Since childhood we’ve been having knowledge about various notable persons like Humayun Ahmed, Begum Rokeya, Sufia Kamal, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Jasim Uddin, Jibananda Das etc. But we aborigines barely know about the latent talents of our indigenous communities who left huge contribution to our native music, literature, art and poetry etc.
Today we will know about one such person that is Mohendra Lal Tripura who was a poet, author and lyricist at the same time. Mohendra Lal Tripura belonged to Tripura community, an ethnic group living in northeast India and Bangladesh. He was born on 1st September, 1945 at Kamakutchora, Dighinala, Khagrachhari. His father Rajmoni Roaza and mother Pushpashree Tripura had 6 offspring in total. He was the youngest one of all.
His early education started at Kamakutchora Private Primary School and entered into Khagrachari Government High School for his secondary education after studying one year of secondary level at Dighinala MP School. But without completing his secondary level he admitted into a Diploma Engineering Course and he couldn’t complete it due to his father’s illness.
Later in 1964, his elder brother Surendra Lal Tripura took him to Rangamati and let him complete his secondary education from Rangamati Shah High School. He was married to Chandra Tripura. Mohendra Lal Tripura started his career by doing a job at Bangladesh Consumer Products Corporation. Later he joined at Rangamati Cultural Institute and worked there until his retirement.
From an early age he had keen interest in literature, poetry and writing songs. This interest had been greatly affected by his father, a singer and his brother, an author, composer and singer. Besides there were also Charan poet Bidya Ratan and Vaishnava Khari Das Tripura by whom he was inspired to practice literature and poetry. He has written a variety of songs, fairy tales, stories, essays, books and poems. His first book “Kokshurongdi (Learn Kokborok)” was published in 1981. The names of his later published books are respectively
1. Swarganilama (Way to Heaven), 1991
2. Samajik Aainbidhi (Social Law), 1998
3. Tripura Rupkotha (Tripura Fairy Tales), 1998
4. Hapar Nikhorang (Compilation of Songs), 2006
5. Mohenni Kok Bathai (Compilation of Poems), 2008
Born into an indigenous community in Bangladesh where people are fighting for their rights continuously inspired him to compose nation awakening as well as patriotic songs. He composed romantic songs also. One of his most notable songs is “Faidi Naitong Dendok Fatung” that seemingly refers to gather all the descents of his community and live in solidarity. This song has received a lot of response because of which the “Tripura Kollyan Songsod ” has declared the song as official group song. He’s also certified as a lyricist by “Bangladesh Betar Kendro” after submitting his 25 songs.
Furthermore he was very much aware regarding his language, Kokborok. He wanted the young generation to be sentient of own language and culture. Due to which he worked relentlessly providing lessons Tripura children about Kokborok at free of cost. So that the language does not fall into endanger. He even discovered the alphabet of it but due to lack of patronage it couldn’t develop that much.
On 6th February 2013, He exhaled his last breath at Rangamati’s residence. Later He was posthumously honored from “Jum Aesthetic Council” because of his literary work.
Culture is an important element for the survival of indigenous people as it unites people belonging to the same. It can authorize and clinch indigenous people to advocate their basic human rights, raising their voices, claiming same amenities as others and practicing own language. Hence he dedicated his life on social and cultural activity of his own community so that the people of his community may determine for themselves the future they will lead.
Written by Saptorshi Dewan
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