Upholding the Bodo Language

Dr Phukan Chandra Basumatary named for Sahitya Akademi Award, 2019, for his collection of poems, ‘Akhaini Athum’.

- Manjum Mahanta

A professor of Bodoland University (BU), Dr Phukan Chandra Basumatary hails from Bennabari village of Baksa district. Born on December 1, 1967, Basumatary has 22 books to his credit. He is a member of the Bhasa Samman Jury for Bodo language and literature, sponsored by Sahitya Akademi. In addition to that, he is also a member of the syllabus committee of Gauhati University for post-graduation level of Bodo language since 2001.

An expert in his field, he has been invited as a resource person many times by Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore and National Book Trust, New Delhi. He has also attended many international and national seminars on Indian languages across India. We find out more about the man, his creative mind, and his motivation to promote the Bodo language.

Tell us a little about the poem collection that has been selected for Sahitya Akademi Award.

I am blessed to have been honoured with the award. The award will inspire me for more such work, and to come up with more literary creations. I have always been a critical author and an essay writer. I had written the poems at different times, and compiled them later in a book. The focus of most of the poems is the human psychology and the conflict within. Keeping in mind the present times of economic disparity, lack of humanity, human conflict of society— the theme of the poems were decided.

One of the poems ‘Aphing’ meaning ‘leg’ in Bodo is a popular poem relating to the present times. Another poem ‘Xobdo’, on human conversations and the crisis created by it, is a popular poem from the book.

Can you share little about your background and about your research work on Bodo literature and language?