Homen Borgohain, one of the renowned personalities of Assam
opines that a person, apart from being a creature of society,
has his own identity with his or her own thinking and
assumptions, aims and aspirations, determinations and
knowledge. The aim of a man is to make full manifestation of
his personality. Man has the right to fulfill his experience,
aims and aspirations. Such men have failed to evaluate the
values of human lives and creating history of their failure
they cause indescribable loss to the society.
Many had shown examples to us to mould our life beautifully.
But at present there is the degeneration of ideology. But
disregarding all these, some people can stand firmly amidst
adversity and overcoming the barriers they can shine in their
lives.
Here I am going to describe the life sketch of a women who
without having born with a golden spoon in her mouth could
establish herself in society fighting against poverty,
negligence and cruelty. Champa Kalita of Pabhoy, Darrang
district is one of such women.
Champa Kalita was born at Jula Chuk Melamaati Village of
Titabor. She was born in 1923 and her father was Lok Nath
Kalita, a very poor peasant. When she was four years old she
lost her father and her mother Kon Chuawali Kalita, a daily
wage earner, admitted her and her sister to a primary school
with the intention that they would be able to read the verses
of the Kirtan. The mother like Kon Chuawali is worthy to be
praised God has also helped in fulfilling the desire of that
mother. With the inspiration of Ambika Charan Saikia and
Chokreshwar Saikia, the freedom fighter and the then head
Master of Titabor High School Champa Kalita read upto 8th
Standard. After that she got her appointment as a teacher in
Gumoti Devi Girls High School with a salary of Rs. 14 per
month. But she was destined to be a nurse. She became
interested in nursing education after 15th June
1947, when a Seva Dol Camp was organized at Golaghat by
Chandra Prabha Saikiani and Padma Bhushan Bijoy Chandra
Bhagawati. Against the interest of her dear mother and members
of her family she got herself admitted into the Nursing School
of Dubrugarh Medical College in 1948 as the first batch of
students. After completing nursing training in 1950, she
served in Assam Medical College, Rid Saint College
Shillong,Gopinath Bordoloi Hospital at Guwahati and in Pabhoy
Tea Estate after her marriage and from that Tea Estate she
retired from service in 1988. Now she is an inhabitant of
Pabhoy. Her first daughter Tribeni is a Research Assistant in
the Department of Chemistry in Biswanath Agriculture
University. Her second daughter is a doctor and she is married
to Dr. Ranjan Gogoi. Her elder daughter, Tribeni along with
her husband keep themselves busy to repay the debt of her
mother. Now Tribeni is the companion of her life. Tribeni and
her husband Jogen Bora taking all the responsibilities of the
family provide her mother an environment to devote her time in
works of art peacefully. Thus she is able to forget her old
age.
Till the seventh decade of the twentieth century, the
profession of nursing was not considered as a respectable
profession in our society. Champa Kalita had to lose her
mother�s affection by joining in that profession in 1950.
Epidemics like Cholera and Tuberculosis created terror in our
society till that time as there was no treatment for these two
epidemics. If a TB patient was not cured at Shillong he/ she
was to be shifted to Madras (Chennai) for treatment. Champa
Kalita also suffered from TB and she was admitted to Rid Saint
Hospital at Shillong. She was completely cured but the stain
was not wiped out .So Champa Kalita in her poem �Anutap�
expressed her feelings in following words.
�Sharkhar kori nile jibonor joto asha
Narakhile baki ekuya
Rol mathu sangsarot ghrinit jibon eti
Kolonkor buja boboloi �
The English version is thus,
�Ruined all the hopes of my life
Nothing has been left
Only a life full of disgust
To bear the burden of stain�
But all these curses turned into blessings in the life of
Champa Kalita. When she as a nurse, had to take care of Robin
Dey and Kamala Biswas, her dormant artistic mind got awakened
, She had learnt from Robin Dey the preliminary techniques of
Art and from Kamala Biswas the technique of Coloring . With
this little knowledge of Art she can spent her spare time in
pursuit of art in her old age.
Another misfortune came to her life in 1959. In 1950, a person
named Panichandra Gogoi who became blind due to accidental
acid burn was completely cured at her care. Being pleased at
her treatment he used to communicate Champa Kalita. With
letters and he became a source of inspiration for her. One day
a proposal for marriage came from Panichandra Gogoi and
despite the objection of her mother and members of her family
she accepted the proposal and for this she had to remain cut
off from her family for a long time.
She became interested in literature from 1956. She took pride
as being the first lady of Biswanath Chariali to publish a
poetry book named �Herua Din� in 1988. She was inspired to
write poems by poet Premadhar Dutta. She also received
Premadhar Dutta Memorial Award which was offered in his memory
in Sonitpur District. Her poems were also published in Seuj
Prakash, a souvenir of Tea Tribes, Maha Jati (a newspaper)
and many local magazines. Though her poems are full of
individual disgusts and sorrow, yet her feelings social
consciousness, political instability, nature and patriotism
are praiseworthy. She gets mental satisfaction by composing
poems in old style. Extract of a stanza of one such poem is:
�Pore ne manat sakhi saidina ekeloge
Jamuna tirot goi bohisilu Kodom tolot
Rosisilu ekeloge jibonor joygann
Eshari eshari Kori jibonr sunali porot�
The English version is:
� Do you remember friend on
that day together
We sat under a Kodom tree across the Jamuna
Composed together songs of praise of our life
One by one in the golden moment of life�
Seeing the burning problems of the state, the poet with
disgust sings that
�Nedekhai Ai
Sobikhoni
Etya jen eta norokonkal hoi gol�
The English version is:
�The unseen picture
Of my mother
Becomes a human skeleton now �
Though the words of her poem cannot express the proper meaning
yet it can be said that the words used by her are simple and
easily understandable to all. Her poems with rhythm make
people romantic for a moment. Her poems, which are full of
sorrow and grief touch the heart of the readers. Champa Kalita
has also translated some of the stories from Upanisad
and from Seven Indian Classics edited by Tirthapati
Dutta and other works like Brahma Darshan, Jonok Rojar
Sobhat Jagya Valka , Jogya sobhat Gargi� and Pranor
Joy etc. She has also composed some of the articles full of
humour and one article regarding her experiences as a nurse.
Though her writings are very valuable yet she has no desire to
publish these. She presented her articles in the seminar
organized by �Sodou Asom lekhika Samaroh Samity� at Tinsukia.
We hope that one day or other her unpublished articles will
get recognition.
While she was a nurse she joined in All Assam Employees
Conference as one of the female members and also as President
of Employers Association Pabhoy Branch. At present she is
associated with many social works of her region and also with
Paipor a manuscript magazine of �Pabhoy Lekhika
Samaroh Samity�. She also was the executive member of Sodou
Asom Lekhika Samaroh Samity.
One of her traits was her respect for humanity. While acting
as a nurse for long 38 years she gave topmost priority to her
service. As a nurse she became closely associated with the
patients. The patients were also highly satisfied at her
amicable behavior and lovely words. At that time most of the
nurses were Christians and she was inspired by their ideals,
She always followed the examples of Sister Josephina and
Sister Sisilia. She remembers even today how with love,
affection and sincerity she cured a patient suffering from
Septic.
Whoever came into contact with her could know her simple and
gentle nature. It is a matter of proud that her two daughters
inherited her mother�s nature.
At present her husband Pain Chandra Gogoi has passed away but
she has been gifted with two flowers. She prays to God for
these two flowers as thus-
�Hey Matri-
Tumi ashirbad kora
Sai dupahi pushpo jen
Othole najai��
The English versions is:
�Oh Mother
Bless me
These two flowers do not become useless�
These two flowers (daughters) are the source of inspiration
for her. Even after her retirement when she could not create
an environment for her artistic work, an opportunity has come
automatically to her. Sri Khagen Bordoloi, one of the
colleagues of Tribeni took some pictures drawn by her to be
demonstrated on the occasion of the foundation day of Charu
Kala Parisad held Biswanath Chariali on 22nd
October 1992. The inspiration and courage got from her
daughter Tribeni she took up the art pencil in her hand and
has drawn portraits of five great men like Mahatma Gandhi,
Subhash Chandra Bose, Jawahar Lal Nehru etc. Seeing these
portraits both the mother and her daughter were very pleased
and they arranged an Art Exhibition at State Art Gallery on
24th and 25th Feb 1995, with more than
40 pictures drawn by Champa.
At a time when people cannot think of women education and when
they have to face problems in having education, Champa Kalita
was never tired of working. She continued to draw the pictures
of tea plucking girls and girls busy in transplanting paddy in
fields. If Champa Kalita would have an opportunity to come
into contact with renowned artists like Subha Brahma and Podum
Chandra Buragohain, the trend of her life would have been a
different one.
Shantanu Bhattacharjee, reporter of the newspaper �North East�
compares the Art works of Champa Kalita to Italian Artist Job
Gnayani. She just like Jod Gnayani draws the pictures with
some lines (Rekha Citra) and through these lines she reflects
the simplicity of the village life. While drawing the portraits
of individuals of the village life. While drawing the
portraits of individuals she tries her best to reflect their
personality also. She also tries to reflect the personality of
Doloi Lama the Tibetan religious saint. She always carries a
bag with pieces of paper and whenever she desires she can draw
the portraits of people. People cannot believe these things
without having seen her.
When she sincerely draws a picture it seems that she tries to
talk to God. She is also contemplating to draw pictures taking
ideas from the Citra Bhagawat. Of course she was
already drawn the portraits of Basudev taking Lord Krishna to
Mathura. Observing her pictures many used to address her as
Grand Ma but these cannot disturb her. As her eyesight is
becoming weak she adopts a new technique to paint different
parts of a body of an individual. She completely closes one of
her eyes and peeping through a hole just like telescope made
by the fist of her other hand she minutely notices the special
portions of her Art.
Today many of the artists are fond of symbolic pictures. Just
like the world which seems to be critical, the Art of today
are also becoming critical. But such kind of Arts is not for
the general people . But the Art of Champa Kalita gives
pleasure to common people . People instead of observing
critical symbolic art can achieve pleasure by looking at
simple Art because this Art is as beautiful as rhythmic poems.
The Art of Champa Kalita may not be up to the standard or may
not be highly praised but her simplicity, feeling of devotion,
personality, attempt in giving shape are noteworthy. She has
also drawn some of the symbolic pictures but was not
successful in this aspect.
From 1992 her works of Art are displayed in different places
of Sonitpur District, in the conference of �Sodou Asom Lekhika
Samaroh Samity� held at Nazira, in the annual conference of
Sandhani Lekhika Samaroh Samity Bokakhat, conference of �Sodou
Asom Lekhika Samaroh Samity� held at Biswanath Chariali and
in 62nd conference of �Assam Sahitya Sabha� held at
Bokakhat in 1996. Her works of Art are even demonstrated in
Assam Bhawan Delhi. Portraits drawn by her are preserved in
the Trimuty Bhawan and at Gandhi Museum Delhi. All her works
of Art can bring accolades to the people of Assam.
When I approached her for some data to write her life sketch
she replied ��What will you do writing my life sketch now? I
have yet many things to do�. Hearing her reply tears rolled
down from my eyes. Her interviews are taken by All India
Radio. TV etc. News regarding her artistic talent has been
published in newspapers like The Assam Tribune, Sentinel,
North East Times, Danik Assam, Assam Bani, Sadinia Sombad,
Maha Jati, Ajir Hombad etc. In most of the papers her short
biography and photographs are also published. We, all the
women of Assam should try our best to possess a bold and
strong personality like Champa Kalita.
It is of course necessary to preserve the portraits of
individual drawn by Champa Kalita. But it is a very expensive
task. Daughter Tribeni is interested but she cannot proceed
with this work without Governments assistance.
Champa Kalita is not only an artist but also an owner of a
multi faced personality. She is at the same time a poet,
litterateur, orator and social activist, She is not hankering
after money. That is why in spite of her economic scarcity she
is able to keep herself busy in activities of Art. Champa
Kalita spent her whole life working as a nurse of a Tea Garden
and as a companion of her blind husband. She in the last part
of her life takes up the art pencil and the color in her hand
only for her daughters and has now filled her house with works
of Art. She can be compared to Citra Lekha, friend of Usha
daughter of King Bano who had her proficiency in drawing the
portraits of individuals. Just like Citra Lekha who was the
pride of Sonitpur in ancient days, Champa Kalita today is a
pride of Assam.
Artist Nila Paban Baruah, singer Khogen Mahanta, reporter Ajit
Bhuyan of �Sadin� was very much pleased seeing the portraits
drawn by Champa Kalita. She not only draws the portraits of
prominent figures but the portraits of Lady Dacoit Queen
Phulondevi, controversial writer Taslima Nasrin, Kiran Bedi
first Assamese actress Aideu Handique, Rameshwari Hazarika,
Dharmeshwari Devi Baruahni, Nalini Bala Devi, Chandra Prabha
Saikiani, Nirma; Prabha Bordoloi, Nelson Mendela (the National
hero of Africa), Margarett Thesar of England, Mothe Teresa,
Doloi Lama, Indira Gandhi, Roopkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla
and Kala Guru Bishnu Prasad Rabha etc
She has drawn most of the pictures with pencils and only a few
have been coloured, According to her- portraits drawn with
pencil look very beautiful. She is not interested in using
colors which does not match her life style. So she scarcely
uses the technique of coloring that she has learnt from her
patient Kamala Biswas at Shillong.
The life of Champa Kalita is full of struggle and conflict.
The thorny path of her life sometimes breaks all her hopes and
aspirations into pieces. The pain that she receives from
society fills her mind with sorrow. She can never forget the
treatment that her two daughters received from society for
being daughters of a nurse and blind person. Though she feels
bore living in society yet she is firmly determined to
overcome all these strains and struggles of life.
It is a good sign that age cannot stand as hurdle in her path
of success both as an artist and as a litterateur. Let her
working zeal may be an inspiration to all.
