A distinguished mind of our times, Munin Barkotoki (1915 – 1993) was a man of wide-ranging curiosity and exceptionally varied interests. His passions included literature, journalism, theatre, film, music, painting, sports and - of course - politics. Though his literary output was sparse, Barkotoki exerted a quiet but effective influence on the literary scene in Assam in his role as a conscientious
man of letters open to new ideas and experiments. A liberal humanist to the core, he steered clear of any doctrinaire ideology but prized freedom and democracy above everything. Deeply contemplative, yet warm-hearted and convivial he lived a rich inner life untainted by any mundane quest for glory, power or profit. A gold medalist from Calcutta University, Barkotoki was born in Jorhat in Upper Assam, but spent most of his life in Guwahati. He was the younger son of Raisaheb Durgadhar Barkotoki, then Divisional Inspector of Schools. His maternal great grandfather was Anandaram Dhekial Phukan (1829-59), pioneer of the nineteenth century Assamese renaissance. Munin Barkotoki's elder brother was Satyen Barkotoki, who made his mark as a civil servant and writer. In 1959, Munin Barkotoki married Renuka Devi Barkataki, a well known politician and social worker. The Munin Barkotoki Memorial Trust was formed in 1995 to continue to support the causes dear to Munin Barkotoki, and therefore to promote the cause of literature in Assamese, in all genres and, in original as well as in translation. The Trust has also taken up the task of collecting, compiling and arranging for publication all the writings of Munin Barkotoki. So far, five books of his writings and two commemorative volumes on him have been published. Many different literary activities are planned for Barkotoki’s birth centenary year in 2015. Munin Barkotoki was very supportive of younger writers, poets, critics and playwrights and wrote postcards by the dozen encouraging them in their efforts. In order to honour that memory, the Munin Barkotoki Memorial Trust has instituted an annual Munin Barkotoki Award from 1995 for promising young writers writing in Assamese. So far more than 35 writers have received this award.
