SIVASAGAR, June 5 � The Baruah family of Phukan Nagar here did not know that they were making history nearly 50 years ago when it bought an Ambassador car. On May 25, 1964, late Manoranjan Baruah bought the Ambassador car from Phoenix Automobiles Pvt. Ltd, Dibrugarh.
The iconic car bearing the registration number ASE 2484 completed its golden jubilee year on May 25, 2014. But on the same day, the production of the car was suspended by its makers Hindustan Motors Ltd, citing weak demand and a lack of funds, which may mean no comeback for the car, long the choice of Indian officialdom. But the Baruah family still celebrates the journey made with the car.
Recollecting the memories with the Ambassador, Mrinalranjan Baruah, proprietor of Sivasagar Ranjan Press, said, �It proudly ferried the founder chairman of the Assam Tribune Group, Radha Govinda Baruah, the founder Vice Chancellor of Assam Agricultural University, Dr Satyaranjan Baruah, the former Vice Chancellor of Dibrugarh University, Dr Mukunda Madhab Sarma, eminent economist Dr Jayanta Madhab, former chairman of the Assam Tribune Group, Tulsi Govinda Baruah, former Assam Home Minister Bhrigu Kumar Phukan and many other dignitaries.�
Revealing many unknown facts, Baruah said that Radha Govinda Baruah once made a borjatri trip in this car during the marriage ceremony of Manuranjan�s son, while Biswanarayan Shastri had used the Ambassador while campaigning when he contested from the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency.
�It is the favourite family vehicle. It still negotiates difficult road journeys and withstands pot-holed roads in the town without any hitch,� said Baruah, adding that this iconic asset would be preserved in their residence.
