Homen Borgoahain - A Noted Writer of Assam

Homen Borgohain

A noted writer, critic, journalist, poet and editor, Homen Borgohain is one of those few Assamese writers who with his literary work have managed to grab the attention of the readers along with the critics. He is the winner of Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Pita Putra in the year 1978. With the magic of words, Borgohain has shaped his own domain in Indian Literature. His works along with his venerable and distinguished personality has captured many hearts and he is among those rare writers, who have let the course of life to find its own form in art.

Born on December 7, 1932 at Dhakuakhana in Lakhimpur district of Assam, Homen Borgohain is a multitalented genius, who has displayed his proficiency in the genres of novel, short story and poetry, even though, he was an inborn columnist. After completion of his matriculation from Dhakuakhana, he came to Guwahati for higher education and joined the prestigious Cotton College. While in Guwahati, he met Nirupama Tamuli, who is a renowned writer of Assam and is popularly known as Nirupama Borgohain and both of them tied the nuptial knot. The couple has two sons and Nirupama Borgohain is also the recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award for her novel Abhijatri. The couple together wrote a novel named Puwar Purobi Sandhyar Bibhash, which is apparently the first and the sole joint-novel written in Assamese. Borgohain joined as an officer in the State Government but owing to some work related issue, he left the job and became the editor of influential journal Saptahik Nilachal, and Nagarik. He also worked as an editor for Axom Bani and North-East Times and presently he is the editor of one of the most reputed Assamese newspaper Amar Axom. Borgohain is the pioneer behind bring about development and change in the publishing industry of Assam.

In the year 1962, Borgohain published his first novel Suwala, which narrated the life of a simple village girl, who comes to a city in search for a better life but lands into prostitution because of social and economical issues. In the year 1967, his second novel was published by the name of Tantrik, which dealt with the values of mysticism. In the year 1978, his eminent author won the Sahitya Academy Award for his novel Pita Putra, which narrates the story of two generations when quick changes were taking place in rural Assam. This novel of his is one of the most famous and well-accepted Assamese novels. Subsequently, he also won the Nilamoni Phukan Award from Asom Sahitya Sabha and Assam Valley Literary Award.

Borgohain efficiently unearthed the veiled passion and wishes of human beings and fraught to eloquent their feelings. His works illuminates the dark areas of the mind and smears life with incredible simplicity with a perfect combination of style and subject matter. Even though he wrote several controversial and inspiring novels, namely Subala, Timirtirtha, Pita Putra and Kushilab, his works examines the existence of man with all its complexities. Astarag is another noteworthy novel by the author, where he reveals the meaning of life and living in a world that is filled with pain and suffering. It portrays the tragic woe of old age. Edinar Diary is another such heart-touching novel by the author that goes one step forward and tries to understand the essence of existence with a philosopher’s profound quest for truth. Another popular novel by the author is Matsyagandha, which has been made into a film is a story of a lower caste woman named Menka. Besides these, his other novels are Bisannata, Saudor Puteke Nau Meli Jay, Timir Tirtha, Halodhiya Soraye Baudhan Khai and Nisongota. Atmanusandhan, Mur Hridoy Ekhon Judhyokhetro and Dhumuha Aru Ramdhenu are the autobiographies of Borgohain.

Homen Borgohain served as the president of Asam Sahitya Sabha from 2001 to 2002 and in the year 2013, he resigned from all posts of Asam Sahitya Sabha including primary, honorary and lifetime membership owing to the indiscretion that was going on inside the organization. He has motivated and promoted several writers of Assam and has recently established an NGO by the name of Karunadhara, with an intention of helping people suffering from physical as well as mental illness and financially support the poor people in receiving costly specialized medical treatment.