Sananta Tanty

Sananta Tanty was born on the 4th of November, 1952 to Shri Loke Nath Tanty and Smt. Baitarani Tanty in Kalinagar Tea Estate in the district of Karimganj of Assam bordering Bangladesh.[7] He started his education from the primary school situated in Kalinagar Tea Estate while finishing his senior secondary education in the science stream from Ram Krishna Vidyapeeth Senior Secondary School, Ram Krishna Nagar located some 2 kilometres away from his home in 1969. Sananta Tanty then went to Shillong to pursue his graduate studies from St. Anthony's College but had to discontinue his studies as his parents were unable to afford his education due to poverty.[7] He then went on to work in Jorhat, where he took admission in Jorhat Amalgamated College taking classes during the night, finally finishing his graduation from Dibru College (under Dibrugarh University) as a private candidate in 1975.[5][7]

Tanty started his professional career as an employee of Assam Tea Employees' Provident Fund Organisation in Jorhat town in the year 1971. Subsequently, he joined office of the Directorate of Information and Public Relation, Government of Assam as a Sub-Divisional Information and Public Relations Officer in Guwahati. He then joined the Assam Tea Employees' Provident Fund Organisation[4] as an officer in the Public Relations department and became Senior Public Relations Officer, finally retiring from service in 2012 as Deputy Provident Fund Commissioner.[1] He, however, was given extension for another one and half year after his retirement as an Officer on Special Duties.[5][2]

Sananta Tanty married Smt. Minati Tanty (formerly Minati Kakati), daughter of Shri Kesharam Kakati from North Lakhimpur on 18 February 1986. They have two sons, namely Swagat (Born – 1988) and Tathagat (Born – 1994).[5]

Positions Tanty held:[5]

1. Member, Executive Committee, Children’s Literary Trust, Government of Assam,
2. Member (nominated), Central Working Committee, Asom Sahitya Sabha,
3. Member, Advisory Committee, All India Radio, Guwahati,
4. Member, Assamese Language Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi,
5. Member, Working Committee, Public Relations Society – North-east Branch.

Works include:[5]

1. Ujjol Nakhyatror Sandhanot (Poetry book, Trend, Guwahati, January 1981)
2. Moi Manuhor Amal Utsav (Poetry Book, LBS Publication, Guwahati, November 1985)
3. Nizor Biruddhey Sesh Prastab (Poetry Book, LBS Publication, Guwahati, August 1990)
4. Sabdat othoba Sabdahinotat (Poetry Book, LBS Publication, Guwahati, 1993)
5. Mrityur Agar Stoppageot (Poetry Book, LBS Publication, Guwahati, 1996)
6. Toponito ketiaba Barisha Ahey (Poetry Book, LBS Publication, Guwahati, 1997)
7. Dhuan Sar Sopun (Poetry Book, Puthi Niketan, Guwahati, 1999)
8. Dirno Bosontor Saurav (Poetry Book, Journal Emporium, Nalbari, 2002)
9. Apuni Apunar Hotey Yudhha Koribo Paribone (Poetry Book, Seuji Seuji, Nankar Bhaira, Nalbari, 2004)
10. Moi (Poetry Book, Seuji Seuji, Naakar Bhaira, Nalbari, 2008)
11. Mur Nirabhoron Atmar Sokaboho Sobdobur (Poetry Book, Seuji Seuji, Naakar Bhaira, Nalbari, 2010)
12. Kailoir Dinto Amar Hobo (Poetry Book, Aank Baak, Guwahati, December 2013)
13. Mur Priyo Sopunor Osore Panzore (Poetry Book, Faculty Books, Guwahati, April 2017)
14. Selected Poems Sananta Tanty (Translated into English by Dibyojyoti Sharma, Eye Right Imprint, New Delhi, 2017)

Awards received:[2][8][9][5]

1. 1992, Mrinalini Devi Goswami Memorial Award, conferred by Asom Poets Society,Assam,
2. 2002, Bir Birsa Munda Award,conferred by Dalit Sahitya Akademi – Assam Chapter,
3. 2011,Usman Ali Sadagar Samannay Award, Char-Chapori Sahitya Parishad, Assam
4. 2014, Krantikal Sahitya Samann, conferred by Krantikal Publishers, Nagaon, Assam,
5. 2015, Sailadhar Rajkhowa Award, conferred by Asom Sahitya Sabha, Assam,
6. 2016, Padmanath Vidyavinod Smriti Sahitya Purashkar, conferred by Ramanath Bhattacharyya Foundation, Mumbai,
7. 2017, Assam Valley Literary Award, conferred by Williamson Magor Education Trust, Assam,[10]
8. 2018, Sahitya Akademi Award,[11] Conferred by Sahitya Akademi, Government of India[12]
9. 2020, Meghraj Karmakar Sahitya Award, Conferred by Assam Tea Community Sahitya Sabha, Assam.

Handwriting sample of Sananta Tanty (in Assamese)

Growing up, Sananta Tanty read a lot of Bengali literature at home. His story is woven around a larger story of migration and assimilation into the mainstream of a state where his grandfather had come to as a labourer.[13][6] He portrays the emotions of a downtrodden people in elegant words and weaves verses of beautiful human poetry. Hope plays a big part in the poetry of Tanty as he conjures contrasting planes of thought into his works.[7] The plight of the tea gardeners, the life they live, a deep sense of longing along with a determined choice to elicit changes in their lives is prominent in verses of Tanty's poetry.[14] His left radicalism and sensitivity made him a voice to be reckoned with.[1][6]

During his time in Jorhat, Sananta Tanty came in contact with many prominent litterateurs of the state which lit in him an urge to seek and learn the Assamese language.[4] [13]He began writing for a magazine, then edited by Dr. Nagen Saikia and with time, his penchant for words started gaining notice.[6] He is also credited with revolutionising the field of modern Assamese poetry and has emerged as an important voice within it.[13] It is his indulgence in life of the ordinary people, prominence of society and politics upon which lies no pretense gives him legitimacy and stokes a romanticism for the working class and culture.[9] He is one of the stalwarts in the state today in the field of literature.[4]