File picture of Keshab Mahanta atending a programme during last year’s Guwahati Book Fair at Chandmari

Jan. 11: Not only in life, but even after death: the king of melody among Assam’s poet-lyricists, Keshab Mahanta, is still an inspiration to many.

That is why the entire art, culture and film fraternity of the city will come together to celebrate the mellifluous lyricist’s 81st birth anniversary on January 20 at Rabindra Bhawan. This occasion is being tinged by greater poignancy, as it will be the Sahitya Akademi winning poet’s first birthday after his death. He died on March 31 last year.

The Keshab Mahanta Divas Udjapon Samiti, the cultural organisation celebrating his birth anniversary, has organised a two-day event from January 19 to carry forward his musical legacy.

The two-day event will be celebrated as Keshab Mahanta Divas in his memory.

Veteran singer and adviser to the organisation, Khagen Mahanta, said such a poet’s legacy could not be celebrated in a single day.

“So we have decided to utilise another day to bring to light the works of Mahanta Sir,” added the singer.

On the first day of the event, a memorial lecture on the poet and his oeuvre will be delivered by playwright Arun Sarma, which will kick off the event.

An artistes’ meet will be held, in which artistes from different fields from across the country will come and discuss several issues, including the past, present and future of art, culture and the film industry.

Since the poet shared a strong rapport with the theatre movement in Assam, veterans from the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) will also hold a special session on the poet’s output.

A dance drama, Beli Uluwa Sadhu, written by Mahanta, will be enacted by child artistes. A documentary on Keshab Mahanta by Gautam Bora will also be screened on the first day.

On the second day of the event, which will be his birthday, a mega musical feature Tunmi Kalojoyee Huwa, based on different songs of Mahanta, will be rendered by several veteran as well as upcoming singers of the state.

A musical extravaganza, more than two hours long, has been scripted by Kriti Kamal Bhuyan. Produced and directed by music director Ramen Baruah, the musical programme will have singers such as Khagen Mahanta, Archana Mahanta, Monojyotsna Mahanta, Shanta Uzir, Nilima Khatun, Nomita Goswami and J.P. Das.

“The two-day event will function as a platform, where his fans and followers can congregate. Moreover, it can serve as a breeding ground for new and innovative ideas to emerge,” said Khagen Mahanta.

The organisation is also planning to take the event to other parts of the state in the coming years.

Born in Chotiya in the house of satra adhikari Thaneswar Mahanta, the poet had written five books of songs, four on poetry, several books for children and some highly appreciated translations of some of the country’s best known authors.

The lyricist had penned songs for nearly 30 Assamese films. He had also written musical scripts for radio on the lives and works of Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla and Bishnu Rabha.

His unique style made him a poet of the masses. The Sahitya Akademi honoured him for his book of songs Mur Jey Kiman Hepa in 1993.