Poet Nilmani Phookan was honoured with Jnanpith award – Times of India

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma handed over the award alongside the chairperson of the Jnanpith selection board, Pratibha Ray. Addressing the gathering as ‘saponor surjyar manuh’ (Oh the people of the sun of my dream), Phookan accepted the award, saying, “If there is God somewhere he must be a human being. I am sitting or standing in front of that God,” said Phookan after receiving the 56th Jnanpith award.

The award carried a shawl, a shreephal, a statue of the goddess Saraswati, a citation and a cheque for Rs 11 lakh.
The CM termed it a glorious moment for Assam as a personality from the state has been awarded the Jnanpith after two decades. Phookan is the third literary giant from the state to receive the Jnanpith after Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya and Mamoni Roisom Goswami. Interestingly in 2001, when Mamoni Raisom got the award, she had said during an interview that the next Jnanpith award would go to a poet from Assam.

The chief guest of the ceremony, Sarma, said the honour bestowed upon Phookan has made every Assamese proud. “Today the long wait of two decades is over. I feel honoured to hand over the award,” he said.

What made Phookan stand out was symbolism, which many critics say has been inspired by French symbolism. Sarma said the poet used his imagination and immortal words to express the pain and agony of the people.

“Nilmani Phukan’s poetry has a universal appeal. Many of the sensitive poet’s creations are full of melancholy,” said Sarma, noting that Phookan’s poetry can communicate before it is understood.

The chief minister said efforts need to be made to translate Phookan’s poetic works, along with some of the best literary works in Indian languages, into different languages across the globe. “If we get permission from his family, the Publication Board Assam will take steps to translate Nilmani Phookan’s creations into different Indian languages,” Sarma announced.

Jnanpith-awardee author Pratibha Ray called Phookan, the “sage-like poet”, India’s pride. “His range is vast, from horizon to horizon, political to cosmic and tradition to modernity,” said Ray.

She lauded Phookan as a poet who has the quality to create fire and water, planets and stars, and time and space in a fabric of words. Earlier in her speech, she urged the state government to initiate a translation project on Phookan.