India is the homeland of arts, artists and several ‘computer’ brains. It is the land where many languages and cultures emerged and the land which strived to emerge as an independent nation after years of struggle. To achieve what we enjoy today, the poets and writers of the nation have always played a crucial role. From entertainment to reforms, there was somewhere a writer behind the changes we saw around us.
One such legendary writer, poet, dramatist, actor, freedom fighter and film director was Lakshyadhar Choudhary, whose writings and proses kindled the flames of nationalism in the hearts of Indians during freedom struggles and also taught us to be rooted in our heritage and culture. We remember his contributions as a poet, writer and freedom fighter on his 107th birth anniversary.
Early Life
Lakshyadhar Choudhary was born in a common family of North Guwahati on October 14th, 1914. Since his school days, he was inclined towards writing and had gained fame as an actor. After he came in contact with the renowned dramatist of his times, Kamakhyanath Thakur and litterateur Jaltiram Lakhar, his interest in dramas, writing and acting got wings. He wrote his first play in Assamese, Ekalavya, when he was only in ninth grade. His writings, prose and dramas were rich in ethics, nationalism and lessons to value our traditions. Later, he went on to become a teacher in the North Guwahati Auniati Kamaldev High School in 1939. He quit his job as a teacher to join the Quit India Movement in 1942, where he contributed through his proses and also as an undercover messenger to the leaders.
Political life
Lakshyadhar Choudhary was a true patriot. After independence, he took on social work and hence, decided to serve the country through his political activities. He became a member of the Socialist Party and contested his first elections of independent India in 1952 but could not win. In 1964, he won the Guwahati Municipal Corporation election and was elected as a member of the Assam Legislative Assembly in 1967. He was further elected as the Mayor of Guwahati Municipal Corporation in 1975 and was praised for his work in Assam throughout his career in politics. He was also the president of Assam Sahitya Sabha and the Asom Natya Sanmelan.
Literary Works and life as an actor
During the days when the nation was struggling for freedom, Choudhary composed his very famous poem in Assamese, Mor Lakhya (translated as ‘My Goal’), which was an inspiration for the citizens to be like the great leaders, Gandhi, Nehru and Bose.
মই গান্ধীজীৰ দৰে হ’ম
সদায় সত্য পথত ৰ’ম
অহিংস ব্রতেৰে জগত-জিনিম
সত্য কথাহে ক’ম
মই গান্ধীজীৰ দৰে হ’ম।
[Translated as: “I will be like Gandhiji
I will always be on the path of truth,
I will be non-violent
I will be like Gandhiji”]
Lakshyadhar Choudhary (Mor Lakhya)
Omala Ghar, Nimila Anka, Raksha Kumar, Thikona are a few plays in Assamese written by him and he also performed some of them on stage. Apart from being a political leader and a freedom fighter, he was also a film-director and had directed two of the Assamese movies, namely Nimila Anka (1955) and Lachit Borphukan (1961).
He performed his last play, Thikana, on stage at the age of 85 in May 2000. Unfortunately, the nation suffered the loss of a brilliant artist as he passed away after three months, in August 2000.
His memories are alive in his plays, prose and stories. His values and respect towards our traditions, the spirit of nationalism and the life lessons are remembered and adopted by the youth of the nation even today. He truly proved that the power of a pen can bend swords and the words written on paper can inspire generations.
