GUWAHATI: Silpi Divas, celebrated each year on January 17, is a significant day for the people of Assam. It is the day when Jyoti Prasad Agarwala passed away in 1951. Born in 1903 to Kironmoyee and Paramananda Agarwala in Tamulbari, Assam, Jyoti Prasad Agarwala was a name known to all. A noted Indian playwright, songwriter, poet, writer and filmmaker, he was considered an Assamese cultural icon, deeply revered for his creative vision and output.
Jyoti Prasad Agarwala was a revered filmmaker, novelist, songwriter, poet, playwright and freedom fighter from Assam. He was widely known and respected as a cultural icon in Assam and was popularly called “Rupkonwar”. He is regarded as the founder of Assamese cinema for his film ‘Joymoti’, which was released in 1935 and was the first film from Assam. The film was about a brave Ahom princess Sati Joymoti who was imprisoned and tortured by a cruel and repressive Ahom Swargadeo.
His second film Indramalati released in 1939, was a romantic tale of Indrajyoti and Malati, played by Manoviram Baruah and Raseswari Baruah. The film also had Dr Bhupen Hazarika in the cast, who was seen singing "Biswa Bijoyee Navajowan" at only 13 years of age.
Besides films, Jyoti Prasad Agarwala was a noted songwriter and poet. He wrote around 300 songs, some of which he composed himself. His songs are called ‘Jyoti Xongit’ and are a separate genre in Assamese music. He also wrote around 2 collections of poetry, and nine plays which include ‘Sont Kunwori’, ‘Rupalim’, ‘Karengor Ligiri’, ‘Nimati Konya’, ‘Sonpakhilee’, ‘Kanaklata’, ‘Sundar Konwar’ and ‘Lobhita’, along with short stories and a novel titled ‘Amar Gaon’.
Jyoti Prasad Agarwala was an active participant in the Indian freedom movement under Mahatma Gandhi and was even imprisoned by the British for fifteen months in 1932. He later played an active role in the Quit India movement in 1942, although he had to later go underground to avoid persecution.
His anniversary of death is observed as Silpi Diwas (Artists Day) in Assam and the government of India released a commemorative stamp in his memory on June 17, 2004.
