Tribute to Bodo film icon

Kokrajhar, Dec. 21: The shradh of renowned Bodo actor, dramatist and singer Ghana Kanta Basumatary was held today at Mwiderkhoro in Kokrajhar.

Well-known Bodo film artiste Tikendrajit (Jalakho), folk singer Khanindra Brahma, singer Mahat Basumatary, president of All Assam Tribal Sangha, Ranjit Kumar Borgoyary, writer and president of Kokrajhar district committee of Asom Sahitya Sabha Arun Kumar Borgoyary, among others, paid floral tributes.

Basumatary died after a protracted illness at his residence at Mwiderkhoro on December 11. A multifaceted personality, he played the lead in the first Bodo motion picture, Daina, in 1984. He also acted as the protagonist in the Bodo feature film Jeuni Simang in 1987 and as a character artiste in Dahal.

Basumatary also played the lead in the first Bodo TV serial Nerswnni Hwsrikhaonai that was telecast on Doordarshan in 1995.

Basumatary was born on December 18, 1952. He retired as a teacher and founder principal of Mwiderkhoro LP School in early 2013. He had been bedridden since January this year after a cardiac arrest. Basumatary is survived by his wife, son and daughter.

His song on All India Radio, Awi lwi bajwi swithw jugaoni lwi bajwi swithw jugaonni, is still quite popular among the listeners. He brought alive the character of Raja Iraqdao in the radio play of the same name on AIR. He was also part of the first Bodo theatre group Bithorai Afad and acted in several plays, including Hor Baide Kwmsi and Mimangni Simang.

He represented Assam in the National School Games in the sixties and seventies.