Nilmani Phookan
Encyclopedia
Nilmani Phookan (born 1933) is an India
n poet in Assamese language
and an academic. His work replete with symbolism, is inspired by French symbolism and is representative of the genre in Assamese poetry
. His notable works include Surya Henu Nami Ahe Ei Nodiyedi, Gulapi Jamur Lagna, Kobita
He was awarded the 1981 Sahitya Akademi Award
in Assamese
for his poetry collection, Kavita (Kobita). He was awarded the Padma Shri
by Government of India
in 1990, and received the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
, the highest literary honor in India, given by Sahitya Akademi
, India's National Academy of Letters in 2002
in Golaghat district
, Assam
. He received his Masters degree in
History from Guwahati University in 1961. Although he had started writing poetry since the early 1950s.
in 1964, where he worked until his retirement in 1992. He has also translated Japanese and European poetry into Assamese.
He was awarded the Assam Valley Literary Award
in 1997, and in 2002 he received the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
, the highest literary honor in India, given by Sahitya Akademi
, India's National Academy of Letters, reserved for "the immortals of literature".
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n poet in Assamese language
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
and an academic. His work replete with symbolism, is inspired by French symbolism and is representative of the genre in Assamese poetry
Assamese Poetry
Assamese poetry, poetry in Assamese language.-History:Sanskrit literature, the fountain head of most of the Indian literature, supplied not only the themes of medieval Assamese literature, but also has inspired many a writer of modern Assamese literature to undertake creative writings in context of...
. His notable works include Surya Henu Nami Ahe Ei Nodiyedi, Gulapi Jamur Lagna, Kobita
He was awarded the 1981 Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India which Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of outstanding works in one of the following twenty-four major Indian languagesAssamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,...
in Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
for his poetry collection, Kavita (Kobita). He was awarded the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
by Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
in 1990, and received the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
The Sahitya Akademi Fellowship is a literary honour in India. Awarded by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, to the "immortals of literature," and limited to twenty one individuals at any given time, it is the highest literary honour conferred by the Government of India...
, the highest literary honor in India, given by Sahitya Akademi
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
, India's National Academy of Letters in 2002
Early life and education
He was born in DergaonDergaon
Dergaon is a town and a town area committee in Golaghat district in the state of Assam, India.Hemchandra Baruah, the compiler of Hemkosh was from Dergaon.-Geography:...
in Golaghat district
Golaghat District
Golaghat district is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. It attained district status in 1987. The district headquarters are located at Golaghat. The district occupies an area of 3502 km² and lies 100 m above sea level. As of 2001, Golaghat district has a population of...
, Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
. He received his Masters degree in
History from Guwahati University in 1961. Although he had started writing poetry since the early 1950s.
Career
He started his career as a lecturer at Arya Vidyapeeth College in GuwahatiGuwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
in 1964, where he worked until his retirement in 1992. He has also translated Japanese and European poetry into Assamese.
He was awarded the Assam Valley Literary Award
Assam Valley Literary Award
The Assam Valley Literary Award was conceived in the year 1990 by Williamson Magor Education Trust to honour outstanding creative writers who have enhanced the richness of Assamese literature.-History:The award was announced by Shri B.M...
in 1997, and in 2002 he received the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
The Sahitya Akademi Fellowship is a literary honour in India. Awarded by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, to the "immortals of literature," and limited to twenty one individuals at any given time, it is the highest literary honour conferred by the Government of India...
, the highest literary honor in India, given by Sahitya Akademi
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
, India's National Academy of Letters, reserved for "the immortals of literature".
Works
- Surya Heno Nami Ahe Ei Nadiyedi ("The sun is said to come descending by this river"), 1963.
- Manas-pratima. Guwahati Book Stall, 1971.
- Phuli Thaka Suryamukhi Phultor Pine ("Towards the Blooming Sunflower"), 1971.
- Kabita. Sahitya Akademi Publications, 2001. ISBN 8126010584.
- Selected Poems Of Nilmani Phookan. tr. by Krishna Dulal Barua. Sahitya Akademi Publications, 2007. ISBN 812602433X.
External links
- Exploring Life, poems by Nilmani Phookan at Assam TribuneAssam TribuneThe Assam Tribune is an English daily newspaper published simultaneously from Guwahati and Dibrugarh, Assam. It is the highest circulated English daily in the North East India.First published from Guwahati, it is now published from Guwahati and Dibrugarh....
- Poems by Nilmani Phookan