A reproduced portrait of the Assamese cultural icon

Guwahati, Sept. 15: Beltika could have been a pilgrimage spot for the countless fans of Bishnu Prasad Rabha, for that is where the last rites of this cultural icon were performed 33 years ago. Sadly, it remains a nondescript locale on the outskirts of Tezpur town in central Assam.

In a fitting tribute to Rabha, fondly called Kalaguru (cultural patriarch), his family has now decided to build a memorial in Beltika. From the ashes will emerge a poem in concrete — a marble structure 14 feet at the base and four feet in height.

Family members of Rabha — a rebel, poet, singer, lyricist, actor and politician — have decided to go ahead with their dream project on their own after waiting all these years in the hope that the government would do something.

The second son of the Kalaguru, Hemraj, told The Telegraph from Tezpur that he had already drafted the design of the proposed memorial, based on the traditional gamocha. “The gamocha will be adorned by the distinctive stripes of the traditional dresses of the state’s tribes. It will symbolise the unifying spirit of Bishnu Rabha,” he said.

Rabha, who was a Bodo, regarded the diverse tribes of the state as the pillars of Assamese society. He had once remarked that the Karbis, one of the earliest settlers, were the “Columbuses of Assam”.

Eager to get on with the task of building the memorial to his father, Hemraj said, “If everything goes according to plan, we hope to begin work on the memorial on his death anniversary next year, which is June 20, and complete it by January 31, his birth anniversary.”

An office-bearer of the Bishnu Rabha Samadhi Nirman Samiti said the Kalaguru’s family had approached the erstwhile AGP-led government with the proposal to build a memorial, but did not get any response. “We intend to go the people to raise a portion of the funds required to construct the memorial,” he said.

Hemraj said the main task was to prevent erosion of the site by the Brahmaputra. “We have urged the authorities to look into the matter.”

Apart from being a lyricist, composer and actor, Rabha was an artist of repute. The new generation of artists uses his paintings of 16th century saint-reformer Sankardev as reference material. As a novelist, playwright and critic, Rabha was prolific. His novel Sonpahi is regarded as one of the finest in Assamese literature. Most of his works, including poems and songs, lie scattered in the pages of various magazines.

Hemraj said his family was considering publishing a compendium of Bishnu Rabha’s works in a single volume “so that the future generations do not have to search for his gems”.

Bishnu Rabha was a very good actor and played a role in the first Assamese film, Joymati. The film’s producer-director, Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla, was a friend of his.