Visva-Bharati to honour Assamese legends Hazarika & Barua at ‘Monkobita’ on Feb 13

Guwahati: The legacy and works of music maestro Bhrata Ratna Bhupen Hazarika, whose birth centenary the state is celebrating, and Navakanta Barua, one of the pioneering litterateurs of the state, that continue to define Assamese literature and music will be discussed and celebrated in the sixth edition of ‘Monkobita’ at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, on Feb 13.

Monkobita is an endeavour to pay tribute to the heritage left by the legendary poets of Assam.


Veteran theatre and film activist Nayan Prasad said this year’s edition pays tribute to two towering figures, Hazarika and Barua, whose creations continue to define Assamese music and literature.

“Monkobita 2026 is particularly significant as it commemorates the birth centenaries of both icons, celebrating their enduring influence on literature, music, and the Assamese cultural consciousness. The event is being organised in collaboration with the department of Assamese, Bhasha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University, and the Bhupen Hazarika Cultural Trust,” he said.

Prasad said Hazarika, the “Bard of Brahmaputra”, was a multi-talented creative force — composer, singer, filmmaker, lyricist, poet and cultural visionary. “While rooted in Assam, his artistic journey found a parallel home in West Bengal. From the 1950s onwards, Kolkata became a major creative base for him, fostering lasting collaborations with Bengali artists and enriching the region’s musical landscape. This Bengal connection symbolised a confluence of cultures, enabling his message of unity, humanism and social justice to resonate far beyond the northeast,” he said.

Poet Bipuljyoti Saikia said Barua, beloved as Ekhud Kokaideu, remains a central figure in modern Assamese literature. “His body of work spans poetry, novels, essays, translations and children’s literature. A respected Tagore scholar, Barua began his academic journey at Visva-Bharati in 1943, completing his BA in English in 1947. His years at Santiniketan deeply influenced his worldview; the institution’s emphasis on cultural fusion, artistic freedom, and literary exploration shaped his poetic voice and humanist philosophy,” he said.

Saikia said Monkobita 2026 will feature both academic and cultural sessions.

Monkobita, organised every Feb, is an initiative of the Raul Kaushik Nath Foundation. Since its inception in 2021, the programme has aimed to honour the rich literary and cultural heritage shaped by Assam’s legendary poets.