Assam paid heartfelt tribute to eminent Assamese poet and lyricist Hiren Bhattacharyya, affectionately known as Hiruda, on July 4, marking the 14th anniversary of his passing and honouring his enduring contribution to Assamese literature.
Born on July 28, 1932, in Jorhat, Hiren Bhattacharyya rose to become one of the most revered literary personalities in the state. Widely recognised as the “Poet of Love” and Sugandhi Pakhilar Kobi (Poet of Fragrant Butterflies), he earned admiration for his deeply expressive yet accessible poetry, which explored themes of love, humanity, nature and everyday life.
His early education began at Graham Bazar M.E. School in Dibrugarh. Owing to his father’s transferable service as a jailer, he pursued his studies in several towns across Assam, including Tezpur, Mangaldoi, Golaghat and Guwahati. He completed his matriculation from Cotton Collegiate School in 1945 before joining B. Borooah College for higher studies.
Over the course of his distinguished literary career, Bhattacharyya authored several acclaimed collections of poetry, including Roudro Kamona, Tomar Gaan, Sugandhi Pokhilaa, Mor Desh Aru Premor Kobita, and Saichor Pathar Manuh, the latter earning him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992. Beyond his work as a poet, he made significant contributions as an editor, serving as the poetry editor of Prantik magazine for more than three decades while also editing other Assamese literary publications and newspapers.
His remarkable achievements were recognised through numerous honours, including the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Soviet Land Nehru Award, the Bishnu Prasad Rabha Award, the Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad Award, the Assam Valley Literary Award, the Ganesh Gogoi Award and the Padmanath Vidyabinod Smriti Sahitya Puraskar.
Hiren Bhattacharyya passed away in Guwahati on July 4, 2012, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that continues to influence readers and writers alike. On his death anniversary, literary organisations, admirers and members of Assam’s literary community paid homage to the celebrated poet, whose timeless verses remain deeply cherished across generations.
