by Mayukh Goswami

Late Saharia was an exponent of ‘Oja Pali’ and had performed this component of Darrangi culture with devotion and dedication in various places of the district for which he had earned a high reputation. He reportedly had started his cultural career  after his marriage, at the age of sixteen when  he  was recognized as a disciple by ‘Guru’ Gongo Oja- a famous name in ‘Oja Pali’ of that time. Then he also expertised himself in the art of  playing the ‘Khol’-a musical instrument founded by Mahapurush Sri Manta Shankardeb. The ‘Khulia Bhaona’ is one of the localized forms of ‘Angkiya Bhaona’ which is also one of the unique creations of Mahapurush Shankardeb and late Saharia was also deeply involved with ‘Khulia Bhaona’ and played a key role for the performance and practice of it and even training and encouraging the local youths including one of  his  sons it in this form of folk art which is on the verge of extinction.MANGALDAI : Mahendra Saharia- an octogenarian folk artiste and an exponent of ‘Oja Pali’ and ‘Khulia Bhaona’ the two  major components of traditionally rich Darrangi culture and a humble social activist of Darrang district is no more. He has left for his heavenly abode at   his village Neogpara’s residence near Kalaigaon in Darrang district on Saturday at about 6.45 am  He was 82.. According to his family source he suddenly fell ill  immediately after completion of  his morning bath following to  call of nature as a part of routine morning practice. He was  was guided to his bed, but within few seconds he breathed his last.

Late Saharia also deeply involved with the historic Assam Agitation from 1979 to 1985 for which his entire family had to face the atrocities of police and security forces several times. His involvement with the social work could well be reflected from his leadership to construct an embankment at the source of river Kulsi along the Indo-Bhutan border in 1988 only to control the river which had created heavy devastation in the down streams without depending on any government fund.

On receipt of the news of his sudden demise, a large number of his admirers including leading local citizens , activists of Assam Movement from Mangaldai , Kalaigaon and Guwahati rushed to his residence and offered their last respect. He has left behind his wife Jamuna Saharia, sons Jiten Saharia, Hiren Kumar Saharia (both were senior activists of Assam Movement), Sachindra Saharia, Khirod Saharia and a host of relatives among others. The last rite was performed at his own village this morning in presence of a number of admirers and family members. The sudden demise of this popular folk artiste and social entrepreneur has widely been mourned in the entire locality .