Cultural Journalists’ Association of Assam Holds Memorial Service for Nimananda Das

Baharul Islam advocates for an annual cultural journalism award.

A memorial meeting and tribute ceremony was organised at the Guwahati Press Club under the initiative of the Cultural Journalism Association, Assam on September 5. The event was held to honour and remember the works, life, philosophy, and contributions to cultural journalism of the noted cultural journalist, writer, screenwriter, and filmmaker Nimananda Das. Organized under the aegis of the Cultural Journalists’ Association of Assam (CJAA), the meeting was presided over by the association's president, Bitopan Borborah. The speakers at the event fondly reminisced about Das’s long and illustrious career in cultural journalism, his creative journey as an author and filmmaker, his cultural insights, and his enduring vision for Assamese cinema. 

Deeply passionate about culture since his childhood, Nimananda Das earned his bachelor’s degree in Assamese from Abhayapuri College and his master’s degree from Cotton College, before immersing himself in the creative realms of literature, journalism, and cinema. For three decades, Nimananda remained deeply committed to cultural journalism. His creative spirit, however, extended far beyond the written word; he stepped behind the camera as an assistant director for notable Assamese films like Baharul Islam’s Asene Konoba Hiyaat (2000), Chakradhar Deka’s Soru Bowari (2003) and Hiren Bora’s Seema — The Untold Story (2019). His creativity further shone through the many television serials, documentaries, and plays he wrote and directed.

For Nimananda, cinema was never just a profession — it was a profound dream and a lifelong devotion. He carried a deep, unwavering passion to elevate Assamese cinema onto the global stage and aspired to win international acclaim for his direction. It was this beautiful dream that fueled his tireless journey forward.

As a gifted writer and journalist, he left an indelible mark on our culture through his profound insights and evocative storytelling. He wrote prolifically for the vernacular print media, weaving vivid narratives that celebrated theatre, cinema, music, and local traditions.

He recently began directing his dream project, Rumyang, a biographical film about ‘Forest Man of India’ Jadav Payeng. The project features a cast led by Pabitra Rabha, Rajib Kro, Meena Ingti, and Amarendra Deka. For its shooting, he had set up camp at the Bhakat Chapori village in Majuli. Even in those final moments, his mind was likely consumed by the next scene, the subsequent chapter of the story, and his long-cherished dream of taking Assamese cinema to the world. But destiny can be incredibly cruel. A sudden, tragic accident instantly brought all his dreams, plans and creative journeys to a standstill. The hands that held the camera to tell new stories, the pen that had so much left to write, and the vision that dared to dream so far ahead for Assamese cinema — all fell silent in an instant. The untimely demise of Nimananda Das is not just an irreparable loss for his family; it leaves a profound, irreplaceable void in the cultural and cinematic landscape of Assam.

At the memorial meeting, noted film directors Sanjib Sabhapandit and Chandra Mudoi, actor-director Baharul Islam, along with Anup Hazarika, Rajen Rajkhowa, Suresh Ranjan Goduka, Biswajit Kalita, Khagen Kalita, Dhananjay Debnath, Mukul Das, and the association’s acting president Mrinal Kumar Borah, delivered speeches reflecting on various memories associated with Nimananda Das, his professional life, and his contributions to the cultural sphere. The gathering was attended by a large number of cultural activists, journalists, filmmakers, and well-wishers, including film director Hiren Bora, Hemanta Kumar Das, actresses Bhagirathi, Meena Ingti, journalists Sibanu Bora, Achyut Kumar Patowary, Amarendra Deka, and producer-distributor Rajesh Kumar More.

The depth of this grief is beyond words for the family of Nimananda Das, who leaves behind his mother, wife, son, and daughter. The Assamese cultural world has lost a truly promising, deeply creative talent. So many of Nimananda’s dreams remain unfulfilled, many stories left untold, and numerous visions will now forever remain incomplete through his lens.

Speaking on the occasion, noted actor and filmmaker Baharul Islam lauded the invaluable contributions of journalists like Nimananda Das to the realm of cultural journalism. He requested the Cultural Journalists’ Association of Assam to institute an annual ‘Cultural Journalism Award’ to honour an outstanding journalist each year, while generously offering to personally fund all the expenses for the initiative. Notably, the Cultural Journalists’ Association of Assam was also contemplating the institution of such an award to recognise outstanding contributions to the field of cultural journalism. It was against this backdrop that Baharul Islam spontaneously stepped forward to bear all the necessary expenses for the award, a gesture received with deep gratitude by the Association. The CJAA expressed its heartfelt gratitude to Baharul Islam for his exceptional generosity and enduring commitment to cultural journalism. The Association further stated that it will soon finalise the name of the award, its guidelines, eligibility criteria, selection process, and other technical aspects, with detailed official announcements to follow in due course.