Srimanta Sankardev and Ajan Fakir laid the foundation for a unified greater Assamese film producer and social worker Bani Kalita receiving the Indira Gandhi Sadbhavana Award at a function in New Delhi recently.Assamese society centuries back. Inspired by these two great saints, many a great man, in later times, too, initiated measures to strengthen this bond of fraternity, even though communalism raises its ugly head from time to time at the instigation of some vested interests. Thankfully though, this bond of brotherhood is growing stronger than ever before.

But sadly, the new generation hardly knows about Ajan Fakir and his contributions towards the Assamese society. Proper propagation of the ideals and contributions of this great saint among the youths of today will surely help bring peace and amity in society. Keeping this very thought in mind, social worker Bani Kalita produced the Assamese feature film Ajan Fakir Saheb under the banner of Samannway Films, realising the fact that cinema is one of the popular ways to reach out to the masses.

For his relentless social work, as also his contribution towards strengthening the bond of brotherhood and spreading peace and integration in this part of the country, Sri Sathya Sai International Centre recently honoured Kalita with a national award, dedicated in the memory of the former Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. The Indira Gandhi Sadbhavana Award 2009 was conferred on Kalita, along with other distinguished personalities, at a solemn function in New Delhi recently. Kalita’s film on integration was specially mentioned in the awards function.

It may be noted that Ajan Fakir Saheb bagged the award for the Best Assamese Film of the year in the Assam Sports and Cultural Festival 2009. Kalita was also felicitated and specially awarded at a function at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati recently, for his film Ajan Fakir Saheb. Actively associated with the Japorigog Rongali Bihu Sanmilani, Guwahati since its inception around three decades back, Kalita has been hailed for supporting a number of self-help groups in Nalbari and Barpeta districts that produce agarbattis and other household items, whereby the youths of the area earn a decent livelihood. For this effort, he was even felicitated at the special session of the Asam Sahitya Sabha at Chapar, where Sabha president Kanaksen Deka conferred on him the title ‘Karmashree’.

After an eventful journey with Ajan Fakir Saheb, producer Bani Kalita is again ready to take up his next venture and with some positive thinking, he will soon launch his next Assamese feature film.

Kamal Kr Bhagawati