Khagen Mahanta Assamese Singer – The King of Bihu

“Bihu Samrat”, Khagen Mahanta is one of the most esteemed names in Assamese folk music. He was born on 17th of August, 1942 at Aamtala Gajala Satra in Nagaon to Harendra Nath Mahanta and Laxmipriya Devi. He was interested in music since his childhood and at the age of 15 year; he started performing and his first performance was in Shillong’s musical concerts where his voice was very much appreciated and accepted by the audience. In the year 1958, he was recognized by from the Delhi Doordarshan center, which was established that very year, and offered him with an opportunity to perform. He represents one of the most influential families in Assamese music.

 In the year 1957, he passed his matriculation examination from Nagaon Government College and went to Edmund’s College in Shillong and in 1959, he won the Gold Medal in Inter-University Youth Festival for playing Khol. The same year his I.A. (present-day higher secondary) and came back to Nagaon and took admission in Nagaon College and completed his graduation in the year 1962. He joined the Department of English in Guwahati University for higher studies but later changed his subject to History. Owing to his great devotion towards music, he could not complete his post graduation.

During the “Bhasha Andolan” in 1960, Mahanta got actively involved in it under the leadership of personalities like Bishnuprasad Rabha, Hemanga Biswas and Jugal Das. He was member of the group called “Harmony” and popularized human values with his melodious voice and compositions. In 1961 his first gramophone recorded song was broadcast from Guwahati All India Radio center. He also participated in the “World Peace” festival in Calcutta. He was recognized as an A grade artist in AIR and contributed in almost all genres of Assamese music like Lokageet, Okoni Geet, musicals, dramas, and notably Bihu for which he received widespread recognition.

 In the year 1961, the first gramophone recorded song was broadcasted from Guwahati All India Radio and in the same year, he participated in the “World Peace” Festival that was held in Kolkata. In the year 1965, Mahanta was sent to Nepal for a cultural exchange program, where he earned a lot of appreciation and recognition. Khagen Mahanta married a notable artist Archana Mahanta, who was an eminent Assamese folk singer as well as an actress in the year 1973. The duo performed together in every concert and gained immense fame and popularized Assamese folk music all over the state as well as the nation. He is the proud father of two children, Angaraag Mahanta, who is a popular Assamese singer and has taken Assamese folk music to a different level and Kingkini Mahanta. Mahanta has been felicitated numerous times nationally and internationally for his contributions. He was also awarded Sangeet Natak Academy award for folk and traditional music in 1992. On 12th June, 2014, Khagen Mahanta left for his heavenly abode leaving all his fans grieve stricken. He sudden demise is surely a loss for Assam and Assamese folk music. Image source