Digital Desk: People see Comrade Bishnu Prasad Rabha as a cultural icon, one of Assam's trio, with Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Phani Sharma, whose death and birth anniversaries are commemorated with spectacular celebrations across the state.
Thousands of his bust and life-size sculptures may be found in school and college yards, university campuses, and business establishments. He has auditoriums and parks named after him and cultural events and contests. Even 51 years after his death, his presence in Assamese public life is undiminished.
Mohini Rabha, Rabha's wife, worked tirelessly until her dying breath to gather and publish his innumerable poetry, songs, and essays, which are still spread over the world. On the other hand, Rabha's enormous public profile is not reflected in real efforts to get a comprehensive and deep grasp of his vast range of activity. There have even been cases where the Publication Board of Assam, an important literary institution of the government of Assam founded to publish major works, has refused to publish his writings.
Rabha was an idealist when he was young. His youthful compositions and publications demonstrated his highest love to Sankardeva and his dedication to neo-viashnavism. He thought that only Sankardeva's teachings and neo-vaishnavism could bring peace and prosperity to society.
Rabha was progressively persuaded to Communist thought after witnessing Nationalist leaders' ignorance of impoverished farmers and workers during the independence movement and being affected by the October Revolution in Russia.
He formally joined the Revolutionary Communist Party of India in 1946. (RCPI). His numerous compositions and plays such as Kuri Bachar Jail, Sonpahi, Krishak, Banua Panchayat, and other works, illustrate his strong belief in Communist doctrine, which he held until his death in 1969.
In one of his works, Hemanga Biswas said that Marxist-Leninist doctrine had turned a restless Bishnu Rabha into a person of steadiness and deep political commitment. Rabha dedicated himself entirely to the liberation of the historically oppressed and began living on the streets, travelling around the region.
Comrade Bishnu Prasad Rabha regarded Communism as the road to freedom for impoverished Assamese farmers who had been subjugated by feudal lords and ignored by nationalist leaders. He was persuaded that the Indian bourgeoisie's pursuit of independence was not the true freedom that would lead to the entire emancipation of the poor and oppressed.
As a result, when India earned independence from the British on August 15, 1947, Bishnu Rabha led a march waving a black flag and yelling Yeh Azaadi Jhootha Hain, Sirf Chamra Ka Badal (This freedom is lie, only a change of skin). Despite living in exile for over five years, Rabha continued to carry out his revolutionary activities, even when the Assam government began crushing communist revolutionaries with an iron grip.
Comrade Bishnu prasad Rabha was a living embodiement of Assam's cultural variety. Through his extended travels throughout Assam, he gained cultural and linguistic understanding of practically all of the ethnic and tribal groups in the state. He stayed in indigenous settlements for many nights to learn about their culture. Rabha's vision of Assam was devoid of any chauvinistic inclinations, and it was fueled by inclusivity and cultural synthesis.
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