In the month of September 2024, the music world of Assam jingled with a launch of a musical rhythm in a video album “Jiya”. A beautiful thought from few youths of Barak Valley inspired by Rajib Dey, a Ph.D. Scholar from Department Business Administration from Assam University, Silchar, harmonized with a tune of another band of minstrel orchestrated on the bank of Brahmaputra valley, visualized finally to capture the unification of both banks of Brahmaputra and Barak valley dedicating to the people of Assam. Rajib Dey, hails from a conservative Sylheti speaking family of Dwarbond.
Popular Music icon of Assam and who is equally popular in Bengal cine industries, Zubeen Garg inaugurated this music video “Jiya” in a lone mid night street of Guwahti under the row of lush green trees , which is currently pushed in peril, following the proposed construction of longest fly over of Guwahati city, growing on the edge of historic Dighali Pukhuri, in Assam. Zubeen Garg picked up the album folder in hand for midnight inauguration of the music video “Jiya” recalling his childhood memories, while the juvenile Zubeen spent his days at Barak valley, as his father Mohini Mohan Borthakur, act as lyrist, musician under the name known to be Kapil Thakur, posted as magistrate in southern Assam, hence Zubeen greeted Rajib Dey in typical Sylheti dialect hailing “kitaba vala ni”.
Music video “Jiya” tried to catch the feel, of former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananada Sonowal, who propagated the solidarity for the sentiments of the people living in both banks of Barak and Brahmaputra Valley. Therefore, “Jiya” pulled the former Assam Chief Minister Sri Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways to witness a momentous occasion of its launch in Barak Valley on a prestigious gathering in Assam University Silchar also graced by Member of Parliament of Silchar Parimal Suklabaidya, Professor Rajiv Mohan Pant Vice Chancellor Assam University Silchar and other dignitaries. “Jiya” is successful to conceptualize the centuries old ethnic, cultural and historic connections of Barak and Brahmaputra Valley , that upholds a house hold catchphrase of every commons of the state, much spelled ushered by Sarbananada Sonowal as “Barak Bramhaputra Pahar Voyam” for unification of hills and plains of both northern and southern Assam.
Plot behind the creation of music video “Jiya” was to sing the harmony of assimilation of people of different linguistic communities from Assam; hence Rajib took the initiatives to rope the music talents from different parts of Assam.
Cultural ignition for creation of Jiya came from cultural stalwart of Barak Valley, Chameli Dev and Rajendra Dev, who were adored by many artists, as pioneer.
“Jiya” earned huge appreciation from intellectuals not only from Barak valley but also from across the globe. Senior Journalist Konoj Kanti Shome, Manna Das, Bappi Acharjee have coined the message of Jiya, as symphony to sing about “Samanvay” to create a “setu” as cultural bridge, even the viewers from different states of India as well as from abroad including UK, USA, Canada, Bangladesh, and Middle East, enriched the efforts with valuable commendation.
Sylheti speaking Rajib raised Rajmi Hazarika, to act as star actress in music album, and the other most hands of the music album were created by youths of Rabha Community of Assam. Rabha is one of the most famous tribal community is Assam. The duet singer of the Assamese Music album were Romesh Rabha and Elisha Rabha, Direction of the album was by Siddhartha Raba, Videography by Champak Barman, Music arranger Devraj Rabha and make up was touched and glittered by Babli Rabha. Guitarist Abhijit and Biswajit synchronized the cord of “Jiya” in Rabha Production, whirling inside the picturesque green hills of Meghalaya.
