BOKAKHAT, Dec 17 – Aideu Handique, the first heroine of Assamese Cinema is no more. According to family sources the end came early this morning at her family residence at Kamargaon Panidihingia in Golaghat District. She was 87. Her death is attributed to old-age ailment. She was bed-ridden for the past about two years and was also suffering from paralysis. Born in an orthodox environment in 1915 to Late Nilambar Handique and Late Lakshmi Handique, Aideu Handique took the entire society of Assam by storm by playing the lead role in the first Assamese film Joymoti made by Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla in the early 1930s. But, a section of society could not approve of this act of Aideu and she was ostracised. She remained a spinster. No doubt, the harsh attitude of this section of society came to an end in course of time and she was taken back to her parental house by her family later on.
Aideu who paved the way for co-acting in Assamese cinema with her pioneering role and sacrifice for the medium of film became an icon for cine-lovers of the State during her life and she was honoured by the State Government-sponsored Asamiya Chalachitrar Sonali Jayanti Udjapan Samiti on March 10, 1985 with a copper plate for her contribution to Assamese cinema. Prior to that, the Radha Govinda Baruah Smritirakshya Samiti honoured her on July 15, 1984. The Asam Sahitya Sabha honoured her on February 25, 1996, the Asam Natya Sanmilan, on February 25, 1992, the Purbanchal Tai Sahitya Sabha, on March 12, 1989, the Sadou Asam Lekhika Samaroh on February 7, 1990, the New Art Players, Guwahati, on August 27, 1997, also honoured her.
Former Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia provided her with a sum of Rs 10,000 in 1992, while the Assam Silpi Nyas Trust donated her a wheel chair in 1997. Present Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi contributed a sum of Rs 5 lakh while he was an MP, from his MP LAD Fund, to construct a memorial museum after her. The construction work of the museum is in progress in her native village. Sri Gogoi also donated a sum to her in December 2001.
The local people of Panidihingia built an ME school named after her, with the fund provided by the then Bokakhat MLA Bhupen Bhuyan in 1996. Noted cine actress Mridula Barua inaugurated the school in her presence. The Bokakhat Marwari Samaj also built a gate on the Panidihingia Road after her name. But till her last day she remained pensive. Her plea to provincialise the ME school and complete the Panidihingia Water Supply Scheme remained unheard. Her last rites were performed on the campus of the Aideu Handique Memorial Museum at Panidihingia this afternoon. Her funeral was widely attended. Golaghat DC JB Ekka, SP Derajuddin Ahmed, newly-elected Khumtai MLA Prabin Gogoi, Village Defence Organisation chief advisor and former Bokakhat MLA Bhupen Bhuyan, representatives of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, Assam Journalists’ Union also attended the funeral.
She leaves behind three nephew and a host of relative. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi described the death of Aideu Handique as an end of an era. Besides playing a pioneering role for Assamese cinema, Aideu Handique also played the role of a path finder in the State’s women’s liberation movement, Sri Gogoi said, adding, her ideals will continue to inspire the coming generation of the State. Meanwhile, Kamargaon Sahitya Sabha, Kamargaon College, Bokakhat Puwati Sahitya Sabha, Golaghat District Administration, Bokakhat Civil Sub-division Administration have mourned the demise of Smt Handique.