Veteran Assam theatre personality and cultural activist Ratna Ojha no more

Renowned theatre personality, author and playwright from Assam, Ratna Ojha passed away at his residence in Guwahati at midnight on Tuesday following brief illness. He was 88.

He is survived by his wife and three daughters. His last rites will be performed around 8 pm today at the Nabagraha crematorium.

Born on Dec 5, 1931, the veteran playwright made significant contributions in the field of theatre for which he was accorded prestigious Natyasurya Award in 2005.

Ojha was keen to carry forward the street theatre movement in state, which he started in 1971. He introduced street plays in Assam with a skit called ‘Kokaideo’.

He was also an eminent writer, actor and cultural activist. A multifaceted artiste, Ojha has also penned several novels and poems. He was also involved in the production and direction the documentary film ‘Naam-ghar’.

Ojha was part of the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra’s general council and he was also associated with the Northeast Zonal Cultural Centre. He was also the vice-chairman of the Bhupen Hazarika Cultural Trust.

He was last seen taking part in protest against the Citizenship amendment Act called by the artiste fraternity.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma including other eminent personalities from the cultural world condoled the demise of the cultural doyen, terming it as an irreparable loss.

অসমৰ সাংস্কৃতিক জগতৰ অন্যতম বটবৃক্ষস্বৰূপ ৰত্ন ওজাৰ বিয়োগত মৰ্মাহত হৈছোঁ। জাতীয় জীৱনৰ উজ্জ্বল ৰত্ন হিচাপে তেখেতে সামাজিক, সাংস্কৃতিক, সাহিত্য ক্ষেত্ৰত আগবঢ়াই থৈ যোৱা উল্লেখযোগ্য অৱদান চিৰযুগমীয়া হৈ ৰ’ব।

তেখেতৰ আত্মাৰ চিৰশান্তি কামনাৰে শোকস্তব্ধ পৰিয়ালবৰ্গলৈ সমবেদনা জনালোঁ। pic.twitter.com/z6ihs9NG9p

— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) December 31, 2019

বিশিষ্ট কথাশিল্পী, সাহিত্যিক শ্ৰীযুত ৰত্ন ওজাদেৱৰ বিয়োগত মৰ্মাহত হৈছো৷ ওৰেটো জীৱন সাহিত্য,সংস্কৃতিৰ জগতৰ সৈতে জড়িত হৈ থাকি ওজাদেৱে ৰাজ্যখনলৈ যি অনন্য অৱদান আগবঢ়াই গ’ল সেয়া স্মৰণীয় হৈ ৰ’ব৷তেওঁৰ বিয়োগ ৰাজ্যখনৰ বাবে এক অপূৰণীয় ক্ষতি৷ তেওঁৰ বিদেহ আত্মাৰ চিৰশান্তি কৰিলোঁ৷ pic.twitter.com/5AlSbw3vu7

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa)