June 20: The city today paid tribute to Assamese socio-political and cultural reformer — Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha — with a host of functions, on his death anniversary.

People remembered his commitment to society, especially to the proletariat.

Theatre personality Badal Das paid floral tribute to Rabha this morning at a function organised by the city unit of the All Assam Students’ Union at Santi Udyan near Dighali-pukhuri. An art competition was organised for children by the students’ organisation.

The students’ union also felicitated singer Gunada Das Kaur and offered financial aid to the artiste as a mark of respect. The financial assistance to reputed artistes has been offered by the students’ union for the past several years on Rabha Divas.

In another function, the Assam Pradesh Youth Congress (APYC) held a singing competition based on the Rabha’s compositions at the district library auditorium.

The APYC also felicitated 20 renowned personalities from various walks of life, including Nipon Goswami, Malaya Goswami, Dhaneswar Pathak, Khagen Mahanta, Nilapaban Baruah and Mahendra Borthakur, among others.

The Gauhati Commerce College Students’ Union observed Rabha Divas with a daylong programme on the college campus with principal Ghanashyam Nath as the president.

As a guest of honour, dramatist Debesh Sarma paid homage to Rabha. His songs and poems were recited by Panchanan Barman, Dhiraj Sarma and Manjit Borkotoky.

The Guwahati committee of Assam Yuba Parishad observed the death anniversary of Kalaguru with a daylong programme at the Assam Textile Institute in Ambari.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in a message said Bishnu Rabha had dreamt of a cultural revolution for developing the socio-economic structure of Assam.

On the occasion of Rabha Divas, Gogoi made an appeal to the people of the state to emulate the ideals of Kalaguru, to give shape to a prosperous Assam, free from all evil.