Banikanta Kakati: Difference between revisions
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Banikanta Kakati was was born in 1894 at Barpeta of Assam. He was the second son of his parents Lalitram Kakati and Lahobala. Dr. Kakati showed sign of his genius from his early childhood. In his school days he obtained 105 marks out of 100 in his Sanskrit answer book. It is also said that he could memorize the whole of [[Panini]] in his school days. |
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Banikanta Kakati was born on November 15, 11894 at Baatikurihaa village in [[Barpeta]] district, Assam. His parents were Lalitram and Laahoowaalaa Kakati. |
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Dr. Kakati secured the highest position in English in [[Assam]] in his matriculation under the [[Calcutta]] University. 1913, he stood first amongst all the candidates in the intermediate from [[Cotton College]], [[Guwahati]] under the [[Calcutta University]]. He took first M.A. degree in [[English Literature]] from [[Presidency College]], Calcutta in 1918. Later on he secured the first class first position in M.A. in [[English Language]] group in 1923 from Calcutta University. |
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From his childhood days, Banikanta Kakati had an earnest desire to become a scholar. Sources said he he could memorize the whole of Panini in his school days and that his Sanskrit teacher awarded him 105 marks out of 100. After passing the Matriculation examination, Kakati got admitted into the Cotton College, Guwahati. |
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Dr. Kakati joined [[Cotton College]] in 1918 as a professor of English untill he became the principal of the College in 1947. He joined in Guwahati University in 1948 as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Head of the Department of Assamese. |
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Kakati stood first in the IA examination of the Calcutta University in 1913 and proceeded to Calcutta for higher studies in the Presidency College. Kakati was a voracious reader on various subjects and that his encyclopedic range had an adverse effect on his result, for he missed first class. He passed his MA examination in English (A group) in 1918 and joined Cotton College as lecturer in English. He appeared in the MA examination in English (Group B) in 1923 and stood first in the first class. He retired from Cotton College in 1948 and joined the newly established Gauhati University as the head of the Assamese department. |
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Dr Kakati modelled his life on Dr Johnson, but though nonchalant about his dress, he was firm as an administrator and was capable of leading the university to great heights as its vice-chancellor, as KK Handique had hoped. He was, however, unwilling to abandon the mantle of a professor. He had already refused many lucrative offers and was about to resign from the post of the principal when told that an order was being sent from Shillong transferring him as the Director of Public Instruction. |
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Kakati's health broke after the demise of his beloved wife Kanaklata in 1952 and died in the same year, in November 15, the date of his birth. |
Kakati's health broke after the demise of his beloved wife Kanaklata in 1952 and died in the same year, in November 15, the date of his birth. |
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==Literary career== |
==Literary career== |
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Soon after joining Cotton College as a lecturer in 1918, Banikanta Kakati took up the study of Sankardeva and old Assamese literature. Soon, he was drawn into a controversy between two rival schools of Assam Vaishnavism. His erudite exposition of scriptural lore in the various issues of the Banhi under the pseudonym of Babananda Pathak, in defence of the values represented by the teachings of Sankardeva still makes fruitful reading. |
Soon after joining [[Cotton College]] as a lecturer in 1918, Banikanta Kakati took up the study of [[Srimanta Sankardeva]] and old [[Assamese literature]]. Soon, he was drawn into a controversy between two rival schools of Assam Vaishnavism. His erudite exposition of scriptural lore in the various issues of the Banhi under the pseudonym of Babananda Pathak, in defence of the values represented by the teachings of Sankardeva still makes fruitful reading. |
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While studying MA examination in English, he obtained his doctorate for his thesis – Assamese : Its Formation and Development in 1935. The publication of the thesis in 1941 was a god-send for the Assamese people who had been frantically struggling to establish the identity and provenance of their mother tongue. Kakati had to work far from the great centres of learning, in a place where even Leonard Bloomfields’ Language (1833) could not be made available. Yet the work was acclaimed by no lesser an authority than Dr Emeneau who found it ‘ground-breaking in many ways.’ |
While studying MA examination in English, he obtained his doctorate for his thesis – Assamese : Its Formation and Development in 1935. The publication of the thesis in 1941 was a god-send for the Assamese people who had been frantically struggling to establish the identity and provenance of their mother tongue. Kakati had to work far from the great centres of learning, in a place where even Leonard Bloomfields’ Language (1833) could not be made available. Yet the work was acclaimed by no lesser an authority than Dr Emeneau who found it ‘ground-breaking in many ways.’ |
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His interest in language proliferated over the years, but meanwhile, his mind started straying into other fields and pastures new. He made an intensive study of the Kalita caste and incorporated his findings in Kalita Jatir Itibritta (1941), Mother Goddess Kamakhya (1948) deals with socio-religious issues prevalent in Ancient |
His interest in language proliferated over the years, but meanwhile, his mind started straying into other fields and pastures new. He made an intensive study of the Kalita caste and incorporated his findings in ''Kalita Jatir Itibritta (1941)'', ''Mother Goddess Kamakhya (1948)'' deals with socio-religious issues prevalent in Ancient [[Kamarupa]]. Finally he turned his attention to Indian mythology and his [[Vaishnavite]] Myths and Legends has been acclaimed as 'one of the very few studies of the religious scene in India, produced by our scholars, that deserve reading and pondering over.' |
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Dr Kakati was one of the greatest critics that the country has produced. His Purani Asomiya Sahitya provides the axes for the appreciation of Vaishnavite literature of medieval Assam. He was certainly the most capable interpreter of religious mysticism in the poetry of the Nam Ghosha. He also raised the perennial issue of a possible tension between poetry and belief. |
Dr Kakati was one of the greatest critics that the country has produced. His ''Purani Asomiya Sahitya'' provides the axes for the appreciation of [[Vaishnavite]] literature of medieval Assam. He was certainly the most capable interpreter of religious mysticism in the poetry of the Nam Ghosha. He also raised the perennial issue of a possible tension between poetry and belief. |
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Himself a scion of the Romantic age, Kakati sketched the critical background for the |
Himself a scion of the [[Romantic age]], Kakati sketched the critical background for the twentieth century Assamese romantics. The post-war decade in [[Assam]] is a decade of disenchantment. In this decade he also wrote on the contemporary situation which seemed to show that a great age was over and another was yet to be born. He died too early to see the achievements of the ensuing age. |
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==Books== |
==Books== |
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Banikanta Kakati's writings both in English and Assamese mark a distinct achievement in the history of Assamese scholarship. As a critic of old and new literature in Assamese and as a writer on [[sociology]] and [[religious]] trends in medieval India-particularly [[Assam]], he set new standards. |
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1. Oxomiyaa Bhaaxaa Aaru Taar Biborton (Assamese, Its Formation and Development), published by Lawyer's Book Stall (PhD Thesis, 1935) |
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In English |
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2. Visnuite Myths and Legends : in Folklore Setting, published by Sri Tarini Das Sadhana Sahitya Mandir Fancy Bazar, Guwahati, (1952). |
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1. Assamese: Its formation and Development |
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2. Mother Goddess Kamakhya |
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3. Life and Teachings of Sankardeva |
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4. Vaishnavite myths and legends |
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In Assamese: |
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3. The Mother Goddess Kamakhya, published by Assam Pub. Corp, Guwahati (1948). |
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1. Purani Kamrupar Dharmar Dhara |
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2. Purani Asamiya Sahitya |
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3. Kalita Jaatir Itibritta |
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4. Sahitya Aru Prem |
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5. Pakhila |
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==References== |
==References== |
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* {{Citation| surname=Taid | given=Tabu | title=Banikanta Kakati, the man and his works | publisher=Publication Board Assam | year=1988}} |
* {{Citation| surname=Taid | given=Tabu | title=Banikanta Kakati, the man and his works | publisher=Publication Board Assam | year=1988}} |
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{{refend}} |
{{refend}} |
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==External links== |
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**[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050101/asp/guwahati/story_4190889.asp/ The Telegraph] |
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Revision as of 10:51, 9 October 2010
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Dr. Banikanta Kakati was a versatile genius who made immense contribution to the Assamese language in terms of literature, linguistics, cultural anthropology and comparative religion.
Biography
Banikanta Kakati was was born in 1894 at Barpeta of Assam. He was the second son of his parents Lalitram Kakati and Lahobala. Dr. Kakati showed sign of his genius from his early childhood. In his school days he obtained 105 marks out of 100 in his Sanskrit answer book. It is also said that he could memorize the whole of Panini in his school days.
Dr. Kakati secured the highest position in English in Assam in his matriculation under the Calcutta University. 1913, he stood first amongst all the candidates in the intermediate from Cotton College, Guwahati under the Calcutta University. He took first M.A. degree in English Literature from Presidency College, Calcutta in 1918. Later on he secured the first class first position in M.A. in English Language group in 1923 from Calcutta University.
Dr. Kakati joined Cotton College in 1918 as a professor of English untill he became the principal of the College in 1947. He joined in Guwahati University in 1948 as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Head of the Department of Assamese.
Kakati's health broke after the demise of his beloved wife Kanaklata in 1952 and died in the same year, in November 15, the date of his birth.
Literary career
Soon after joining Cotton College as a lecturer in 1918, Banikanta Kakati took up the study of Srimanta Sankardeva and old Assamese literature. Soon, he was drawn into a controversy between two rival schools of Assam Vaishnavism. His erudite exposition of scriptural lore in the various issues of the Banhi under the pseudonym of Babananda Pathak, in defence of the values represented by the teachings of Sankardeva still makes fruitful reading.
While studying MA examination in English, he obtained his doctorate for his thesis – Assamese : Its Formation and Development in 1935. The publication of the thesis in 1941 was a god-send for the Assamese people who had been frantically struggling to establish the identity and provenance of their mother tongue. Kakati had to work far from the great centres of learning, in a place where even Leonard Bloomfields’ Language (1833) could not be made available. Yet the work was acclaimed by no lesser an authority than Dr Emeneau who found it ‘ground-breaking in many ways.’
His interest in language proliferated over the years, but meanwhile, his mind started straying into other fields and pastures new. He made an intensive study of the Kalita caste and incorporated his findings in Kalita Jatir Itibritta (1941), Mother Goddess Kamakhya (1948) deals with socio-religious issues prevalent in Ancient Kamarupa. Finally he turned his attention to Indian mythology and his Vaishnavite Myths and Legends has been acclaimed as 'one of the very few studies of the religious scene in India, produced by our scholars, that deserve reading and pondering over.'
Dr Kakati was one of the greatest critics that the country has produced. His Purani Asomiya Sahitya provides the axes for the appreciation of Vaishnavite literature of medieval Assam. He was certainly the most capable interpreter of religious mysticism in the poetry of the Nam Ghosha. He also raised the perennial issue of a possible tension between poetry and belief.
Himself a scion of the Romantic age, Kakati sketched the critical background for the twentieth century Assamese romantics. The post-war decade in Assam is a decade of disenchantment. In this decade he also wrote on the contemporary situation which seemed to show that a great age was over and another was yet to be born. He died too early to see the achievements of the ensuing age.
Books
Banikanta Kakati's writings both in English and Assamese mark a distinct achievement in the history of Assamese scholarship. As a critic of old and new literature in Assamese and as a writer on sociology and religious trends in medieval India-particularly Assam, he set new standards.
In English 1. Assamese: Its formation and Development 2. Mother Goddess Kamakhya 3. Life and Teachings of Sankardeva 4. Vaishnavite myths and legends
In Assamese: 1. Purani Kamrupar Dharmar Dhara 2. Purani Asamiya Sahitya 3. Kalita Jaatir Itibritta 4. Sahitya Aru Prem 5. Pakhila
References
- Taid, Tabu (1988), Banikanta Kakati, the man and his works, Publication Board Assam