Veteran Assamese poet, Jnanpith awardee and Padmashri Nilamoni Phookan breathed his last on January 19. He was 89.
Nilamoni Phookan was one of the most-celebrated poets of Assam and has been awarded the country’s highest literary award, the 56th Jnanpith for the year 2021 on April 11, 2022 at Guwahati.
The notable works of Phookan are ‘Xurjya Henu Naami Aahe Ei Nodiyedi’, ‘Kabita’, and ‘Gulapi Jamur Lagna’.
He was admitted at the Gauhati Medical College & Hospital in Guwahati for age-related ailments.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma mourned the death of the Jnanpith Awardee. In a statement, chief minister Sarma said that Nilamani Phookan was among the most prolific and one of the glittering lights of Assam who enriched literary world with his poetic creations.
“The contributions he made to enrich the literary repository of the state will remain ever memorable. Jnanpith and Padmashri Awardee Nilamani Phookan’s creations know no bounds and are adored by the cross sections of society. His death is an irreparable loss which will definitely create a void in the poetic world,” a statement from the chief minister’s office said.
Sarma however, said that his literary creations will act as source of inspiration to the posterity. He expressed his heartfelt empathy to the bereaved family and prayed to the almighty for eternal peace of the departed soul.
NIlamoni Phookan, who was born on September 10, 1933, integrated French symbolism across several of his Assamese poems. His collection of poetry, Kavita (Kobita), won the 1981 Sahitya Akademi Award. In 1990, the Indian government gave him the Padma Shri award. In 2002, the Sahitya Akademi gave him the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, the nation’s highest literary accolade. He was chosen by the cultural department of the Government of India in 1998 to serve as a “Emeritus Fellow” for a two-year tenure. He was also given the “Sahityacharya” honour by the Assam Sahitya Sabha.
Assam governor Jagdish Mukhi also condoled the demise of the noted poet. In his condolence message Mukhi said: “Deeply saddened to hear the demise of the noted poet Nilamoni Phookan. With his demise, we have lost a distinguished poet who made invaluable contributions in uplifting the literary landscape of the state. Honoured with the Jnanpith and Padmashri Awards, he played a key role in promoting the rich and vibrant cultural heritage of Assam.”
“I convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and pray to God to be with the family members in this testing time. May his soul rest in peace,” the governor added.
