Khagen Mahanta

20^th Sep 2011

Khagen Mahanta is one of the most respected name in Assamese folk music and known as the "King of Bihu". Born to a family of Satradhikars (head of Vaishnavite culture), Khagen was influenced by his father. He started learning satra music from the age of seven. Khagen Mahanta was born on 1st january, 1942 in Nagaon. His father was Harendra Nath Mahanta and mother was Laxmipriya Devi. He married the nightingale of Assamese folk music Archana Mahanta and has a son and a daughter. His wife Archana Mahanta is equally known name as Khagen Mahanta in folk music. Their duets are extremely popular to the audiences. Their son Angaraag Mahanta has also created his popularity with his snoozing voice and a complete genre of modern Assamese music. 

Khagen Mahanta showed his musical talent from his childhood. Khagen learnt to play the tabla quite early in life. He learnt tabla under the guidance of Sushil Banerjee for two years. At the age of only fifteen he started performing in the music concerts in Shillong. His voice was very much accepted by the audience. In 1958, he got the opportunity to perform from Delhi doordarshan (television) center established the very year. His program was much appreciated by the viewers. Khagen’s first solo performance was held in 1959 when he took part in the All-Assam Inter College Music competition. It was the same year that he took part in the All-India Inter University Youth Festival at Mysore and bagged the first prize in playing the khol, a traditional music instrument. The All India Radio bestowed him with the title of grade ‘A’ artiste and contributed in almost all genres of Assamese music like Lokageet, Okoni Geet, musicals, dramas, etc.

 During the Language Movement (Assam) in 1960, Khagen Mahanta became an active member of the Harmony Group founded by Bishnuprasad Rabha, Hemanga Biswas and Jugal Das and performed all over Assam urging for peace. Khagen Mahanta had a gramophone album by 1961 and his songs were broadcast from the Akashvani Radio Station in Guwahati starting that year. Khagen Mahanta performed in the World Peace Conference in Calcutta in 1961 and received praise. Khagen Mahanta is most well-known for singing folk songs of Assam and children's songs. He has directed and sung in numerous plays and musicals. Featured thrice in the National Programme of

Music from All India Radio, Delhi in 1968, 1970 for folk songs and 1992, 1993 for Sugam Sangeet.  He Produced "O Mur Deshar Maanuh" (O my Countrymen) which was sent to China under the Programme of Cultural Exchange of the Asia Pacific countries in 1990.

He was awarded by "Bastra Diya. Sipini Samaaj" with commendation prize in the Akashvani Annual Awards Competition in 1984 and in 1989  by merit certificate for composing music for radio documentary "Legend of Lohit" in 1989. He was selected by the Govt. of Assam as a member of the Bench for finding a solution of the unification of the three "Gharanas" (styles) of the traditional devotional songs (bargeet) of Assam in 1990.

Khagen Mahanta received the Film Craft Award (India) in 1987-88, He was Directed two Assamese feature films "Nishi Ujagar" (Tele film) and "Juj" (Feature film) which was awarded Rajat Kamal in 1990. He was Performed in the India International Music Festival during March 1993 organized by Sangeet Naatak Academy and ICCR in Calcutta and the Srimoyi Award in 1994. He was awarded "Sangeetacharya" by Jitendra Nath Sangeet Mahavidyalaya in September 1999.

Directed music for the films- Meghamukhi, Mainajan, Juj and Nishi Ujagar. As a playback singer, he rendered voice in 23 different Assamese films and acted in the Assamese film "Shakuntala" in 1961.