June 24: The city is all set for a musical treat as a host of noted singers and music directors come together for the first time to pay homage to renowned lyricist and writer Nirmalprabha Bordoloi. The musical tribute will be held at Lakhiram Baruah Sadan on June 27.

The cultural evening titled “Abelir Beli” will be organised by lyricist Eli Ahmed, one of Bordoloi’s closest associates, and promises to enthral audiences with a celebration of Bordoloi’s work.

Bordoloi’s death on June 1 last year left a great void in the hearts of the singers and music directors of the state.

“Bordoloi baideu, one of the most celebrated lyricists of the state, had hugely contributed to enrich the music scenario of the state,” said Ahmed. She added, “Thus the cultural evening will be a humble homage by all the singers and musicians of the state, who, over the years, have been singing songs penned by her.”

Some of the noted singers, music directors and music composers who will share the stage on that day are Birendranath Dutta, Dilip Sharma, Lakshahira Das, Mihir Bordoloi, Khagen Mahanta, Samar Hazarika, Bhaben Borthakur, Pulak Banerjee, Ramen Boruah, Prabhat Sharma, Shanta Uzir, Ramen Choudhury, Bhupen Uzir and Anupam Choudhury.

Born in 1933 into a highly cultured family in Sivasagar, Bordoloi began writing when she was only six.

Poems, lyrics, plays (Tritiya Anka, Agnigarbha, Mahakal), books for children (Asomiya Omala Geet, Chil Chil Chila, Jiki Mikir Katha), operas (Urvashi, Beula, Raag Basanta, Raja), dance-dramas, treatises, criticism, radio features, novels and translations ? Bordoloi has excelled in all the literary genres.

She won the Sahitya Akademi award in 1983 for her book Sudirgha Din aru Ritu (a collection of poems), the Asam Sahitya Sabha award for Dinar Pachat Din (a collection of poems), Durgadhar Barkataki Bota for Devi (a treatise on the Shakti cult of Assam), the Prabina Saikia award, 2001 and several other awards.

Popular singer Shanta Uzir who considers Bordoloi the prima donna of Assamese letters said,

“It would be a privilege for me to sing in praise of Bordoloi baideu through her own lyrics. We are all grateful that Ahmed baideu has thought of conducting a cultural evening in the name of one of the greatest lyricists of the Assamese music industry.”

Ahmed said she would make it a point every year to bring the entire music fraternity of the state together to pay homage to the genius of Bordoloi.