Ambika Charan Choudhury
Ambika Charan Choudhury
Ambika Charan Choudhury at International Seminar at Chandrapara, Assam on 24th Sept 2011
Born16 August 1930
Borpara, Bongaigaon, Assam
Died4 December 2011
Kamakhyaguri, West Bengal
Resting placeBongaigaon
Pen nameKamataratna
OccupationSchool principal
Writer
Historian
Activist
LanguageAssamese
NationalityIndian
CitizenshipIndian
EducationGraduation
Alma materCotton College
Gauhati University
Literary movementKoch-Rajbanshi language and culture
Notable worksRatnapeethot Ebhumiki, Koch Rajbongshi Janagosthi Itihax and Sanskriti (20110), Sangram Singha Mahabir Chilarai (1983), The Koche Around the World (1991), Kamotapurot Mahapurush Sri Manta Sankardev (1982)
Notable awards1994: Assam Government Literary Pension
2003: Mahendra Nath Karan Award
2008: Bir Chilarai Award
SpouseKuldabala Choudhury
Children5
 Literature portal

Ambika Charan Choudhury (16 August 1930 – 4 December 2011), popularly known as Kamataratna,[1] was an Indian litterateur, historian and activist, known for his contributions to the Assamese literature.[2][3][4]

Early life and education

Born on 16 August 1930 to a poor family, Nareshwar Choudhury (father) and Kashiguri Devi (mother), in Borpara village of Bongaigaon, Ambika Charan Choudhury attended schooling in local Birjhara High school, Bongaigaon. He obtained a graduate degree from Cotton College, Guwahati. After that he joined government services at Shillong. Later he changed several jobs and finally retired as Principal of Bongaigaon Normal School.[1]

Social life

Choudhury always got attached with many social and political organisations. He devoted most of his life towards the development and promotion of Rajbanshi language and culture, also known as Goalpariya. He was an executive member of Assam Xahitya Xabha, joint secretary of OBC Xahitya Xabha, secretary of undivided Goalpara District Xahitya Xabha, and secretary of Koch-Rajbanshi Sanmilany. He was also founder of many educational institutions in western Assam. Choudhury was leading the popular demand for Schedule Tribe status to the Koch-Rajbangshi community since 1958.[3][5] He was actively involved with the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan, which is facilitating the peace process between Government of India and the moderate wing of the rebel group ULFA.

He died on 4 December 2011 in a road mishap at Tetultola near Kamakhyaguri in West Bengal.[6][7] He left behind his wife, three daughters and two sons.

Literary works

Ambika Choudhury started his major literary journey through Ratnapeethot Ebhumiki, a book written in 1961. He wrote columns regularly in Ramdhenu journal published from Guwahati. He had written more than 123 valuable articles and 29 books mostly on the Rajbangshi language and culture.[4][1] Koch-Rajbanshi Jatir Itihakh aru Sanskriti, Kamatapurot Mohapurush Sreemanta Sankardev, Xantirdut Hajrat Mohammad, The Koches Around the World, Koch-Rajbanshies betrayed, Biswabir Chila Roy Sahitya Pratibha, Rani Abhayeswari and Bijni Rajyar Itibritta are some of his notable books written in Assamese and English.

Awards and honours

Choudhury was a recipient of Bir Chilarai award, instituted by the Government of Assam. He was regarded the backbone of Koch-Rajbanshi language movement and was conferred the title of Kamataratna by many cultural and literary organisations.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "'Kamataratna' Ambika Charan Choudhuri dies, The Sentinel, Guwahati, India, 5 December 2011". Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  2. ↑ "People gather for last glimpse of Ambika Charan Choudhury, The Sentinel, Guwahati, India, 6 Dec 2011". Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  3. 1 2 Historian Ambika Charan Choudhury dies in accident, Dy365 News Channel, Guwahati, India, 7 December 2011. Archived 26 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  4. 1 2 3 Scholar dies in road accident, The Telegraph, Kolkata, India, 5 December 2011.
  5. ↑ Bongaigaon pays last respects to scholar, The Telegraph, Kolkata, India, 6 December 2011.
  6. ↑ Historian Ambika Choudhury killed road mishap, The Assam Tribune, 5 Dec, Guwahati, India.
  7. ↑ "Scholar dies in car crash - Yahoo! News India". Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
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