Birendra Nath Datta
{{Short description|Indian academic and musician (1935–2023)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox scholar
| name = Birendranath Datta
| fullname =
| other_names =
| image = বীৰেন্দ্ৰনাথ দত্ত.JPG
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| caption = Datta and his wife Ibha Barua
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1935|03|01}}
| birth_place = Nagaon, Assam Province, British India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2023|10|23|1935|03|01}}
| death_place = Guwahati, Assam, India
| era =
| region =
| school_tradition =
| main_interests = Folklore
| notable_ideas =
| major_works = Cultural Contours of Northeast India
| influences =
| influenced =
}}
Birendranath Datta (1 March 1935 – 23 October 2023) was an Indian academic, linguist, author, researcher of folklore, singer, and lyricist. During his career, he worked mainly as a professor in a variety of Assam colleges.{{cite web|title=Music Not Solely For Entertainment|url=http://www.bipuljyoti.in/music/birendranath_interview.html|access-date=11 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025834/http://www.bipuljyoti.in/music/birendranath_interview.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Cultural Contours of North-East India|url=http://www.us.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Anthropology/Folklore/?view=usa&ci=9780198075578|publisher=Oxford University Press|access-date=11 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312232828/http://www.us.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Anthropology/Folklore/?view=usa|archive-date=12 March 2012}} In 2009, he was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for Literature and Education, and in 2010 he received the Jagaddhatri-Harmohan Das Literary award. Datta was elected as the president of Asom Sahitya Sabha for the 2003 North Lakhimpur Session, and the 2004 Hojai Session.{{cite web | url=http://www.asamsahityasabha.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=56 | title=List of Asam Sahitya Sabha presidents | access-date=7 December 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129233721/http://www.asamsahityasabha.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=56 | archive-date=29 January 2013 | url-status=dead }}
Early life
Birendra Nath Datta was born on 1 March 1935 in Nagaon, Assam to Kalpanath Datta, a school teacher, and Mandakini Datta. Their original home was in Panera village, near Baihata Chariali.
Datta started his education at Chenikuthi L.P. School in Guwahati and then studied in Goalpara. In 1933, Datta secured ranks among the top 10 in both Matriculation and I.Sc. examinations at Gauhati University. He earned his bachelor's degree at Viswabharati University and his master's degrees at Gauhati University, both in Economics.
==Career==
In 1957, He started his career as a lecturer at B. Borooah College. In 1964, he joined Pramathesh Barua College at Gauripur in Lower Assam as the founder principal. He worked as the principal in two other colleges as well, Goalpara College and Pandu College.
In 1974, he obtained his PhD degree in Folklore under the supervision of Prafulla Dutta Goswami.
In 1979 he joined Gauhati University as a reader and later became the head of the Department of Folklore Research. After leaving Gauhati University in 1995 he joined Tezpur University as a professor in the department of Traditional Culture and Art Forms.
=Literary career=
Datta also wrote a number of scholarly books. One of his books, Cultural Contours of Northeast India, was published by Oxford University Press. For his book Sankar Madhavar Manisha Aru Asomar Sanaskritic Uttaradhikar, he won the 12th Jagaddhatri-Harmohan Das Literary award.{{cite news|title=Dr Birendra Nath Datta conferred literary award|newspaper=Assam Tribune|url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb2110/city05|url-status=dead|access-date=11 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222854/http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb2110%2Fcity05|archive-date=3 March 2016}}
=Music career=
Datta was also a singer and composer. Songs set to tune by him include "Monor Khobar", "Bahudin Bokulor Gondh Poa Naai", "Meli Dilo Man", "Rohimalaa Uronir Maajere", "Sou Sirish Daalat", "Tomaar Kaarane Jaau", "Aahinak Kone Anane", "Mou Daaponar", "Sita Banabaash", "Bogoli Bogaa Phot Di Ja", "Jilir Maate", "O Ghan Chirikaa", "Barashaa Tomaar", "Aakaashe Botaahe", and "Aakaash Aamaak Akani Aakaash Diya" He also sang songs for an Assamese language film, Smrtir Parash, which was directed by Brojen Barua.{{cite web | url=http://www.srimanta.net/contents_l3.php?q=5&ID=27&ID3=38&link_caption=Birendranath%20Datta | title=Birendranath Datta | publisher=srimanta.net | access-date=7 April 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929163743/http://www.srimanta.net/contents_l3.php?q=5&ID=27&ID3=38&link_caption=Birendranath%20Datta | archive-date=29 September 2013 | url-status=dead }}
Death
Birendra Nath Datta died in Guwahati on 23 October 2023, at the age of 88.[https://www.indiatodayne.in/amp/assam/story/assam-eminent-academician-singer-and-lyricist-birendra-nath-datta-passes-away-at-88-698904-2023-10-23 Assam: Eminent academician, singer and lyricist Birendra Nath Datta passes away at 88]
Awards
- Padma Shri (2009){{cite web|title=Padma awards 2009|url=http://www.culturopedia.in/Awards/padma-awards2.html|access-date=13 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082109/http://www.culturopedia.in/Awards/padma-awards2.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2009) |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs |url=http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/LST-PDAWD.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510095705/http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/LST-PDAWD.pdf |archive-date=10 May 2013 }}
- Jagaddhatri-Harmohan Das Literary award (2010)
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Literature & Education}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Datta, Birendra Nath}}
Category:20th-century Indian educational theorists
Category:People from Nagaon district
Category:Gauhati University alumni
Category:Visva-Bharati University alumni
Category:Academic staff of Gauhati University
Category:Asom Sahitya Sabha Presidents