Bhabananda Deka

Bhabananda Deka was an accomplished Indian economist whose immense work and research in the economy of Assam and neighboring states were the first of its kind. In fact, he has written more than hundred books covering various subjects and topics.

He was born on August 19, 1929. He was the citizen of Assam. His parent's names were Late Sayatri Bala Pathak and Late Baliram Pathak. He has done his graduation and post-graduation in economics from Cotton College in Guwahati and Gauhati University respectively.

During his college days, he taught at a local school named Chenga High School and worked for Bhattadeb Milan Samiti, a governing body of Byaskuchi Satra. In between this phase, he took several teaching jobs for his livelihood and did social work too.

Sometime after his post-graduation, Giridhar Sarma, Arya Vidyapeeth College's founder, and a litterateur requested him to join their institution. He graciously accepted it and taught there for few years before switching to Pragjyotish College. He worked there until 1992.

In between his stint at Pragjyotish, he also established Bapujee College, served Union Public Service Commission as a Language Unit's Senior Research Officer, and taught at Assam Engineering Institute, Guwahati Night College, Tamulichiga GKB College, Sarukehtri College, and Hajo BEd College.

He worked diligently to ensure that the concerned authority introduce The Assamese Language in Delhi University's Modern Indian Languages (MIL) Department as well as India level Competitive Examinations. He formed Asomiya Sahitya Samaj in the capital city along with Bijoy Chandra Bhagawati, Upendra Nath Goswami, Jogendra Nath Hazarika, Parikshit Hazarika, and several others.

He has also ensured that people give due respect to other literary figures from Assam. The names of some of his books, essays, and research are Assamese Language & Literature & Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaroa, Bonhomie between Families of Sankardev & Damodardev, Element of Civics and Economics, Buddhism in Assam as Depicted in History of Kamrup, Bishnuram Medhi : A Political Study, Prachin Asomiya Bhakti Sahitya Aru Dhammapada, Mahapurushar Kotha : Katha Guru Choritor Santa Mahanta, Udham Singh : A Martyr of India's Freedom Movement, Bhaorather Bamsa Aru Baliram Pathakar Jivan Kriti, Sankardeva as a Social Thinker, Buddhism and its Teaching, Brass & Bell Metal Industry in Assam, and much more.

In fact, several authors have also written books on him like Arthanitigya-Sikshabid-Sahityik Adhyaksha Bhabananda Deka, Bhupen Hazarika-Bhabananda Deka-Mamoni Raisom Goswami: Tini Axom Ratna Tini Batkotiya, Awahon-Ramdhenu Jugor Xahityik Adhyaksha Bhabananda Deka, and much more.

He has also won the Literary Award and Pension from the Assam government, who rechristened him Asom Ratna, which means Assam's jewel, posthumously. He died on December 4, 2006.