— Babul Tamuli Rajani Kanta Bordoloi was one of the pioneers of the romantic movement in Assamese literature who contributed immensely to the domain of Assamese fictional literature. Prior to him, a number of writers had tried to write many novels, but they failed to master the art of fiction. True to the concept of literary genre, Bordoloi’s Miri Jiyari published in 1894 is regarded as the first Assamese novel and he is considered to be the father of Assamese fictional literature.
After passing the Entrance examination from Guwahati Govt High School in 1885, Bordoloi left for Kolkata to pursue higher studies. There he came to the contact of western thoughts and ideas brought by English language and literature. Imbued with nationalist fervour, a group of Assamese students studying at Kolkata at that time brought out a literary magazine called Jonaki. The literary upsurge brought by the magazine inspired Bordoloi to write his first article called Sarir Tatwa in the pages of Jonaki that was the beginning of literary career of Rajani Kanta Bordoloi who laid the foundation of Assamese fictional literature.
After graduating in Arts from Calcutta University in 1890, Bordoloi joined the office of the Deputy Commissioner at Guwahati as a clerk. In 1903, he had been promoted to the rank of Extra Assistant Commissioner and transferred to Golaghat. As a government officer he had served in many places of Assam in different capacities. It gave Bordoloi a rare opportunity to closely observe the diverse culture, customs and traditions of different sections of people live in different parts of the State.
In 1892, Bordoloi was transferred to North Lakhimpur as Sub-Deputy Collector. The colorful life of the Mishings was live on the bank of the river Subansiri inspired Bordoloi to pen his maiden novel called Miri Jiyari. Through a simple love story he beautifully described the rich culture and tradition of the Mishings in the novel. The novel published in 1894 laid a milestone in Assamese literature. After more than 100 years of its publication, the novel is still regarded as the widely read book in Assamese literature.
His second novel Manomoti (1900) is based on the historical background of the last few years of Ahom rule in Assam. From literary point of view, it has been acclaimed as the best work of Bordoloi. With the help of an appealing story full of romance and horror he neatly described a vivid picture of the Burmese invasion of Assam. His other six novels viz Dandua Droh ( 1909), Rongili (1925), Radha Rukminir Ran (1925), Nirmal Bhakat (1925), Tamreswari Mandir (1926) and Rahdoi Ligiri (1930) described a particular period of Assam history. His last novel Khamba Thoibir Sadhukatha (1932) is actually an adaptation of a Manipuri folk legend called Khamba Thoibi Givari. With the help of a tragic love story he beautifully described the Manipuri culture, traditions, religious faiths and beliefs in the novel.
In terms of the treatment of subject matter and style of description, among his nine novels only Miri Jiyari and Khamba Thoibir Sadhukatha belong to the category of the social novels. All others can be regarded as historical novels. Rather than the story, Bordoloi seems to gave more emphasis upon history and traditions of the society in his novels. So many critics treated them as historical narratives rather than novels in proper. Through a romantic love story, Bordoloi tried to project the glorious past of the State in his novels. Therefore, many critics called him as Walter Scott of Assam.
A master craftsman of fiction, Bordoloi artistically drew a panoramic picture of the contemporary Assamese society in his novels. The multifacial culture of Assamese society, its rich heritage, folk songs and dances are a part and parcel of his novels. In Miri Jiyari he beautifully described the tradition of Marong Ghar and Nara Singa Bihu of the Mishing society. He extensively used Bihu songs in his novel Rongili and gave a vivid description of the celebration of Rongali Bihu at Rongpur, the capital of Ahom kingdom. In Manomoti he beautifully described Holi festival of Barpeta celebrated annually with pomp and geity.
Reverentially called as Upanyash Samrat (king of novel) the writings of Bordoloi are not confined only to fictional literature. An exponent of Vaishnavite culture and tradition, he prepared a paper on Sankardeva as Mahapurush Sri Sri Sankardeva and presented it in a public function held on the occasion of the death anniversary of Sankardeva in 1920. He also wrote an article on Mayamoriyas, a major Vaishnavite sect in Assam as About the Mayamoriy. He prepared the outline of a biographical sketch of Bhattadeva, the founder of Assamese prose literature and published it in Awahan. He was a regular contributor to many leading magazines like Banhi, Usha and Awahan. He also left an indelible imprint in the field of journalism by editing a monthly magazine called Pradipika.
Bordoloi was a pioneer in the tea plantation of Assam. After retiring from his service, he set up a tea estate at Makum in Tinsukia district and devoted himself for the cause of Assamese language and literature. He also adorned the prestigious post of president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha held at Nagaon in 1920.
(Published on the occasion of death anniversary of Bordoloi). ASSAM TRIBUNE
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