Arun Sharma

Arun Sharma Biography

Arun Sharma is a prominent writer of Assam belonging to contemporary style of writing and noted for his plays. His unconventional plays in Assamese listed his place among the most prominent playwrights from Assam. For his contributions to Assamese literature, he was honoured with Padma Shri in 2010. He also received Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2003 for his contributions to drama. His novel Ashirbadar Rong bagged Sahitya Academy award for the year 1998. He is also the recipient of Asam Sahitya Sabha’s Best Playwright Award for two consecutive years and Assam Valley Literary Award in 2005.

He was born on November 3, 1931 in Dibrugarh. His father was a journalist who worked as the editor of The Times of Assam. Later the family moved to Halemguri village. He completed matriculation from Tezpur High School in 1948. He got inspired a lot by the Gandhgian ideals which prompted him to do some social service and also start farming. He completed graduation from Cotton College in 1954 and it was during his academic years in Cotton College, when he got diverted to writing. He wrote his first play while at college in 1951. It was first staged in Tezpur’s Ban Theatre in 1955.

He started his editorial journey with The Assam Tribune in 1954. But the following year he returned back to his native village and worked as a school teacher and Assistant Headmaster in the MCD High School. In 1960 he joined AIR, Guwahati and worked with the radio station till his retirement in 1986. He had a long term association with it for more than 25 years. He worked under different sections, starting with Producer and later played a significant role in the drama section of the radio station. Sarma has written and broadcast 42 radio plays for All India Radio. Many of his plays have won international awards as well.

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Updated: July 21, 2014