Laxminath Bezbaruah

A well-known personality of Assam, who gave a new momentum to the Assamese literature that festered for some time, Lakshminath Bezbarua was popularly known as Raxoraj, which means ‘The King of Humor’. Also fondly called Sahityarathi, he dominated the Assamese literary area for almost half a century. During his life time he devoted himself to reviving the lost glory of the Assamese literature. Laxminath Bezbarua is considered as the pioneer of Modern Assamese literature and his contribution towards its upliftment is noteworthy.

Lakshminath Bezbarua was born in the year 1868 on a boat, as it stood anchored in a sand bank of the river Brahmaputra at Ahatguri, near Nagaon on the night of Lakshmi Purnima to Dinanath Bezbarua. His father was a senior official with the British government. He received his early education from Sibsagar Government High School and later went to Kolkata for higher studies and graduated from City College in Calcutta. He further did his post graduation and B.L. degrees from Calcutta University. He married a niece of the Poet Tagore, an unusual inter-provincial alliance at that time. He started his literary career with slapstick “Litikai” serialized from the first issue of Jonaki magazine. He wrote 8 plays, 2 autobiographies, 4 buffoonery, 3 historical works, 3 biographies and 1 act drama. He also wrote children books and collected as well as compiled folk tales of Assam (Xadhukotha) to which he added a few new stories to the benefit of fostering parents and baby-sitters. He also wrote short stories, which covered the different features from the Assamese society with humorous sentiment, which fetched him the name of Roxoraj. He also got remarked as a patriotic playwright and wrote three historical plays, namely Joymoti Konwori, Chakradhaj Singha, and Belimaar. He is also the composer of O Mur Apunar Dex, a patriotic song which is the state anthem of Assam.

Paachani, Padum Kunwari, Xadhukathaar Kuki, Surabhi, Jonbiri, Junuka, Burhi aair xadhu, Kehokali, Kokadeuta aaru nati lora, Kripabor Baruar Kaakotor Topola, Baakhar, Kripabor Baruar Obhotani, Barbaruar Bhabar Burburani, Barbaruar Bulani, Litikai, Nomal, Chikarpati Nikarpati, Belimaar, Dinanath Bejbaruar Xankshipta Jiban Charit, Sri Sri Shankardev, Mor Jiban Sowaran, Patralekha, Mahapurush Sri Sankardev Aru Madhabdev, Dinalekha, Kaamat Kritatwa Labhibar Xanket, Bhagawat Katha, Bharatbarshar Buranji, Tatwa Katha, Sri Krishnakatha, Axomiya Bhaxa Aru Xahitya and The Religion of Love and Devotion are the different books written by Laxminath Bezbarua. Kadam Kali is his collection of poetry. Laxminath Bezbarua was an orator and a great thinker who dedicated his life for the welfare of the people of his state