Sananta Tanty

Sananta Tanty was born on 4 November 1952 to Loke Nath Tanty and Baitarani Tanty in Kalinagar Tea Estate in the district of Karimganj of Assam, near the India-Bangladesh border. He started his education at a primary school in Kalinagar Tea Estate and finished his secondary education in the science stream at Ram Krishna Vidyapeeth Senior Secondary School, Ram Krishna Nagar located away from his home in 1969. Sananta Tanty then went to Shillong to study at St. Anthony's College but had to discontinue his studies because his parents were unable to afford his education. He then went to work in Jorhat, where he attended night classes at Jorhat Amalgamated College, finally graduating from Dibru College (under Dibrugarh University) as a private candidate in 1975. == Career ==

Tanty started his professional career as an employee of Assam Tea Employees' Provident Fund Organisation in Jorhat in 1971. Subsequently, he joined office of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Government of Assam, as a Sub-Divisional Information and Public Relations Officer in Guwahati. He then joined the Assam Tea Employees' Provident Fund Organisation 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. Tanty was given an extension for another one and a half years after his retirement as an Officer on Special Duties. == Personal life and death==

Sananta Tanty married Smt. Minati Tanty (formerly Minati Kakati) from North Lakhimpur on 18 February 1986. They had two sons; Swagat (born 1988) and Tathagat (born 1994). == Positions held ==

Positions Tanty held: • Member, Executive Committee, Children’s Literary Trust, Government of Assam • Member (nominated), Central Working Committee, Asom Sahitya Sabha • Member, Advisory Committee, All India Radio, Guwahati • Member, Assamese Language Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi • Member, Working Committee, Public Relations Society – North-east Branch == Published works ==

Works include: • Ujjol Nakhyatror Sandhanot (Poetry book, Trend, Guwahati, January 1981) • Moi Manuhor Amal Utsav (Poetry Book, LBS Publication, Guwahati, November 1985) • Nizor Biruddhey Sesh Prastab (Poetry Book, LBS Publication, Guwahati, August 1990) • Sabdat Othoba Sabdahinotat (Poetry Book, LBS Publication, Guwahati, 1993) • Mrityur Agar Stoppageot (Poetry Book, LBS Publication, Guwahati, 1996) • Toponito Ketiaba Barisha Ahey (Poetry Book, LBS Publication, Guwahati, 1997) • Dhuan Sar Sopun (Poetry Book, Puthi Niketan, Guwahati, 1999) • Dirno Bosontor Saurav (Poetry Book, Journal Emporium, Nalbari, 2002) • Apuni Apunar Hotey Yudhha Koribo Paribone (Poetry Book, Seuji Seuji, Nankar Bhaira, Nalbari, 2004) • Moi (Poetry Book, Seuji Seuji, Naakar Bhaira, Nalbari, 2008) • Mur Nirabhoron Atmar Sokaboho Sobdobur (Poetry Book, Seuji Seuji, Naakar Bhaira, Nalbari, 2010) • Kailoir Dinto Amar Hobo (Poetry Book, Aank Baak, Guwahati, December 2013) • Mur Priyo Sopunor Osore Panzore (Poetry Book, Faculty Books, Guwahati, April 2017) • Selected Poems Sananta Tanty (Translated into English by Dibyojyoti Sharma, Eye Right Imprint, New Delhi, 2017) In-press • Kavita Samagra :SanantaTanty (Editor: Kushal Dutta, Papyrus Publication, Guwahati) • Karimganjorpora Relerre Ahonte (Poetry Book, Aank Baak, Guwahati) His works have been translated into many languages in the country and abroad. == Awards and recognition ==

Awards received: • 2018, Sahitya Akademi Award Conferred by Sahitya Akademi, Government of India • 2020, Meghraj Karmakar Sahitya Award, Conferred by Assam Tea Community Sahitya Sabha, Assam == Impact and legacy ==

While growing up, Sananta Tanty read a lot of Bengali literature at home. His left-wing radicalism and sensitivity made him a voice to be reckoned with. During his time in Jorhat, Sananta Tanty came in contact with many prominent litterateurs of the state, which gave an urge to learn the Assamese language. He began writing for a magazine, then edited by Dr. Nagen Saikia and his penchant for words started gaining him notice. He is also credited with revolutionising the field of modern Assamese poetry and has emerged as an important voice within it. 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. He is one of the stalwarts in the state today in the field of literature. ==See also==