A book launch meeting was organized at Guwahati Press Club on March 13, 2021.
The book was launched by the former President of Assam Sahitya Sabha and famous writer of Assam, Dr. Lakshmi Nandan Bora.
Prominent Assamese writer and Padma Shri Awardee Eli Ahmed was the Chief Guest.
The meeting was presided over by Dr. Roman Sarmah, a literary figure, writer, columnist, and dramatist who was honored with the Padma Shri Award recently in 2021. Retired Principal of B. Barooah College, Guwahati – Dr. Sunil Pawan Baruah reviewed the book.
He spoke highly about the adventurous spirit and the lifetime struggle of the author of the book Bhal Manuhor Xondhanot – Mr. Bibhuti Bhagowati. The author Bibhuti Bhagowati always led a noble life and worked for the betterment of society.
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Prominent writer Mala Sarmah also briefed about the early life and accomplishments of the author Bibhuti Bhagowati– right from his first drama broadcasted by All India Radio back in his teenage years to his career as an actor, dramatist, screenwriter, Doordarshan recognized producer, an entrepreneur. The author, Bibhuti Bhagowati is also an active environmentalist and has been running an NGO called ‘Environmental Pollution & Global Warming Awareness Centre’ at Duliajan, Assam for over a decade.
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His present book Bhal Manuhor Xondhanot is a collection of narratives about a few persons whose life and deeds may kindle the minds of readers irrespective of biases based on caste, creed, and religion.
What is remarkable about the event was its unusual beginning not with a traditional Saraswati Vandana but a Prakriti Vandana written and composed by the author Bibhuti Bhagowati. The song “Toru Trino Gos Lotare Bhora” is the theme song of Bhagowati’s NGO and was sung by eminent singer Ashim Jyoti Baruah to begin the book launch. The idea was to invoke the God of Nature to bless the occasion since creative pursuits and all worldly goals of man bloom best when there are harmonious and cordial relations with Mother Nature.
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The event was graced by several dignitaries of the likes of Dr. Lily Rajbongshi, Dara Ahmed, and Parag Ch. Bhagawati. The speakers present reiterated that Bhagowati’s book is an insightfully written work that promises to be a part of the rich expanse of Assamese literature and exhibits the author’s keen eye for the goodness around him and his endeavor to recognize the kindness that resides within each human.
The book, Bhal Manuhor Xondhanot can be summed up as a novel with an autobiographical touch that walks us through the life of the author while highlighting some essential life lessons. With themes of brotherhood, peace, communal harmony, and eradication of poverty for the creation of a conflict-free society, Bibhuti Bhagowati’s book makes it to the list of lockdown literature that the world has grown to treasure in the Post-Covid World.
About the Author: Gayatri Bhagowati is a student at English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad. She is also a Content Writer and has written many other articles.