Renowned Assamese Poet Anis Uz Zaman Passes Away at 79

Tribute to Anis Uz Zaman

GUWAHATI, Sept 21: Anis Uz Zaman, a distinguished poet, author, and former member of the Assam Public Service Commission, has passed away at the age of 79 in a private hospital in Guwahati.

His body was taken to his residence in Santipur Hillside following his death.

Born on February 3, 1947, in Bamunbari village, Sivasagar district, Zaman was the youngest of four children of Bodira Khatoon and Dawood Shah.

He began his education at Bamunbari Primary School and completed his HSLC from Tengapukhuri High School. He earned a Bachelor’s degree with Honours in Assamese from JB College, Jorhat, and later a Master’s degree in Assamese from Gauhati University.

After finishing his studies, Zaman worked as an assistant editor for Gauhati University Publications under the guidance of the renowned writer Bhabendra Nath Saikia. He then became a subject teacher at Palashbari RB HS and MP School, Mirza, retiring voluntarily after 12 years.

In 1998, he was appointed to the Assam Public Service Commission, where he served until 2004.

A life member of the Asam Sahitya Sabha and a literary pensioner of the Assam Government, Zaman published five poetry collections: Agyate, Godhuli, Seujia Jon, Dokmokali, and Ei Batediyei. His works were translated into Bengali and compiled as Anis Uz Zamaner Kabita in 2010.

In addition to poetry, Zaman was an actor and children's author, proficient in Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, and English. He received acclaim for his performances in television adaptations of works by Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Medini Choudhury.

His contributions to children's literature include titles such as Hathat Edin Chiriyakhanat, Binandiya Nodi Aru Baraniya Charai, Tumi Mor Jon Godhulir Hon, Azarar Bojarat Bezerar Pohari, and Bortokolar Mel.

Zaman also edited significant Assamese literary magazines like Sangya and Ramdhenu, along with various books on Assamese literature and poets.

His literary endeavors took him to numerous national and international platforms. He was the chief guest at the Bhubaneswar Book Fair in 1996 and represented Assam at the International Ramayana Conference in Bangkok in 2000, where he presented a lecture on ‘Madhav Kandali’s Ramayana.’

He participated in poets’ exchange programs organized by the Sahitya Akademi across the country and held the presidency of the Sadou Asam Kabi Sanmilan for two terms.

In recognition of his literary contributions, the Assam Government awarded Zaman the Ganesh Gogoi Award on Bishnu Rabha Divas in 2024.

That same year, the Asam Sahitya Sabha honored him as the ‘Jatiya Kobi’ (National Poet) and he received the Gangadhar National Award for poetry.

Zaman is survived by his wife, Dr. Shamim Akhtar, and their three daughters.

His final rites will take place at Athgaon Kabarsthan on Monday, attended by family and admirers.