RANJAN  KUMAR BEZBARUAH

Nagaon, Assam.

Address for communication : c/o :Pathagar (Book Stall), Nagaon,  Assam. Pin: 782001.

Contacts: 94012-10402, E-mail : ranjanbezbaruah@gmail.com,

Blog: https://ranjanbezbezbaruah.blogspot.com

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

M. A. in Sanskrit from Gauhati University (1996).

Kavya Shashtry from Assam  Sanskrit Board, Assam (1997).

Learnt Indian light music under the guidance of Guru Prof. Subhash Dey, Guwahati

Contributor as a vocal artist of Sanskrit music in the National Media, DDNews,

Delhi Doordarshan.

Profession: Teaching Sanskrit in a premier Govt. institution in Nagaon, Assam

AWARDS & FELICITATIONS

Dr.Bhupen Hazarika Memorial Integration Award received at Jorhat, Assam on 5th Nov. 2014.

Received a number of felicitations from various institutions 7 organizations in Assam and other places of the country.

Others:  ‘Hitoishi Sadasya’, Asom Sahitya Sabha; Life Member, Asom Kabi Sanmilon.

CULTURAL  &  ACADEMIC  ACTIVITIES

1. Sanskrit rendition of more than a hundred immortal Assamese songs encompassing the noble numbers of Saint Sankardeva to Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, along with the lyrics of some luminaries of Assamese music.

2. Sanskrit version of a number of patriotic Indian  songs of the maestros like Rabindranath Tagore & Md. Iqbal, Kabi Pradip and so on.

3. Moreover, has been rendering of a few rare Hindi film songs with dignified lyrics & music encompassing K. L. Saigal to A. R. Rahman along with a few popular ghazals and bhajans.

4. Original composition of a number of Sanskrit songs with distinctive features based on the folk & raga melodies, specially from the North-East India . The moods and contents of the songs are varied--devotional, patriotic, humanistic etc.

These songs have been presented at different platforms in Assam, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and New Delhi in the presence of noted intellectuals, dignitaries and enthusiasts of art and culture who received them with warm accolades.

Moreover these Sanskrit songs are presented as choir and dance performances in different places of India and abroad such as Kokata, Delhi, Kanpur, Almora, Haridwar, many places of Gujrat & Rajasthan,  Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai,  Washington D C & Arizona of USA, Dubai & Ras Al Khaimah of UAE and different places of UK & Russia.

It is noteworthy that this kind of attempt has been ventured upon for the very first time in the history of Assamese music and to some extent in the history of Indian music. This translation process of Indian songs has been going on since 1999.

5. PRESENTED THE SANSKRIT RENDITION OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC SONG- Md. IQBAL’S  'SARE JAHAN SEACCHA' WHICH WAS PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL MEDIA, DDNEWS, DELHI FOR THE FIRST TIME, ON THE GRAND OCCASION OF INDIA’S 70TH INDEPENDENCE DAY, ON 14th AUGUST, 2016. IT WAS TRANSLTED &SUNG BY RANJAN BEZBARUAH ALONG WITH OTHER VOCALISTS.  IT  IS CONSIDERED  HISTORIC IN INDIAN MUSIC.

6. Again in 2016 and 2019, had presented the Sanskrit renditions of A. R. Rahman's  patriotic song 'Bharat Humko Jan Se Pyara Hai' translated by Dr. C. R. Nagpal & ‘Dil hai Chota sa’ by Dr. S. Bharadwaj,  Md.Rafi's 'Jahan Dal Dal Par' by Dr. H. Meher, Hemant Kumar’s ‘O Nadi Re’ by Alok kumar  which were produced & telecast by DDNews, Sanskrit (Vaartavali).

7. Prepared another great patriotic song of A R Rahman, 'Ma Tujhe Salam' for India’s Independence day 2019 with the Sanskrit rendition provided by Prof. Narayan Dutt Mishra, JNU, New Delhi.

BOOKS RELEASED & OTHER LITERARY WORKS

1. Compiled a book of Sanskrit songs titled ‘Geeta-Sanskritam’ with the original and translated Sanskrit lyrics (pub.2017).

2. Edited the Assamese Translation of Bharata’s original Sanskrit text of 'Natyashastra', vol. 1& 2 (pub. 2002) by Asom Natya Sanmilon.

3. Preparing a comprehensive Sanskrit-Assamese Dictionary.

4. Preparing a compilation of articles on Sanskrit Culture and Literature.

5. Edited 'Abhijnanam' the Annual souvenir of Sanskrit Bhasha Vikasha Manch, Nagaon from 2007 to   2016.

6. Published a number of thought-provoking research pieces, essays including the translations of a number of famous Indian short stories into  Assamese which are published in different journals and periodicals.

AUDIO CDS & DVD ALBUMS RELEASED

1.'Manomohini' : An audio album with a few musical compositions of the legendary maestros of Assam viz. Saint Sankardeva, Lakshminath Bezbaroa, Jyotiprasasd Agarwala, Bishnuprasad Rabha and Dr. Bhupen Hazarika rendered in Sanskrit and also a number of original Sanskrit compositions by the singer himself. It was released at the Press Club, Guwahati on 17th  Nov, 2008 and was produced by Mayukhi Communication, Guwahati.

2.'Mriganayana' : An audio  album with twelve memorable songs sung delicately in Sanskrit featuring some of the evergreen numbers of Assam. The translated compositions of Saint Sankardeva, Bishnuprasad Rabha and Dr.Bhupen Hazarika are assembled here. This album also includes a number of  Rabindranath Sangeet along with a few self-composed songs by the singer himself which was released at  the Press Club, Guwahati on 13th March, 2001and was produced by Chikhla Communication, Guwahati.

3. 'Sagara Sangamah' : A Tribute to ‘Bharat Ratna’ Dr. Bhupen Hazarika: An audio album with ten immortal numbers of the legend in Sanskrit translation. It was released at AIRCEL, Guwahati on 14th  Nov. , 2011 and was produced & marketed  by Mayukhi Communication, Guwahati in 2012 .

Concept/ Sanskrit Translation / Vocal Rendition: Ranjan Bezbaruah.

4. 'Beyond Barriers' : Vocal Renditions of the Sanskrit Versions in the DVD titled Beyond Barriers produced and published by PPC(NE), Doordarshan, Guwahati, where translations of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s greatest songs in different North-eastern and Indian languages  are included.  It was released on 8th  Sept, 2013.

5. Contributed with vocal in the audio albums 'Tere Mere Alok Ki Yatra' 2014) and  'Agnisur' (2016) produced by Jyoti-BishnuSanskritik Manch, Guwahati.

6. 'Yasoda-Nandana', a Sanskrit audio cd with VaIsnabite devotional songs released in 2014 in Madhupurdham, koochbehar, W.B.

7. Contributed with vocals in two theme songs of  ‘Namami Brahmaputra’  in March, 2017, produced by District Asministrations of Nagaon & Goalpara.

8. Vocal rendition in the Sanskrit audio cd, ‘Mangalacharanam’ produced by  Parijat Production, Sivsagar  released in Press Club, Guwahati in 2017.

9. 'Anandini' and 'Devastakakam': Sanskrit Audio albums under preparation.

Outstanding Musical Performances and participations

1.Participated and performed in the literary workshop & seminar on translation organized by the Sahitya Academy, Eastern Zonal Centre , Kolkata on 12th to 16th  July, 2005.

2. Performed at the grand cultural function along with other artists and writers of India organized by the Eastern Region Literary and Cultural Conference at Rabindra Bhaban, Farakka on 27th  March, 2010.

3. Background vocals of the Sanskrit ‘Slokas’ in the film Srimanta Sankardeva directed by Surjya Hazarika. The  Film was released on 10th  March, 2010.

4. Presented a few classic numbers of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika during the inaugural function of Dr. BhupenHazarika Museum at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra premises in presence of Sri TarunGogoi, Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika and other dignitaries on 25th  January, 2011.

5. A memorable performance on the occasion of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore in6 Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata organized by the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Govt. of Assam, West Bengal State-Music-Drama-Visual Arts Academy etc. on 24th  March, 2011.

6. Participated in a national seminar cum cultural programme organized by Rashtriya Sanskrit Sangsthan, New Delhi and Department of Sanskrit, Gauhati University jointly on 19th  May, 2011.

7. Performed at the national seminar titled ‘Dr. Bhupen Hazarika : His Contribution to the Nation’ held at Institute of  North-East India studies, Gauhati University in May 25th , 2012.

8. Performed at the Stain Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi being invited by Impresario  India to pay homage to the Melody Genius Dr. Bhupen Hazarika on 26th to 28th  Aug,2012.

9. Invited to present  the classic numbers of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika in Sanskrit at  ITC, Guwahati, which was jointly organized by MASDO, ICCR and Directorate of  Cultural Affairs, Assam on 3rd  Nov, 2012 on the grand occasion of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika's first Death Anniversary.

10. Conducted in a four-day workshop  on the Sanskrit renditions of classic Assamese songs rendered by the singer at Natyamandir, Sivasagar arranged by ParijatSangeetVidyalay on 4th   to 7th  April,2013.

11. Invited to perform and deliver a lecture on Sahityarathi Laksminath Bezbaroa at IOC, Digboi on the occasion of Sahityarathi’s 150th Birth Anniversary organized by India Club, Digboi on 30th   and 31st  Nov.2013.

12. Invited to present Vaisnabite songs in Sanskrit in the Auniati Monastery in Majuli, the largest river island in the world  on 22nd  Jan,2014.

13. Background Vocals of Sanskrit Slokas in the Award winning Film ‘Yugadrashtra: the Visionary’ produced by Srijani production and was was released on 16th March, 2014.

14. Performed at ‘Suwadi Suriya Sandhya’ at ICCR Regional Centre, Silpagram, Guwahati on 30th  August, 2014.

15. Participated as a special artist in the of 47th  Session of All India Oriental Conference held at Gauhati University on 4th Jan. 2015.

16. Invited to perform in the cultural function of 73rd session of  Asom Sahitya Sabha held at Kaliabor, Assam on 2nd  Feb. 2015.

17. Invited to join a National Seminar organized by the Society for Sankardeva at  Madhupur Dham, Coochbehar, W.B where presented the Sanskrit versions of the noble numbers of Saint Sankardev on Nov. 23rd, 2014.

18. Participated as an artist in a MHRD sponsored National Seminar on ‘Relevance of  Vedic  Consciousness in Modern Society’ held at the Auditorium of Assam State Film Development Corporation, Guwahati on Jan 14th , 2016.

19. Background vocals and Sanskrit slokas  for the character of Sankardeva for the first Assamese animated feature film ‘Sarvagunakar Srimanta Sankardeva’ directed by noted film director Manju Bora and produced by S. Narayan in 2016.

20.Launched a Music Band 'Prachya' which is the first Sanskrit Band from the North East India in Sri Tirupati Balaji Mandir , Guwahati on 31st . January, 2017.

21. Participated as a performer in the cultural evening in the National Seminar organized by KBVSAS University, Nalbari on 15th  February, 2017.

22. Delivered lectures  on the musical heritage of Assam in Book Fair, Srimanta Sankardev University in Nagaon;  K.B. B. Ed Colleges, Lanka; Dr. B.K.B. College, Puranigudam, Kampur College, Guwahati Book Fair in between 2017-2019.

23. Working in the animated feature film ' Mahapurush Sri Sri Madhavdeva, produced by Ramani Chitram, Guwahati. (ongoing project).

24. Musical performances and other recordings of Sanskrit songs and Chants in AIR, Delhi Doordarshan and other local TV Channels on different purposes and occasions.

25. Contributed as a judge in a number of  state level music competitions in various places of Assam.

REVIEWS & COMMENTS

1.‘Ranjan has  been  popularizing  my  Assamese  lyrics  in  Sanskrit very successfully. I wish that his works would fetch the recognition and appreciation from the cultural fraternity of India.’'-Dr. Bhupen Hazarika ,Tezpur,13th March, 2005.

2. ‘Ranjan Bezbaruah, an alumnus of the Department of  Sanskrit, Gauhati University and a singer of appreciable talent, has also compiled Sanskrit versions of the songs of Rabindranath Tagore, Sankardeva, Bhupen Hazarika, Jyotiprasad Agarwala, Bishnuprasad Rabha and so on.’

Dr. Dipak Kumar Sarma, Vice-Chancellor, Kumar BhaskarVarma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University, Assam.mentioned in Sanskrit in Assam: A Brief Survey in Sixty Years of  Sanskrit Studies:1950-2010(Vol-1, India) etd. By Prof. Radhavallabh Tripathi and pub. by Rashtriya Sanskrit Sangsthan,  New Delhi in 2012.

3.‘Ranjan’s translated songs prove that our regional music can be fruitfully rendered into Sanskrit and made acceptable to a wider audience. He attracts the people both with the splendor of Sanskrit and musical resplendence of  the original numbers’.

Dr. Ashok Kumar Goswami, Sanskrit Scholar, Former Head of the Dept. of Sanskrit, Gauhati University.

4. ‘Ranjan’s Manomohini is a laudable venture in the present scenario where the consciousness of many tend to be swept off by cheap imaginative exercises in the name of popular music. Ranjan holds promise and his endeavour should contribute its bit in the revival of Sanskrit as well’.

Krishna DulalBarua, Critic, Translator,  Musicologist, THE SENTINAL, Feb. 2, 2009.

5.‘The key aim of Ranjan is to establish Assamese music in the national platform and make the people understand the aesthetic beauty of it. It is undoubtedly a great initiative by Ranjan which will definitely contribute towards the overall prosperity of the Indian cultural resources.’

Udit bhanu Borthakur, Journalist, writer, THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, Dec. 15, 2006.

6. ‘Since the works of Sankardeva or Bhupen Hazarika have a national or universal appeal, there has to be a way to make them a means to generate a strong sense of nationalism. For this, Sanskrit seems to be the best medium and Ranjan takes the privilege to render those classic numbers into that language very successfully.’

THE TIMES OF INDIA, Nov. 19, 2008.

7. ‘I never felt so Indian in my life, yes, when I heard the song, I had tears in my eyes. What a wonderful translation of ‘Sare Jahan Se Accha’-‘Bharatiyam asmadim asmadiyam' !

D. Pandit,  USA, appreciating the Sanskrit 'Sare Jahan Se Accha' translated & sung by Ranjan Bezbaruah, produced and published by DDnews, Delhi Doordarshan in 15th Aug. 2016.

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Compiled and published by Mayukhi Communication, Silpukhuri, Guwahati 31