Bhabananda Deka

About Bhabananda Deka

Prof Bhabananda Deka (1929–2006), is a multi-faceted writer of one hundred twelve books, textbooks on economics, literature and political science, and articles from Assam, a state in the north-eastern part of India. He pioneered the writing of books on Economics in Assamese. His Assamese book on Assam Economics was published for the first time in 1961.

Biography

Early Life and education

Prof Bhabananda Deka was born to Late Baliram Pathak and Late Sayatri Bala Pathak at Byaskuchi Satra, Barpeta sub division of undivided Kamrup district, Assam. He completed his graduation in Economics in 1954 and did his post graduation in Economics from Gauhati University in 1957. After his post graduation, he went to his hometown and worked for Bhattadeb Milan Samiti as a secretary and was instrumental behind the building of the first Library (Bhattadev Puthivoral) in Byaskuchi.

Career

On 1 September 1958 Prof. Bhabananda Deka joined Pragjyotish College in the Economics Department as a Professor. He was retired as Principal of Pragjyotish College in 1992. He was the Founder Principal of Bapuji College in Sarthebari. While he was working for Pragjyotish College, he took leave for a year and worked as a Senior Research Officer in the Language Unit of Union Public Service Commission, Delhi. He also worked as Principal of 4 (four) other Graduate and Post Graduate Colleges spread over the entire state of Assam in India, and brought access to the higher education closer to the toiling millions of underprivileged people in India,.

He was one of the first Assamese to form Asomiya Sahitya Samaj in Delhi along with Parikshit Hazarika and Upendra Nath Goswami in 1968. They were subservient in the introduction of Assamese Language in MIL Department of Delhi University.

He was highly influenced by Sankari Culture and folk culture heritage & was known for his active participation in setting up Belbari Satra (Vaisnavite Monastery) in Barpeta District. He has written hundreds of articles and books on Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva and Sankari Culture. He translated the Kirtan Ghosa (Poetic works of Srimanta Sankardeva) from Assamese to English.

He was a dynamic member of Asom Sahitya Sabha and was made President of Kamrup Sahitya Sabha in 1982.

He was an active member of numerous organisations and associations.