Jyoti Prasad Agarwala

Jyoti Prasad Agarwala (17 June 1903 – 17 January 1951) was a noted Indian playwright, songwriter, poet, writer and film maker from Assam. He was considered as Assamese cultural icon, deeply revered for his creative vision and output and is popularly called the Rupkonwar of Assamese culture.[1][2][3][4] In fact, he is regarded as the founder of Assamese cinema for Joymoti (1935).[5] His death anniversary (17 January) is observed as Silpi divas (Artists' Day) in his honor.

Jyoti Prasad Agarwala
Agarwala on a 2004 stamp of India
Born(1903-06-17)17 June 1903
Tamulbari Tea Estate, Bengal Province, British India
Died17 January 1951(1951-01-17) (aged 47)
Tezpur, Assam, India
NationalityIndian
Other names'Rupkonwar'
OccupationFilm producer, director, Music composer, Poet, Dramatist, Writer
Years active1932–1951
Spouse(s)Devajani Bhuyan
Children7

Biography
Poki or Jyoti Bharati, residence of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala at Tezpur

Jyoti Prasad Agarwala was born on 17 June 1903 to an Agrawal family, to Paramananda Agarwala and Kiranmoyee Agarwala at Tamulbari Tea Estate. His uncles were renowned Assamese poets Chandra Kumar Agarwala and Ananda Chandra Agarwala. His forefather, Nabrangram Agarwala, had come to Assam in 1811 from the Marwar region in Rajasthan. After completing his studies in various schools in Assam and Calcutta, he matriculated in 1921. He went to Edinburgh in 1926 to study economics, but returned in 1930 before completing his course. On his way back, he spent seven months at the UFA studio in Germany learning film-making.

Agarwala putting the finishing touches to the editing of Joymoti

After his return to Assam, he continued his activities for Indian independence that had disrupted his studies earlier and in 1932 he was imprisoned for fifteen months. He established the Chitraban Studio at the Bholaguri Tea Estate and began filming the movie Joymoti around the end of 1933. This was the first film from Assam.

The film, released in 1935, was based on a play by Laxminath Bezbarua about the heroic Ahom princess Sati Joymoti imprisoned and tortured by a repressive Ahom swargadeo. In 1936 he married Devajani Bhuyan. In 1941 he participated in the freedom movement, and in 1942, he went underground to escape British repression. Toward the end of his life he moved from a romantic to a more radical vision, which was reflected in his works.[6]

He died of cancer on 17 January 1951 at his residence Poki in Tezpur, Assam, India.

Works

Short Stories

  • Rupohi
  • Bogitora
  • Xontora
  • Xuntir Abhimaan
  • Zuzaru
  • Xotir Xuworoni
  • Xondhya
  • Xilakuti
  • Neelasorai and more.

Novel

Amar Gaon

Other books
  • Jyotidhara
  • Chandrakumar Agarwala
  • Background of Assamese Architecture

Children literature

He wrote about thirteen children's poems, among which Kumpur Xopon is noteworthy.

Songs

Jyoti Prasad Agarwala had written around 300+ songs, many of which he had set to music himself. Collectively, these songs are called Jyoti xongit.[7]

Plays
  • Sonit Kunwori (1925)
  • Karengar Ligiri (1930)
  • Rupalim (1938)
  • Nimati Konya (1964)
  • Khanikar (1977)
  • Lobhita (1945)
  • Perfection of me

Incomplete Plays
  • Kanaklata
  • Sundarknowar
  • Sonpakhilee

Film

Agarwala is lauded as the creator of Assamese cinema. In a period that saw the beginning of Indian Cinema, with.

Poems
  • Jyoti Raamaayon – Poetry Collection
  • Luitor Paaror Agnixur – Poetry Collection, 1971

Stamp

In honor of Agarwala's contributions to Assamese literature and film, the Government of Assam issued a commemorative stamp of "Agarwala" in 2004. It was pushed for by the AGP and approved by the Prime Minister of India in mid-2004.[10]

See also

References
  1. "All Assam theatres to be renovated: Actor". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  2. "Jyotiprasad Agarwala : The Sagacious Artist » Northeast Today". Northeast Today. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  3. Baruah, Parthajit (5 October 2018). "Giving voice to the voiceless". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  4. "Xilpi'r Xonkolpo: Zubeen Garg leads artiste protests against Citizenship Bill". The Indian Express. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  5. Piracy, bad halls, poor story-line killing Assamese cinema Archived 11 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine. The Hindu. 20 September 2006
  6. PadmaHriday Sangrakshan Sangrahalay Life Archived 28 February 2004 at the Wayback Machine
  7. PadmaHriday Sangrakshan Sangrahalay Music Archived 11 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Joymati (1935). IMDB
  9. Jyotiprasad Agarwala (1903–1951). IMDB
  10. Centre clears stamp on Jyoti Prasad NENA – 22 July 2003
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