PATACHARKUCHI, Nov 4 - The death of Bhubaneswar Barman, former two-time MLA of Patacharkuchi LAC, veteran freedom fighter, Gandhian leader and the first local reporter from Patacharkuchi was widely mourned here.
Barman breathed his last on October 31 at the GMCH at the age of 97. He was struggling for life for the last one month due to multiple old-age ailments. As soon as his mortal remains reached Nityananda Kaljirapara, his well-wishers thronged his residence to pay him their last respects.
Nayanjyoti Bhagabati, SDO (C) Bajali and the Additional Deputy Commissioner arrived at his residence and laid floral tributes at his body on behalf of the local administration. Barman left behind four sons and daughters-in-law, two daughters and son-in-law along with grandsons and granddaughters and a host of well-wishers.
His demise was mourned widely in the locality. The Patacharkuchi Press Club observed three days of condolence at his demise. The Nityananda Anchalik Unnayan Samiti, Patacharkuchi Press Club, Bajali Zila Sangabadik Santha, Kaljirapara Jubak Sangha, Nityananda Lakshmi Puja Committee, Jayanta Hazarika Memorial Sangha, Bajali block Congress, Bajali BJP, Barpeta Zila Congress, Patacharkuchi Vidyapith, Barpeta district Press Club, Pathsala Press Club, Bajali zila Press Guild, Bajali zila Rashtrabhasha Sevak Sangha, Asom Rashtrabhasha Prasar Samiti, Pabindra Deka, local MLA, Kamal Kumar Medhi, APCC spokesperson, Giridhar Choudhuri, president, Pathsala Bazar Committee, Munindra Narayan Goswami, eminent writer and social worker and a number of organisations and persons have expressed their grief over the death of the veteran leader.
Barman was a local reporter from Patacharkuchi in the vernacular daily Natun Asomiya in 1953 and continued writing about the problems of the area in the newspapers till 1967. In 1967, he was elected as MLA of Patacharkuchi LAC from the Praja Socialist Party. He was again elected in 1978 from Janata Party. During his time as an MLA, he was involved in the development of the area by setting up schools, hospitals and working for the farmers.
He was also elected as the president of the Assam Cooperative Society and an executive member of the National Cooperative Society. He visited many foreign countries. He also worked actively in Assam Rastrabhasha Prasar Samiti as �mantri� (chairman) for a long time. He was involved in the language movement of Assam and the Refinery Movement. During the freedom struggle also, he had played an active role.
