Assam recently commemorated the death anniversary of Pratima Barua Pandey, the iconic exponent of Goalpariya folk music, with the conferment of the Pratima Barua Pandey Memorial Award.

About the Pratima Barua Pandey Memorial Award

• The Pratima Barua Pandey Memorial Award is an annual honor instituted by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU). 
• The award was instituted to honour her legacy and promote Assamese folk culture.
• Presented every year on December 27—the death anniversary of the legendary folk singer—the award serves as a reminder of the “Queen Mother of Goalpariya Folk Songs.”
• This year, the prestigious award has been conferred upon Ratneshwar Moran, an 82-year-old eminent folk artist from Tinsukia district. 
• Moran is a revered figure in the Moran community, known for his lifelong commitment to:
  • Preserving Tribal Ethos: Safeguarding traditional songs and rituals of Upper Assam.
  • Artisanship: Crafting and maintaining traditional indigenous musical instruments.
  • Cultural Transmission: Teaching younger generations to prevent the extinction of tribal art forms.

Significance of Pratima Barua Pandey 

• Born into the Gauripur Royal Family, Pratima Barua Pandey broke social barriers to embrace the music of the masses—mahouts (elephant riders), buffalo herders, and river folk. 
• She is credited with reviving and popularising Goalpariya folk songs — traditional music of the Koch Rajbongshi and Deshi communities of western Assam.
• Her work, such as the famous Hastir Kanya, Mur Mahut Bandhure, and Bail Machhe Khel Kare, brought Goalpariya Lokageet to international acclaim.
• She integrated traditional instruments like dhol, dotora, junuka, and dhuluki, preserving authentic folk rhythms.

Honours and Recognition

• Awarded the Padma Shri for her contribution to Indian folk music.
• First Assamese woman to receive the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1991) for folk songs.
• A documentary film “Hastir Kanya” based on her life won the National Award for Best Biographical Film (1997).
• Her story also inspired the Assamese feature film “Sonar Baran Pakhi,” directed by Bobby Sarma Baruah.

• • It was the first Rajbanshi language film.
  • It was voted ‘Best Feature Film’ at the Indian Film Festival at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.
  • It has also won the Audience Choice Award in the Dhaka International Film Festival.

• The Assam Government is currently transforming her ancestral home, the Matiabag Palace (Hawa Mahal) in Gauripur, Dhubri, into a heritage museum. 

Quick facts for prelims

• Pratima Barua Pandey was associated with Goalpariya folk music.
• The memorial award is given for contributions to folk culture.
• Organised by All Assam Students’ Union.

Exam Hook: Prelims Question

Q. With reference to the cultural heritage of Assam, consider the following statements:

1. Goalpariya Lokageet is a traditional folk music form primarily associated with Western Assam.
2. The term “Hastir Kanya” is associated with the legendary singer Pratima Barua Pandey.
3. The Moran community, to which the 2025 Memorial Award winner belongs, is an indigenous group primarily found in Eastern Assam.

Which of the statements given above are correct? 

(a) 1 and 2 only      (b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 1 and 3 only       (d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

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