Sonowal confers Bishnu Rabha Award 2017 on the occasion of his 48th death anniversary

Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday said that Bishnu Prasad Rabha, a literary and cultural icon had immense faith on the power of the youth. 

 

'He wanted from the core of his heart that youth of Assam should show their supremacy in all fields. Bishu Prasad was an admirer of beauty. He also wanted that everybody should be in a position to enjoy the beauty of life with dignity,' Sonowal said while speaking at a function organised on the occasion of observe the 48th death anniversary of Bishnu Rabha as Rabha Divas. 

 

Speaking at the function which was organised by the Cultural Affairs Department in association of District Administration, Barpeta in Barpeta, Sonowal said that Bishnu Prasad Rabha was an inspiration to the youth of the State. Quoting a famous song of Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Sonowal said that the life of Bishnu Prasad Rabha epitomised youth power and was an inspiration to the youth. 

 

Like Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Prime Minister Narednra Modi has enough faith on the youth power and hence several programmes to sensitise youth power have been adopted. To transform human resources of the country, Prime Minister Modi has helped the government to formulate several schemes, Sonowal said. 

 

Praying for good health and long life of Gokul Pathak of Barpeta who was once a close friend of Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Sonowal said that Barpeta represents the cultural and intellectual aspect of Assam. 

 

Barpeta was chosen by Sankardev, Madhabdev, Damodardev to establish the foundation of intellectual life of the State. Ambikagiri Roychowdhury, Prasannalal Chowdhury, Banikanta Kakati of Barpeta played a lead role in development of literature and culture of the State, ' Sonowal said. 

 

Sonowal said that Bishnu Prasad Rabha set up an edifice of a unified Assam based on harmony of all sections of the society. 

 

He also urged upon the people of Assam to follow the path shown by Bishnu Prasad Rabha to strengthen the harmony existing in the State. 

 

Assam can never be backward where greats like Sankardev, Madhabdev, Bishnu Rabha, Bani Kanta Kakati were born. With the judicious use of the latest technologies we must be in a position to utilise potentiality, prosperity and possibility of our State. Mahapurush Sankardev rose to prominence and started Bhakti Movement by virtue of his sheer diligence,' the Assam CM said. 

 

Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi in order to take 125 crore people of the country on board to development, has initiated Sabka Sath Sabka Vikash. Assam Government has also adopted an exhaustive and a comprehensive policy to facilitate development of 3.20 crore people of the State. Development of Assam depends on the development of villages and so to stimulate development of the villages, State government has launched Chief Minister's Samagrya Grammya Unnayan Achoni,' Sonowal said.

 

Speaking on the occasion Minister of State (I/C) Cultural Affairs Naba Kumar Doley said that Bishnu Rabha is not a name, he is an institution. He was a multi-faceted personality who wanted to unify all ethnic tribes and vowed to create a united society. 

 

Media Adviser to the Chief Minister Hrishikesh Goswami while speaking on the occasion said that Bishnu Rabha through cultural revolution, wanted to bring about social changes in Assam. MLA Gunindra Nath Das, Chairman, Housefed Ranjeet Kumar Dass also spoke on the occasion. 

 

Synchronising with the occasion Chief Minister Sonowal presented Bishnu Rabha Award 2017 to artiste and film maker Pulak Gogoi and Sattriya Dance Exponent Sailen Saikia respectively. The award consists of a trophy, anga bastra, Sarai, citation and Rs 1 lakh.

 

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)