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Actor, cultural activist Badal Das no more

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 11 - Veteran actor, director and cultural activist Badal Das passed away at a city hospital this afternoon.

He was 87 and had been ailing for some time.

He was admitted to hospital on August 9 for kidney and heart-related ailments.

Born at Tezpur on November 29, 1930, Das graduated from Cotton College and did his post-graduation from Gauhati University. He also held a Law degree and also worked in the Finance Department of the State government from 1956 to 1992.

He made his debut as a child artiste at the Kumar Bhaskar Natya Mandir stage in 1939. The drama was Alibaba, directed by Lakshyadhar Choudhury. He continued with stage acting through his school, college and university days and represented Gauhati University in the first-ever India Youth Festival in New Delhi in 1955. He was also awarded for his role in the acclaimed radio play Era bator sur, directed by Dr Bhupen Hazarika. He appeared as an amateur actor across the State and also at several places in the country.

Regarded as a versatile actor, Das also acted in numerous languages, like Hindi, Bengali, and English. In all he acted in over 200 plays.

Das also authored a number of plays, including in Hindi and also directed those across stages in Guwahati and outside. He authored History and Genesis of Theatre and Natyakala Aru Shilpa � the latter a part of Gauhati University�s Assamese Department curricula. As a drama activist, he was involved with all the leading theatre organisations of the State.

He leaves behind his wife, a daughter and a son.

His last rites were performed at the Navagraha crematorium.

Various organisations, including All Guwahati Students� Union, Indian People�s Theatre Association, etc., condoled his death, terming it as a great loss for the State�s cultural spheres.

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