Prof Bhabananda Deka

Prof Bhabananda Deka (1929–2006) was a multi-faceted Author of one hundred fifteen books, textbooks on Economics, Ancient Assamese Literature, Civics and Political Science, and countless Research Papers and articles from Assam, a state in the north-eastern part of India. He pioneered the writing of books on Economics in Assamese. His Assamese book Axomor Arthaneeti was the first ever research-based comprehensive book on Assam Economics, which was published for the first time in 1963.

Bhabananda Deka was born to Late Baliram Pathak and Late Sayatri Bala Pathak at Byaskuchi Satra, Barpeta sub division of undivided Kamrup district, Assam. He completed his graduation in Economics in 1954 and did his post graduation in Economics from Gauhati University in 1957.

On 1 September 1958 Deka joined Pragjyotish College in Guwahati in the Economics Department as the Head of Department. He was retired as Principal of the same college in 1992. While he was working for Pragjyotish College, he took leave for a year and worked as a Senior Research Officer in the Language Unit of Union Public Service Commission, Delhi.

He also worked as principal of four other Graduate and Post Graduate Colleges spread over the entire state of Assam in India, and brought access to the higher education closer to the toiling millions of underprivileged people in India. He was the Founder Principal of Bapujee College in Sarthebari.

He was one of the first Assamese to form Asomiya Sahitya Samaj in New Delhi along with Parikshit Hazarika and Upendra Nath Goswami in 1968. They were subservient in the introduction of Assamese Language in MIL Department of Delhi University. He also established Assamese Department and Bengali Department in the Indian Constitutional body Union Public Service Commission(UPSC) in New Delhi, and single-handedly introduced Assamese Language as a subject and medium for appearing in all-India level Competitive Examinations conducted by UPSC to select top bureaucrats of India Government.

He was a dynamic member of Asom Sahitya Sabha and was made the last President of the undivided Kamrup District Sahitya Sabha in 1982. He was the founder of Assam Economic Association

Deka was instrumental behind the building of the first Library (Bhattadev Puthivoral) at Byaskuchi Satra. He was the editor of various journals and magazines including Ami (1948), Udaygiri, Rastrajyoti and Gobinda.

He was highly influenced by Sankari Culture and was known for his active participation in setting up Belbari Satra (Vaisnavite Monastery) in Barpeta District. He has written numerous articles and books on Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva and Sankari Culture. He translated the Kirtan Ghosa (Poetic works of Srimanta Sankardeva) from Assamese to English before his death in December, 2006.

Deka is the recipient of the Literary Pension (2004) and Literary Award (August 15, 1997) offered by the Government of Assam.

After his demise, Pragjyotish College of Guwahati, Assam, India, has been organising 'Bhabananda Deka Memorial Lecture' in Guwahati every year since his first death anniversary on 4 Dec 2007.