Dipali Barthakur (30 January 1941 – 21 December 2018) was an Indian singer from Assam. Her songs were sung mainly in the

Assamese language Assamese () or Asamiya ( ) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam, where it is an official language. It has long served as a ''lingua franca'' in parts of Northeast India."Axomiya is the major langu ...

. She received the fourth-highest civilian award of

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

, the Padma Shri, in the year 1998.

Early life

Barthakur was born in 1941 to Bishwanath Borthakur and Chandrakanti Devi in Sonari at Sivasagar,

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 ...

.Suchibrata Ray, ''Silpi Dipali Barthakuror 71 Sonkhyok Jonmodin'',

Amar Asom The ( Assamese: আমাৰ অসম) is an Assamese daily newspaper published by G. L. Publications Ltd. After the exit of Homen Borgohain as the Editor-in-chief, this newspaper tries to maintain its stand by siding with people and vocal a ...

, 31 January 2012, accessed date: 03-02-2012

Musical career

Barthakur started her career as a singer early. When she was studying in class nine, in 1958, she sang the song "Mor Bopai Lahori" on

All India Radio All India Radio (AIR), also known as Akashvani (), is India's state-owned public broadcasting, public radio broadcaster. Founded in 1936, it operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broa ...

, Guwahati, and the song "Joubone Amoni Kore Chenaidhon" for the film ''

Lachit Borphukan Lachit Borphukan (24 November 1622 – 25 April 1672) was an army general, primarily known for commanding the Ahom Army and the victory in the naval Battle of Saraighat (1671) that thwarted an invasion by the vastly superior Mughal Forces unde ...

'' (1959). Some of her other popular Assamese songs are: *"Sonor Kharu Nalage Muk" *"Joubone Aamoni Kore, Chenaidhon" *"Jundhone Junalite" *"Konmana Boroxire Sip" *"Senai Moi Jau Dei" *"O' Bondhu Somoi Pale Amar Phale"

Personal life

Barthakur sang her last song "Luito nejabi boi" in 1969. After that she began suffering from a severe

motor neuron disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or—in the United States—Lou Gehrig's disease (LGD), is a rare, terminal neurodegenerative disorder that results in the progressive loss of both upper and low ...

which hindered her singing and forced her to use a

wheelchair A wheelchair is a mobilized form of chair using two or more wheels, a footrest, and an armrest usually cushioned. It is used when walking is difficult or impossible to do due to illnesses, injury, disabilities, or age-related health conditio ...

. In 1976 she married Neel Pawan Barua, an eminent Indian artist and painter from Assam and son of renowned Assamese writer Binanda Chandra Barua. Barthakur died on 21 December 2018 at Nemcare Hospital, Guwahati, after a prolonged illness. She was known as "Nightingale of Assam".

Awards

Barthakur was honored many times, most notably with the Padma Shri award for folk and traditional music in 1990–92. Some of her awards/ recognitions are listed below: *

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 ...

(

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

) for her contribution to the Arts by the

Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...

. * Silipi Bota (2010) from

Government of Assam The Government of Assam or Assam Government abbreviated as GoAS, is the Subnational legislature, state government of the Indian state of Assam. It consists of the Governors of states of India, Governor appointed by the President of India as th ...

. * Aideu Handique Silpi Award (2012) by the Sadou Asom Lekhika Somaroh Samiti.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barthakur, Dipali 1941 births 2018 deaths Singers from Assam People from Sivasagar district Indian women folk singers Indian folk singers Assamese playback singers Assamese-language singers Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts Women musicians from Assam 20th-century Indian singers 20th-century Indian women singers 21st-century Indian singers 21st-century Indian women singers