Guwahati: Assam observed Rabha Diwas on Saturday to commemorate the death anniversary of warrior artist, freedom fighter and cultural icon Bishnu Prasad Rabha.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the state-level celebrations and award ceremony at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra here, and paid tributes to the legendary icon. On the occasion, he presented the Bishnu Rabha Award, Sati Sadhani Award, and Ajan Peer Award to distinguished personalities in recognition of their contributions to art, literature and cultural harmony.The Bishnu Rabha Award, 2026, was conferred on noted dancer Manik Barbayan and artist Madhusudan Das. The Sati Sadhani Award, 2026, was awarded to eminent writer Gita Upadhyay, while artist Mohammad Shamsuddin Ahmed received the 2025 national-level Ajan Pir Award.Sarma described Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha as a symbol of Assam’s pride whose ideals, creativity and contributions continue to inspire generations. “Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha was such a personality whose talent was as vast as the mighty Brahmaputra, as expansive as the sky, and as deep as the ocean,” he said.He hailed Rabha as an eternal guiding star of Assam’s socio-cultural life and a true people’s artist. He said that Bishnu Prasad Rabha symbolises the self-respect and dignity of the people of Assam, and that his creations continued to guide society to enlightenment across generations.The CM said Bishnu Rabha, an immortal hero of Assam’s national life, elevated the spiritual bond between the land and its people to the highest level of artistic expression. “From his childhood in Dhaka to the historic Ban Theatre stage in Tezpur, from the turbulent student movements in Kolkata to the revolutionary activities in Cooch Behar, and later to the floor of the Assam Legislative Assembly, every step of Kalaguru’s journey reflected a unique blend of struggle and creativity,” said Sarma.He observed that Rabha’s scholarly writings on anthropology, sociology, linguistics, and related subjects continue to open new avenues of thought and inquiry.The Chief Minister also observed that Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev occupied the highest spiritual and social ideal in Bishnu Rabha’s life.Referring to Kalaguru’s election to the Assam assembly as an independent candidate from the Tezpur constituency in 1967, he said that Bishnu Prasad Rabha was the true voice and champion of farmers, workers, and the most marginalised sections of society. Sarma said that Rabha’s advocacy for land rights for poor and landless farmers remains as relevant in the 21st century as it was during his lifetime.Various political parties and leading organisations of the state, along with public organisations in the rural parts of the state, also observed Rabha Diwas commemorating the life and ideals of the icon.
