Assam Mourns the Loss of Renowned Photographer Nalini Kanta Baruah

Tributes Pour in for Nalini Kanta Baruah

Tezpur, Jan 7: Assam is in mourning following the passing of the esteemed photographer and Bishnu Prasad Rabha Award recipient, Nalini Kanta Baruah, who passed away at his home in Barahalia, Tezpur, on Tuesday evening at the age of 95.

The news of Baruah's death has left a deep sense of sorrow within the cultural, media, and artistic communities of the state, marking the end of an extraordinary creative journey that lasted nearly eighty years.

His final rites were conducted with full state honors at the Harjarapar crematorium, attended by fans, fellow artists, journalists, and officials from the district administration.

Earlier that day, a public tribute was held at Church Field in Tezpur, where many gathered to pay their respects to the legendary photographer.

Nalini Kanta Baruah, born on April 22, 1931, was much more than just a photographer. Known as a 'shutter guru', he viewed photography as a blend of visual art, emotion, and social commentary.

During a time when photography was primarily seen as a means of documentation, Baruah transformed it into a compelling artistic expression that was bold, introspective, and often thought-provoking.

He is recognized as one of the pioneering photographers in India and likely the first from the Northeast to explore nude photography in a public and artistic manner.

Nalini Kanta Baruah (AT Image)

His contributions in this genre challenged societal norms and broke taboos, introducing a nuanced yet daring aesthetic that garnered both national and international acclaim. One of his nude photographs even made its way into mainstream newspapers, marking a significant moment in Indian visual culture.

Baruah's lens also chronicled historical events.

He captured the essence of the Indo-Chinese war era, producing rare images of soldiers and military life characterized by resilience, vulnerability, and quiet bravery. His extensive body of work includes politically charged portraits and depictions of social realities that mirrored the upheavals and changes of their times.

Deeply embedded in Assam's cultural fabric, Baruah had close ties with notable figures such as Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Bhupen Hazarika, and renowned writer Homen Borgohain.

These connections were reflected in some of his most poignant portraits, which encapsulated not just faces but the essence of Assam's intellectual and cultural revival.

His impressive portfolio features celebrated works like The Symbol, Majestic, Fly and Fly, No Word, The Companion, Trust, Culture, Naked Touch, Death and Birth, Universal, Spring Culture, Worry, Missing Bihu Dance, Bihu Dance, Happiness an Assamese Girl, Life Together, Struggle, My Life, The Chain, Mother’s Love, Want, Togetherness, and Play Time.

Condolences have been expressed from various quarters, including Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Photographic Society of Assam, Sonitpur Press Club, Sonitpur Journalists’ Union, Tezpur Sahitya Sabha, district units of AASU and ABSU, Bodo Sahitya Sabha, and numerous cultural and social organizations, all mourning his loss.