Birendranath Datta (1 March 1935 – 23 October 2023) was an Indian academic, linguist, author, researcher of folklore, singer, and lyricist. During his career, he worked mainly as a professor in a variety of

Assam Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...

colleges. In 2009, he was awarded the

Padma Shri The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...

, the fourth highest civilian award, for Literature and Education, and in 2010 he received the Jagaddhatri-Harmohan Das Literary award. Datta was elected as the president of Asom Sahitya Sabha for the 2003 North Lakhimpur Session, and the 2004 Hojai Session.

Early life

Birendra Nath Datta was born on 1 March 1935 in

Nagaon Nagaon is a city and a municipal board in Nagaon district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Assam. It is situated east of Guwahati. With a population of 1,16,355 as per 2011 census it is an AMRUT City and 4th biggest city ...

to Kalpanath Datta, a school teacher, and Mandakini Datta. Their original home was in Panera village, near

Baihata Chariali Baihata Chariali (Pron: baɪˈhɑ:tə ˈʧɑ:rɪˌɑ:lɪ) is an outgrowth urban centre of Guwahati town in the Kamrup Rural district of Assam, India; situated at northern side of the Brahmaputra River. The place is called Chariali, as it is a ...

. Datta started his education at Chenikuthi L.P. School in Guwahati and then studied in

Goalpara Goalpara ) is a city and the district headquarters of Goalpara district, Assam, India. It is situated to the west of Guwahati. Etymology The name Goalpara is said to have originated from the word "Gwaltippika" meaning Guwali village, or "the ...

. In 1933, Datta secured ranks among the top 10 in both Matriculation and I.Sc. examinations at

Gauhati University Gauhati University also known as GU, is a collegiate public state university located in Guwahati, Assam, India. It was established on 26 January 1948 under the provisions of an Act enacted by the Assam Legislative Assembly and is the oldest un ...

. He earned his bachelor's degree at Viswabharati University and his master's degrees at Gauhati University, both in Economics.

Career

In 1957, He started his career as a lecturer at

B. Borooah College B. Borooah College (Autonomous), established in 1943, is a degree college situated in Ulubari locality of Guwahati, Assam. It was named after Bholanath Borooah a businessman from Nagaon. This college is affiliated with the Gauhati University. A ...

. In 1964, he joined Pramathesh Barua College at Gauripur in

Lower Assam Lower Assam division is one of the 5 administrative divisions of Assam in India. It was formed in 1874, consisting of the undivided Kamrup district of Western Assam, undivided Darrang and Nagaon districts of Central Assam and Khasi & Jainti ...

as the founder principal. He worked as the principal in two other colleges as well, Goalpara College and Pandu College. In 1974, he obtained his PhD degree in Folklore under the supervision of Prafulla Dutta Goswami. In 1979 he joined Gauhati University as a reader and later became the head of the Department of Folklore Research. After leaving Gauhati University in 1995 he joined Tezpur University as a professor in the department of Traditional Culture and Art Forms.

Literary career

Datta also wrote a number of scholarly books. One of his books, ''Cultural Contours of Northeast India'', was published by

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the publishing house of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world. Its first book was printed in Oxford in 1478, with the Press officially granted the legal right to print books ...

. For his book ''Sankar Madhavar Manisha Aru Asomar Sanaskritic Uttaradhikar'', he won the 12th Jagaddhatri-Harmohan Das Literary award.

Music career

Datta was also a singer and composer. Songs set to tune by him include "Monor Khobar", "Bahudin Bokulor Gondh Poa Naai", "Meli Dilo Man", "Rohimalaa Uronir Maajere", "Sou Sirish Daalat", "Tomaar Kaarane Jaau", "Aahinak Kone Anane", "Mou Daaponar", "Sita Banabaash", "Bogoli Bogaa Phot Di Ja", "Jilir Maate", "O Ghan Chirikaa", "Barashaa Tomaar", "Aakaashe Botaahe", and "Aakaash Aamaak Akani Aakaash Diya" He also sang songs for an Assamese language film, Smrtir Parash, which was directed by Brojen Barua.

Death

Birendra Nath Datta died in

Guwahati Guwahati () the largest city of the Indian state of Assam, and also the largest metropolis in northeastern India. Dispur, the capital of Assam, is in the circuit city region located within Guwahati and is the seat of the Government of Assam. Th ...

on 23 October 2023, at the age of 88.

Awards

(2009) * Jagaddhatri-Harmohan Das Literary award (2010)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Datta, Birendra Nath 1935 births 2023 deaths 20th-century Indian educational theorists People from Nagaon district Indian folklorists Gauhati University alumni Visva-Bharati University alumni Academic staff of Gauhati University Asom Sahitya Sabha presidents Poets from Assam Musicians from Assam Assamese-language poets 20th-century Indian poets