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One of the most distinctive voices in Assamese poetry, Alakesh Kalita (1985 – 2024) lived and wrote fervently, exploring a few very critical issues of our times: relationship of poetry and life, role and responsibilities of poets, human condition at large, free will and up to some extent the realm of the subconscious. Born in the sleepy town of Jorhat, on 4th September, 1985, as the youngest child of Pramila & Phani Kalita, Alakesh finished his schooling from Guwahati, Axom Jatiya Vidyalay, and finished his post-graduation (first class) in Mass Communication from Gauhati University in the year 2012. A brilliant student and voracious reader all along, Alakesh had access to a social, cultural and literary environment at home, owing to various factors like the involvement of his father with literary and cultural organisations, his elder sister Jyotshna Kalita’s poetic pursuit, and his brother Bikash’s and Mother’s passion for storytelling. In a home filled with books and magazines, Alakesh grew up reading the best of Assamese literature, poetry, criticism and evolved into studying global literature and philosophy in later days.
Alakesh’s literary journey started very early in his life, when he was still in high school. In the year 2012 he published his first poetry collection – Bhaskar (The Sculptor).
Published by Panchajanya publishers – the bold narrative structure of this anthology strategically put him as a serious poet with a distinctive voice, unafraid of experimenting with less explored forms. Since then Alakesh penned a total of 7 anthologies of poems, the last one being in manuscript stage, that the family will be publishing posthumously. Besides poetry, Alakesh penned a series of critical studies and book reviews on fellow writers, legendary authors and global poetry landscape – both in English and Assamese format.
A very humble professional, Alakesh had worked professionally across media, publishing, social sector, sales and distribution and advertising, mostly alongside his siblings.
A quiet and introverted young man by nature, Alakesh was diagnosed with mild schizophrenia in the year 2007. Since then, Alakesh and his family fought a long and lonely battle, figuring life through the highs and lows of his emotional and psychological journey. As he continued to navigate the complex layers of this debilitating mental condition, he never gave up on his devotion and commitment towards research, study and practice of the art of poetry.
On the 19th of April, 2024, refusing to live by the standards set up by the modern capitalist, consumerist (in his own words) society, Alakesh chose to leave the world peacefully. He believed that his ‘ work in this world was over’ and that his work will speak for him in the times to come.
