Pride of Tripura, Padma Shri awardee Beni Chandra Jamatia passed away on early hours of Monday.
Late Jamatia was conferred Padma Shri in January, 2020. His grandson, Dr Kahamnuk Jamatia confirmed this in a Facebook post. Dr Kahmnuk Jamatia wrote in his FB wall, “Our grandfather Shri Benichandra Jamatia, Padmashree Awardee had breathed his last in the early morning hours today….. Nobody lives forever…but some leave their footprints longer…and some forever.”
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb condoled the demise of the Padma Shri awardee and said, I am deeply saddened at the demise of Pride of Tripura Padma Shri awardee Beni Chandra Jamatia. May his soul rest in peace”. Extending sympathy to bereaved family members, Deb said, Late Beni Chandra Jamatia would always remain alive in our hearts through his creations.
Information about humble Beni Chandra Jamatia – who hails from Maharani under Gomati District from Tripura – was very scarce. Earlier, his grandson Kahamnuk Jamatia shed light on Beni Chandra Jamatia. According to Kahamnuk Jamatia, Padma Shri awardee Beni Chandra Jamatia was born possibly in 1933. As Date of birth was not recorded at that time, exact date or even year remained under doubts, Kahamnuk Jamatia said and added, Beni Chandra Jamatia is father in law of former Minister late Nagendra Jamatia.
On his education and achievements, Kahamnuk Jamatia said, “Beni Chandra did not have the opportunity to attend any school. But he studied himself. He taught himself both Bengali and English alphabets. He wrote a ‘Baul’ book in Kok Borok in roman script. And also composed all of them into songs.”
According to Wikipedia, Bauls constitute both a syncretic religious sect and a musical tradition. Influence of Bauls in Bengali literature and culture is considered to be significant.
And Kok Borok is the native language of Borok people – most of the indigenous people of Tripura.
Beni Chandra Jamatia’s book on Baul was published in 1992. Late Kumud Kundu Choudhry – a well known personality of Tripura – had also played an important role in bringing out the book. Doordarshan Kendra of Agartala had recorded many of the these baul songs which were composed and sang by him.
“From lord Krishna’s birth to his marriage with Rukmini and killing of Kansa, everything was written and composed in the form of song by him”, Kahamnuk Jamatia told.
