The sixth edition of Monkobita, an annual literary and cultural initiative of the Raul Kaushik Nath Foundation, will be held at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, on February 13.
The event will pay tribute to two towering personalities of Assamese culture – poet Navakanta Barua and music icon Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, on the occasion of their 100th birth anniversaries.
Monkobita, held in February every year, is an initiative of the Raul Kaushik Nath Foundation. Launched in 2021, Monkobita is an endeavour to pay tribute to the heritage left by the legendary poets and cultural figures.
This year’s edition is being organised in collaboration with the Department of Assamese, Bhasha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University, and the Bhupen Hazarika Cultural Trust.
Navakanta Barua, a renowned Assamese poet, novelist, essayist and children’s writer, remains a central figure in modern Assamese literature. Popularly known as Ekhud Kokaideu (the little big brother), Barua was one of the most respected Tagore scholars in Assam.
In 1943, Barua began a fulfilling academic journey at Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, where he pursued his studies before graduating with honours in English in 1947.
His tenure at Visva-Bharati broadened his intellectual horizons and immersed him in the fusion of cultural spirit and literary traditions, advocated by Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore – that deeply influenced his perspective as a poet and humanist.
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, affectionately called Sudhakantha (the nectar-voiced) and celebrated as the Bard of Brahmaputra, was a multifaceted genius, singer, composer, filmmaker, lyricist, poet, and visionary, whose work transcended regional boundaries and tackled universal issues of humanity, unity, and social justice.
Although rooted in Assam, Dr. Hazarika’s artistic journey forged significant and lasting connections with West Bengal and its cultural landscape. Starting in the 1950s, Kolkata became a significant artistic center for him; he lived and worked there for many years, building relationships with Bengali artists and enriching the region’s lively music scene.
The Bengal connection extended beyond mere geography; it symbolized a blending of cultural perspectives that enriched his artistic expression and enabled his message of universal unity to extend well beyond Assam.
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Monkobita 2026 will feature two components – an academic segment and a cultural segment. The academic session will be held at Bhasha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, with participation from noted scholars.
The cultural event will take place at Lipika Auditorium of Visva-Bharati, and will feature a range of programmes including poetry recitation, songs, and dances.
The Ganakantha branch of the Indian People’s Theatre Association, Siuri, West Bengal, along with Pooja Singh, Priyanka Devi Mandal, and Krishna Tamuli from Viswa-Bharati University, will participate in the event as well. Three celebrated poets from West Bengal, Angshuman Kar, Mitul Dutta, and Kuntal Chattopadhyay, will also grace the event.
Monkobita is curated by Bipuljyoti Saikia and Nayan Prasad in association with the trustees of Raul Kaushik Nath Foundation which include Adil Hussain, Utpal Borpujari, Kaushik Nath, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, Krishna Barooah, Nandil Biswa Sarma and Anna Kaushik.
It may be noted that, Monkobita forms part of Mongeet Art Residency programme of the Raul Kaushik Nath Foundation, which organises Mongeet, Montulika, Monmrittika (residential workshops for budding musicians, painters, sculptors), Aharar Akholi (workshop focusing on traditional cuisine), and Xotphool (summer music workshop for school children) every year.
