In memory of Sachin Baishya , My friend who died so young!

 As I struggled to write this tribute, I am  flooded with memories going all the way to the month of July of 2009.We took a  road trip from Dallas to Colorado with my  Dad who was visiting us from Assam , my wife Anjana  and daughters Anvi and Riddhi It was a long and winding road, a road that led me to a new relationship with a old school  friend with whom I had lost touch till we met again .We were attending a community meet  at the Assam convention and when I reached after 16 hours long driving, I felt exhausted. But as soon as I met Sachin I was filled with joy – his calm, collected and caring nature dispelled my fatigues, he  made me feel  rejuvenated, ready for the meet  and celebration.  

Sachin became a good host  driving us to picnics, sightseeing and restaurants. He was soft spoken and as I got into conversation, I realized he was one year senior to me in high school. His brother Phanindra was my classmate and we three studied in Nagaon Government Boys High School. As Sachin drove me around the picturesque Pikes Peak Mountain, we took a walk down memory lane, reliving our teenage days and our memories of our hometown Nagaon. His relatively high-pitched ‘Hai ne ki?’ (Is it?) and accompanying grins when we discussed things of common interest, are forever imprinted in my mind. At the convention there was delightful performances – a duet of Dr. Bhupen Hazarik – ‘Kohuwa bon mur oxanto mon’ by fun-loving brother-sister duo Rohan and Reema ( Sachin’s children ) followed by Hindi Songs by Surekha Baishya ( his wife ) who mesmerized the audience with her enchanting voice.  Sachin was blessed with a loving and talented family.

We stayed in touch with each other and in the year 2016, we visited Sachin and his family in their Colorado home. After completing college, he was selected to National Institute of Technology Surat , one of the premier institutes in India. After graduating in Electronics Engineering he came to the United States and worked for companies like IBM, McKesson , EMC and finally settled down as a Senior Infrastructure Engineer at Bank of the West in Colorado. We had wonderful few days stay with them and fond memories linger to this day. Surekha is trained in Hindustani Classical Music, and she is an accomplished signer in bhajans, ghazals and Hindi film songs. She has a great career in the medical facility. Sachin supported her whole heartedly. He also was an active and enthusiastic organizer and participant in all of the local Indian community festivities and I was a witness to one such event where he went out of his way to help organize a cultural family event for an Indian friend. The visit and holiday memories at their house are so special that thinking about them brings a smile to my face.

 I’ve met many people before and since, but Sachin gave me a sense that he truly cared about the people he interacted with. He was someone special and I’m glad to have been one of his childhood friend. I remained in touch with him getting updates about Rohan – Rohan graduated in Engineering in Computer science in honors followed by master’s and that he has started working. In the month of July, I called him to know if he would attend the Assam convention held in Texas last summer. Unknown to me that he was unwell. He never disclosed to me anything and when I received the sudden news of his demise a few days back I was in shock and heartbroken.

 While nothing can replace the loss  a husband and a father I would like to offer my deepest condolence and my sincere  support to  Surekha, Rohan and Reema  if they need any kind of help   to get through this difficult  phase of their  life.

Sachin , I will always remember you as a genuine, honest and sincere friend. While you parted from us at such an early age, we will always remember your smile and your jest for life. In midst of pain and sorrow, you saw only the beauty of life. Your qualities as a wonderful human being will forever inspire us. May your soul rest in peace.

 

                                                          Ankur Bora , Dallas , Texas , USA

 

My father who made me to see the world

 

My father Shri Rabindra Chandra Bora passed away on 31^st December at the age of 84. He was born to renowned freedom fighter and ex MLA of Nagaon Shri  Mahi Chandra Bora.

My father viewed education as the key to success in life. After graduating in Nagaon College, he received admission at the Banaras Hindu University and travelled the length of the country by train to join  one of the most prestigious Central Universities in the country. In his memoir my father wrote with great affection about this period for it created the foundation of the kind of life he led. After receiving his Master’s Degree in English he headed back to Nagaon to begin his career as a lecture of English, at  A.D.P. College.  He had a profound command over the English language, an ear for great anecdotes and near-photographic recall of large and small episodes of his life. Along with his teaching profession he indulged in his passion for writing. Starting in the early eighties he began writing book reviews of different authors written on various subject matters ranging from religion, biography, poetry, novels, short story, literary criticism, journalism, travelogue and children literature. Innumerable articles got published in the Assam Tribune, the North East Times, and the Amrita Bazar Patrika. His essays were interspersed with literary thoughts of Plato and Aristotle, quotations from plays of Shakespeare and Bernard Shaw or especial references to the novels of Earnest Hemingway and James Joyce. They were so packet with information that parts of them read like fascinating commentary on different aspects of literatures and perhaps planted the seeds on as decades later I started writing for the Horizon and the Sunday Reading in the Assam Tribune.

I came to the United States as a Software Professional two decades back. It was in the late nineties, and we were some of the first batch of qualifying Engineers from Jorhat Engineering college selected by various Multinational companies. It required a lot of hard work and when I think about that achievement, I think of my father who gave wings to my academic dreams. My father was there at the Delhi International airport biding me goodbye as I boarded my first international flight to a new world. And so, among all the other things I owe him, I owe him the gift of a certain kind of freedom I received from him, the freedom to do things differently.

When I think about my father, I think of another abiding quality- dignity of the self. That sense of dignity meant he was always his own man. It also meant that he was less inclined to admit infirmity of mind and body and was disciplined in taking care of both. My father died a natural death, it was perhaps the end of a dignified journey as the poet Hiren Bhattacharyya once wrote “Mrityuto eta shilpo, jibonor kothin shilot kota nirlobh bhaskarjya” (Death too is an art, an unimpassioned sculpture on life’s granite).      Ankur Bora resides in Dallas , Texas , USA

Sorry to hear about your loss, our heartfelt condolences. I really liked reading your touching tribute and knowing more about your father. We will keep him and your family in our prayers.

Chandan Mozumder 

So sorry to hear the sad news about the loss of your father who was a great inspiration for you in shaping your life. These are the instances of life which we have to bear. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Anjana. Anvi and Riddhi may also have been very saddened, love to them.  We pray for the departed soul to rest in eternal peace in heaven.

Debabrata da and Juri baideu

So sorry to get the sad news.  Our heartfelt condolences to you and your family.

 May God gives you the strength to cope up with the difficult time. May your father's soul rest in peace.

With deepest sympathy 

Parul baideu and Deben Dada.

 Sorry to hear about your loss. A well-written tribute to a great man , Regards,

Rupak Borah

 I am sorry to hear about the passing away of your father. Our sincere condolences to the family.

I pray that his pious soul may rest in peace. Your beautiful tribute brought back very sweet memories of my association in the early days of my life. You are blessed to have a father like him and he must also have been proud of you. Please convey my condolences and warm regards to your mother. Best wishes,

Madan Bezbaruah

 My sincere condolences to you and all the family members and friends your father left behind. We pray for eternal peace and “moksha” of the departed soul. Regards

Binoy K Bordoloi

 We are saddened to hear the passing away of your father. We remember you went to see him last September. Our condolences to you and your family. May his soul rest in peace. 

Lukuba and Kailashda

My deepest condolences to you and your bereaved family. May you all get the strength to face this difficult time. Regards 

Aklantika Saikia

 Very saddened to know about your father’s passing away. Vividly remember meeting him in Colorado a few years ago. Please accept our deepest condolences, and May his kind soul rest in eternal peace. Our thoughts are with you, and Momi, Anvi, and Riddhi.

Alpana Baideu and Ram da

 I am very sorry to hear about uncle. My heartfelt condolences to you and family.

With regards,

Rukmi  Dutta

 Ankur, I just wanna say how proud I am of how you're honoring your father. I know he's smiling from above and couldn't be more proud of you. Raja Deka

 May his soul rest in peace.

Buljit  Buragohain

 Our Deepest Condolences for your loss. May the departed soul rest in peace with the Lord. Regards, 

Enakshi Baruah

 Deepest condolences to you and your family. Praying to the Almighty for the eternal peace of Bordeuta's soul.  Wishing for everyone's well-being , Warmest regards

Anwesa Mahanta

 Very sorry to hear about the untimely demise of your beloved dad! His contributions  will be always there for everyone else to cherish.

Niren Choudhury

 So sorry to learn about your beloved father's passing.  May the Almighty Lord bless his noble soul eternally, and may you and all the loved once be comforted by the fact that you all were blessed by God by sending him into your lives.  You made him proud, and may his legacy live on. Regards,

 Syeda Jebeen Sabira Shah and  Nakibul Ghani Ahsan  New York

 

                                                     Published in Assam Tribune  January 10th .