“A discussion of Nabakanta Baruah’s children novel Xiyali Palegoi Ratanpur”

Abstract

Nabakanta Baruah, who is so much the greatest figure in the Assamese Literature of the nineteenth century, started his career as a poet. A man of many talents Nabakanta Baruah contributed to other literary genres such as children literature, novels, prose, translations, and humorous poetry along with literary criticism. However, in the world of Assamese literature Baruah expressed himself as the most exquisite children literature writer. In the nineteenth century, Baruah used the pen name of “Ekhud Kokaideu” to write humorous poems in the magazine Ronghar when he decided to switch genres and write child fiction. In the world of children literature, he wrote various poems suitable for children along with songs, plays, stories as well as novels. He also wrote philosophical works like Ramayan and Upanishads to educate the children. His marvellously effective use of allegory in novels like Xiyali Palegoi Ratanpur (1956) and Akhoror Jokhola (1958) has contributed significantly towards his popularity as a child story writer. In 1958 Baruah received the national award for his work Xiyali Palegoi Ratanpur. In present time the renowned writers of children literature are not able to outshine Nabakanta Baruah as one of the most popular child literature writers.