Ranju Hazarika: The Man who knows the Sky is the Limit

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer”.

Born as Kumud Chandra Hazarika in the Sonitpur district of Assam on 24th July, 1952, a young boy dreamt to become a writer. Started from the thriller novel named ‘Bahurupi’, so far Ranju Hazarika has over 750 published books ranging from detective, thriller, science fiction, children’s literature, comedy, horror stories to mysterious and social romance, are nearly all best sellers. He has been attracting readers with his suspenseful literature on the pages of popular magazines like Bismoi, Rahashya, Trishul, Hiya and many more since the last four decades. His truly unique and astonishing output even prompted Sahitya Akademi award winner and President of Assam Sahitya Sabha, Dr. Dhurbajyoti Bora to remark that, there isn’t any household left today in the entire nook and corner of Assam that doesn’t possess a copy of his illustrious work.

Ranju Hazarika was born in Sonitpur, former Darang district of Assam, in an Assamese family. Grew up in the Monabari Tea Estate, he was very curious since childhood. He started publishing few of his early short stories and poems in some local news papers and Magazines. When he was just fifteen years old, he finished his first Novel Bahurupi, just before appearing Class 10 Board Exams. Along with his studies, he started his first job as an Accountant in the cooperative society of Monabari Tea Estate. With the grace of destiny he got chances to work in NEFA and in next one decade he worked in two other Tea Estates named Adabari and Sapoi Tea Estate from 1973-76 and 1976-82 respectively. In 1973, he got his first Novel Bahurupi published by Granthapith Publishers. During the working period in those Tea Estates he made the full utilization of his leisure time in literature. Gradually, his fortune as a writer developed and he wrote few other novels like Klanta Surjyar Rashmi, Sandhan, Mayajaal, Duranta Dashyu, Nikhar Atithi, Eta Dip Satta Kabar, Gahin Banar Phool, Uttar Phalguni, Tamas Tapashya, Debajani, Mrityur Xital Nirab Himalay, Palatak Pakhir Xandhanat, Rati Bilap etc. He used to treasure all the manuscripts of his novels in a tea box, which he maintained as “A Dustbin of Stories & Novels of Ranju Hazarika”. In 1982, he started his full fledged literacy job as the Editor of famous Trishool magazine. In 1984, he got married to Pranita Hazarika and shifted to Guwahati. Ranju Hazarika has one daughter and son. Along with his new job as an Editor in magazine Sangket he started a new Assamese Magazine based on Children named “Kon Kon”, but unfortunately they didn’t run for a long time. After more than a decade he again worked as an Editor in famous Assamese Magazines like Hiya, Taal and Kareng.

Sobriquet as the ‘Rahashya Samrat’, Ranju Hazarika can be regarded as one of the most prolific Thriller writers of all time. His writing contains all the basic ingredients like the abrupt changes, exhilarate feeling, dramatic traction, strong narrative thrust, using the active voice, have ascent his work as one of the best thriller writers. He has written over 150 books specially in the thriller genre, covering almost every sub-genres, for instance the Bahurupi, Sanharak, Raktapipakhu, Klanta Judha in the Mystery Fiction. Sabyasachi, Saptarathi, Narakar Duwar, Bikhubdha Bahni, Bibarna Gahbarat Galita Labha, Bidirna Alingan and Niyarat Tejar Tupal, Palatak Pakhir Sandhanot, Ei Kene Boiri, Bihanga Nisha are few of his creations in Crime Thriller and Psychological Thriller respectively. He has wide range of books in Detective Thrillers like Gupta Chakra, Bippanna Nayak, Duranta Dashyu, Nixar Atithi, Botahot Bish, Mrityu Baan, Sanita Nakh, Bhoot Bangla, Khudhatur Sagun, Adrishya Sanghar, Guptaghatak, Chaitanar Sesh Samay, Padma Paragat Bish etc. Anal Bakhana, Nrishangsha Shwapad and Snayur Lalokha are few of his additions in Socio Crime and Legal Thriller respectively.

When it comes to his Social Novels, the variety extends even more, that has the ingredients like his perception and critic to the society, the humor and undeviating depiction, hypocrisy of the society, amuses the reader. Hridayat Tumar Prem, Bon Junakor Andhakar, Brittor Bahirot Nirbudh Kuwali, Astachalat Surjyar Tej, Premhin Parakh and Uttar Phalguni, Mur Manar Manuh, Bibarna Lipika, Ebuku Premar Jaantrana etc. are few of his creations in Romantic and Tragic novels respectively. His commands over narrating the scenes of family based novels are so realistic, that the reader could actually co-relate to his/her real life experiences. Xey Prem Xey Trishna, Bixakta Prem, Premat Mrityur Saa, Panir Tolor Aakakh, Nasta Prajanma, Sapunar Sunali Suhuri, Baghabandi Khela and Narakar Phool, Santrakh, Tumar Aspasta Mukh, Bidhasta Hridayat Prem, Rahashyamayee etc. are few of his timeless classics from Family based and Melodrama. Klanta Surjyar Rashmi, Gahin Banar Phool, Zulu, Jantab, Prahari, Unmukta Aranya, Birohi Aranya are few of his sublime creations, plotting the forest into limelight.

Ranju Hazarika can be regarded as the pioneer of the Horror story writers in the Assamese literature. As mentioned in his Autobiography Jibanar Phool aru Kaint and Jibanar Saat Rang, he has many experiences of facing paranormal activities in his real life, which eventually influenced him to articulate them in the forms of Horror novels and stories. Mrityur Sangeet, Nishith Trishna, Aakrukh, Botahot Moronor Faand, Aatangka Aadim, Maajnixar Aartonad, Kuhok, Sesh Prahoror Khela, Pretatmar Xiharan, Rakhtakta Astitwa etc. are few of his petrified novels in the Gothic fiction. He induced foreshadowing terror in some of the novels for instance Nirab Himachal, Mrityur Bixorpil, Jook, Ripu Sanghar, Roti Bilap, Ahat Bismoi, Mrityur Nirjjon Prakah, Adrishya Mrityur Anweshan etc. Nagna Jighangsha, Aparthiva Andhakar are few of his creations in paranormal fear.

His fluency over Children’s Literature has added an extra dimension that the earned through his creation. Ranging from Short Stories, Quiz, General Knowledge, Stories Collection, Comics, he has written over 200 books in the children’s literature. One of his books named ‘Ishapar Xadhu’ had crossed the selling of 26,000 copies. His famous series initiated an era in the Assamese literature in the mid of 1980s. Started from Tinayan Series, he started writing the Jason Series, Pawan Series, Nandan Series, Rohan Series, Jintan Series, Gun Fighter Series, Jitu Series, Ranjan Series, Valkan Series, Keron Series and increased the tally of more than 110 books under his belt. His contribution to the Adventurous literature is well known, having over 30 books like Eta Dip Saata Kabar, Sihat Saatjan, Abhijan, Nirjan Dipat, Asin Dip Ashanta Sagar, Nihot Belir Basona, Bikhubdha Antarikha etc. Tamas Tapashya, Bahnisikha, Prithibir Satru, Surjyar Sandhan, Ashanna Antarikha, Bandi Surjyalekha, Kuberor Lalokha etc. are few of his timeless creations under the Science Fiction. Not the least, his contribution towards the hilarious Comedy is very popular among the readers, for instance Standard Haahi, Bhoot Bhoutik, Nandeshwar Sangbad, Bilapi Patir Pralapi Patni etc. can make the reader laugh like anything.

Ranju Hazarika’s research related to the story is very detailed. In his novel Mrityur Xital Porox, the way he explained about the detailed scenes of Himalayas, was exactly the same in real. This is hard to believe that without having a passport, the way maintained the explanation regarding the foreign locations and that too almost thirty years ago, when there were no sources of internet or basic communicating devices, is unbelievable. Few of his characters like Detective Debajit Phukan, Pabitra Lahkar, Scientist Amal Krishna Hazarika, Agent Ranjit, Agent Arindom were very popular among the readers.

Other than his literacy skills, Ranju Hazarika is a professional Astrologer and he has been practicing Astrology since last 35 years and written over 10 books in Astrology like Apunar Haat Aru Bhagya, Graharatna, Nijor Haat Nije Saok, Hastarekha, Sapun Aru Falbisar etc. It is hard to believe, that even after maintaining such a busy schedule, Mr. Hazarika can write four to five books simultaneously. Having over 40 pen names, almost 60 publishers and 70 cover designers from Assam, contributed in his accomplishments. In the Guwahati Book Fair, 2001, 25 of his novels were released on a single day.

So far, 22 numbers of his novels are being published as TV serials in Doordarshan and in famous Prahelika Series in the Joonak channel recently. The novel Zulu was published as 3D Animated Feature Film in 2012. Aasene Kunuba Hiyat (2000) and Maya (2003) were two movies that were released based on his work from Uttar Phalguni and Narakar Phool respectively. 11 of his novels were played in the famous mobile theatre groups like Theatre Bhagyadevi, Bordoisila Theatre, Pragjyotish Theatre, Hengul Theatre etc. In 2014, Film Division of India produced a documentary named “Rahashyar Bitchaku”, based on his life and directed by Altaf Mazid. The documentary later got “Golden Conch” international award. His illustrious work has able to win some of the awards like Rahashya Samrat, Prerana Bota (2008), Literary Award (2011) etc. The legacy of Ranju Hazarika is far beyond any awards. His unique thinking, the supreme ability to addict reader from the age of 8 to 88 to his work, will definitely brand him as one of the most prolific and beloved writers of Assam.

Ranju Hazarika Book List

Below are the lists of his novels categorized into different genres and series.

List of Thriller Novels

List of Social Novels

List of Horror Novels

List of Children’s Books

List of Other Novels

List of Science Fiction Novels

List of Comedy Novels

List of Adventure Novels

List of Series and Novels

This article was written by Pranoy Jyoti Sarmah, who also wrote about the “Petrified Horror Novels of Ranju Hazarika“.

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