Early life

Bania was born at Dhalpur village in North Lakhimpur, Assam on 24 December 1942 to an indigenous Brittial Bania (an indigenous Assamese community recognised as a Scheduled Caste). After completing his primary education, in 1958, he came to Guwahati for higher education. While continuing his studies, he began his acting career as a stand up comedian. He started to earn a living through popular comedy shows on the stage, performing across Assam.^[2] After completing his education, he worked at Assam State Electricity Board until he retired in 2002.

Film and acting career

Bania has been a household name in Assam as well as North East India in the field of drama since the 1960s. A regular artiste with All India Radio, Guwahati since 1964, he grabbed the limelight by playing the lead male role in the 1970s play, Gobardhan Charit. He was known for his performance in All India Radio's play, Moinar Sangbad.

In 1988, Jahnu Barua, the best-known filmmaker from Assam, chose Bania to play the lead role of Raseswar Bora in Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai. He narrowly missed the best actor's award in the national film festival, although, he was chosen for the Silver Leopard Best Actor's award at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film (Swarna Kamal) award in 1988. In 2007, he portrayed the protagonist in a short film, Freedom at the Edge. The film was based on Machang Lalung, a native of Assam, who was imprisoned for 54 years without trial. The film bagged the Indie Spec Best Documentary Award at Boston International Film Festival in 2007.^[3]

Bania had acted in more than 40 Assamese films in a screen career spanning over four decades. he had also directed a few award-winning films besides acting in films and TV serials.^[4] He was closely associated with Aikyatan, an amateur theatre group based in Guwahati.

Death

Bania died on Wednesday, 25 March 2015 at Hayat Hospital in Guwahati, Assam, aged 72, following a prolonged illness.^[5]