Music maestros:Bishnu Rabha
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In the process of it all he turned out to be a true representative of Asom-the mosaic of diverse cultural and ethnic streams. He loved the taste of alcoholic beverage as much as he loved the sacrosanct doctrines of a Brahmin household. He was aware of disparities but he was too pre-occupied in his ceaseless experimentations to find a real time solution to bridge the divide between social groups. He exhibited the solution by being himself – by being a darling of all communities.

It was the romance of existence that he savoured. What he naturally inherited viz, the smell of the wind of his own earth guided him to create wonderous art forms-in terms of poetry and other creative works. It is this romance emanating from the core of his heart, that expressed itself in his poetry of love and nature. This uncaring daredevil and wandering person is also the real Bishnu Prasad- a loving it all, simple minded, idealist, romantic Assamese to the core Rabha’s definition of the term “Krishti”(culture) provides an interesting insight into Rabha’s mind. “Karshan” (cultivation) of the land only is not “Kristi” “Karshan” of the eternal field of invisible universe is also “Kristi”. The mental “Karshan” of the heart or the creative commotion happening in the head is also “Krishti”. On the other hand, what he loved about the ideology of Marxism and the ‘Party’ doctrine was the advocacy for the people-his people. I like Bhupenda’s favourite comparison between the two stalwarts- Bishnu Prasad and Joyti Prasad – that Joyti Prasad tried to play with the cloud on the sky, while keeping his foot on the ground Bishnu Rabha, on the other hand remained entrenched deeply in the ground and played around with mother earth. But he had not much time to go into the nitty-gritty of its discipline and formal structure. Too independent a soul for that- A real Man !

Also read about: Raseswar Saikiya Borbayan