The late Chandra Prasad Saikia was a multifaceted personality of rare eminence. A prolific writer of prose, he dominated the literary scene of Assam for over half a century. He was regarded as the most successful editor of Assamese journal and magazine. His contribution towards the journalism movement in Assam was a conglomeration of talent, hardwork, experience, prudence and perseverance. Recognising his outstanding contribution to the society, the Government of India posthumously conferred on him the coveted Padma Bibhushan this year.

At a time when journalism in Assam was in its nascent state, Chandra Prasad Saikia, after completing his MA in English from the Calcutta University, started his career as a sub-editor of The Assam Tribune in 1955. As a brilliant student in English literature, he could have easily got a lucrative job in any government department, but he dedicated himself towards the uplift of the Assamese language and literature. Once he joined the profession, he gave a new dimension to the Assamese journalism movement. In 1963, he joined Asam Batori as its founder editor. At the same time, he also worked as the editor of a monthly literary magazine called Manideep. In 1988, he joined Natun Dainik as its founder editor and served in that capacity till 1993.

As an editor, Chandra Prasad was comparable to none in the Assamese literary world. He will go down in the history of Assamese journalism as the most outstanding editor, especially in the field of literary magazine. He often persuaded veteran writers to regularly write for his magazine. Encouraging and inspiring upcoming writers, he established many of them in Assamese literary world. From 1974 to 1986 he was the founder editor of Prakash, published by the Publication Board, Assam. With his innovative ideas and unique style of editing the magazine, ushered in a golden age in Assamese literature. From 1993 till his death on August 8, 2006, he was the founder editor of Gariyoshi, a monthly literary magazine published by ‘Sahitya Prakash’. Under his stewardship, Gariyoshi bagged the prestigious Katha award for three consecutive years from 1996 to 1998.

An able literary organiser, Chandra Prasad joined the Publication Board, Assam, as its secretary in 1967. His tenure as the secretary of the Board for 19 years is regarded as a high point in the history of the Publication Board. With his dynamic leadership, he converted it into a Mecca of Assamese literature. Publishing a number of rare books, like Kautilyar Arthashashtra, Prachya Sashanavali, Hasti Vidyarnava,, Satriya Nritya etc., he laid a milestone in Assamese literature. Taking over as the president of Asam Sahitya Sabha in 1999, he published old collections of Jonaki and Banhi, two classic magazines published from Kolkata in the 19th century.

Chandra Prasad was instrumental in organising the first book fair in Assam. In 1983, he visited, the World Book Fair held at Frankfurt in Germany. On the basis of this experience, he organised the first Guwahati Book Fair at Judges’ Field in 1984 in collaboration with the National Book Trust of India. Apart from creating a congenial atmosphere for reading and buying books, the fair brought an unprecedented intellectual upsurge in Assam. It has now been expanded to every nook and corner of the State.

A vastly read man, Chandra Prasad wielded a prolific pen and dazzled brightly in all the areas he laid his hands on. For over half a century, he expended all his creative powers to produce precious gems of literature with his magical words coloured by great aesthetics and a deep sense of nationalism. A humanist of the highest order, he was greatly influenced by the two great Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Not considering them as mere religious books, he analysed the two epics from a modern perspective with scientific explanation. On the basis of the tragic life of Karna, the great warrior of the Mahabharata, he wrote his widely acclaimed novel Maharathi. In his lucid description and artistic style of narration. Karna emerged as a human being in the pages of the novel. The novel, regarded as a best seller in Assamese literature, won him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1995. Critically analysing the two epic’s, he wrote two commentaries. Mahabharata – Biswas aru Bismoi and Ramayana – Biswas aru Bismoi which were published in series in Gariyoshi. The multidimensional life of Jyotiprasad Agarwalla, the cultural icon of Assam, inspired him to write a biographical novel called Tore More Alokore Yatra. The novel fetched him the Publication Board Award for the year 2000.

An ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi and his principle of non-violence Chandra Prasad took an active part in the country’s struggle for freedom. At the call of Gandhi, he joined the Quit India Movement in 1942 while he was studying in high school. He served a four-month jail term in Sivasagar jail in 1943 for his role in the movement. In 1944, he spent another nine months in Jorhat jail. He was then the youngest prisoner in the jail and did his matriculation from the Jorhat jail in 1945. In the jail, he was taught by two veteran freedom fighters, FA Ahmed and Bimala Prasad Chaliha. His role and experiences in the mass movement were spontaneously expressed in many of writings in the form of shortstories, novels and articles.

Courtesy: The Assam Tribune (August 2007)