to Kakodonga ME School. He passed his matriculation from Dhekial HE School in 1957 securing first division. In 1959 hepassed his IAfrom Jagannath BarooahCollege, Jorhat.He graduated from Debraj Roy College, Golaghat in 1961.He did his Masters in Assamese (Literature) from Gauhati University in 1964.
He did his PhD from Dibrugarh University in 1982 under the supervision of Mahendra Borah for his thesis A Critical Study of the Social and Intellectual Background of Modern Assamese Literature 1826-1903. Nagen Saikia started his professional career as a teacher in Hatiakhowa HE School and Dhekial HE School between1959 and 1965. He served as an Assistant Editor in Asom Batori in 1965. From 1965 to 1971 Nagen Saikia served as a lecturer in Assamese in the Diphu Government College, Jorhat College and the Devicharan Barua Girls' College. In 1972 he joined as a lecturer in the department of Assamese in Dibrugarh University and continued till 1986. In 1992 Saikia joined as Professor of the LakshminathBezbaroa chair in the department of Assamese in Dibrugarh University. He was an Editor of NatunDainik, an Assamese daily in 2003 and Amar Asom in 2004-06. Being invited as the Guest Speaker, he delivered lectures on 'Contributions of American Baptist Missionaries towards the Development of Modern Assamese Literature, in the United States in 1988, under the auspices of Assam Association of North America. His visit to China as a member of the five-member delegation of Indian Writers, in 1993, organised by Sahitya Akademi brought lauresl for India. He travelled to England to deliver lectures on Sankardeva in 1998.
He has won countless awards. In 1980 he wonthe Mohan Chandra Sarma Award . In 1997 Sahitya Akademi Award was given to him for his short-story collection AndharatNijarMukhand the title Vidya-Nidhi, 1998 was conferred by the International Buddhist Brotherhood Mission.
For his total literary contribution he was given Assam Valley Literary Award in 2007. Apart from all these, he won Hariprasad Rai Award, 2008. K KHandiqui Memorial Literary Award in 2009, JagadhatriHaramohan Award in 2010, Sabda Sahitya Award, 2013 and the People of the Year 2015 by Limca Book of Records in 2015 . Dibrugarh University conferred on him D.Litt. in 2016. ERD Foundation of University of Science and Technology Meghalaya conferred on him ERDF Excellence Award-2015
He held different positions in different committees and concerns and never shrank from his duties even in spite of his busy academic and research schedule as an eminent Professor of Dibrugarh University.
Saikiawasalso a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1986-1992 and was the Vice-Chairman of the Upper House from 1990-1992. He was the General Secretary of AsamSahitya Sabha from 1973- 1976 and for the second term from 1980-1985. He was a member, in Executive Committee, Book Selection Committee, JatiyaNyas Samiti, Editorial Board of The Patrika, Literary Award Committees, theCommittee for plan and Programmes, etc., of Asam Sahitya Sabha.He was a member, General Body, Executive Committee, Encyclopedia Committee, Award Committee, Book Planning Committee, Administrative Reform Committee, etc., of the Publication Board, Assam..He was a Member, Assamese Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi in 1975-1985, 1993-1998, 2003-2008 and Member, of General Council, of Sahitya Akademi (1993-1998) and Member, of Authors'Guild of India (1974) Member-Convenor, Assamese Bhasa Samiti,Saraswati Samman, New Delhi (1991-1994).Member, Court of the NEHU (1989-1992).Member, Advisory Committee, Tai Language Course, Dibrugarh University (1992-2003) and in many other positions.
As Member, General Body, SrimantaSankardev Kalakshetra (1987-1990, 1996-1999) he gave his best effort in executing severalprojects . and as Member, State Committee for Production of Text Books (1981-1983) and many such committees even ,in the Parliament he contributed a lot.
KuberHati Barua, 1967, Chabi Aru Frame1969,Bandha KothatDhumuha, 1971, MatirChakirJui, 1976,AstitvarSikali, 1976,Aparthiva-Parthiva 1982, all collections of short stories, BhagnaUpakul, a novel, 1983 AmerikatDahdin, a travelogue, 1988 Maha Chinar Dinlipi, a travelogue, 1994,Swapna aru Smriti and DhulirDhemali, Autobiographiee, 2002 and .HemantaKalarAtiGadhulit, (A collection of Short-Stories) in2001 are some of his writings. Mita-Bhas, a collection of short expressions, is a new literary poetic genre introduced by the author in 1995.Swapna-Smriti-Visad is a collection of Mita-Bhas published in 1997.
Dr Nagen Saikia is well known researcher and his non fiction includes Background of Modern Assamese Literature, 1988 Chinta Aru Charcha, 1980 UnabimsaSatikarAsamiyaBhasarSamkat, 1988 ,BharatarSamskritikAitijyaaruAnyanya Rachana, 1993 AgnigarbhaAsam, 1993 AsamiyaKabitaaruAnyanyaBisay, 1996 ,Gavesana-Padhati-Parichaya (A Book on Research Methodology in Assamese), 1996 Tulanamulak Sahitya-Bichar (A book on Comparative Literature), 1996 Sambadikata: EtiGadhuraru Pavitra Dayitva, 2000 ,UnavimsaSatikarAsam: AndhararuPohar, 2002 Ejan Santa TantirJevan-Kahini (Monograph on Kavir), 2001 ,ByaktitvarBhaskarayyaAsamiyaVarnamala, 2001,Sahitya Badabaichitrya, 2003 and a few monographs on MaheswarNeog, Anandachandra Baruah, Sankardeva . His book AsamiyaManuharItihas was published in 2013, The versatility of this formidable scholar is amazing and above everything is his softly spoken words and the sweet smile of a large hearted human being whom I met in Guwahati personally only to wonder : 'O !What a Man! ". Hats off to this Suniti Chattopadhyay of Assam.
Dr Ratan Bhattacharjee a senior academician and trilingual columnist and poet may be reached at profratanbhattacharjee@gmail.com