GUWAHATI, Aug 10 � Noted public activist and president of Save Guwahati Build Guwahati (SGBG) Dhiren Baruah was today conferred the title, �Guwahati Pran� by his admirers for his relentless efforts to solve the myriad problems plaguing Guwahati and its citizens.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi formally presented the title to Baruah at a function held at the Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture auditorium here this evening.
Praising the 85-year-old Baruah for devoting his entire life to the development of Guwahati, the Chief Minister, who was also the chief guest on the occasion, said that Baruah has been taking up issues like civic administration, law and order and beautification of the city, etc., with the zeal and enthusiasm of a youth and added that he deserved the title of �Guwahati Pran.�
�Guwahati is now not just the hub of Assam and the North-east, but it would soon become a gateway to South East Asia. To make the city beautiful and preserve its serenity, the Government has taken up various measures. We also need the support and cooperation of the Guwahatians and organisations like the SGBG have a pivotal role to play in this regard,� Gogoi said.
Gogoi stressed on the fact that maintaining ecological balance along with fast-track development has become a necessity. �To avert any major disaster in the future, we must stop the exploitation of natural resources and use eco-friendly technologies,� he added.
The Chief Minister also released a felicitation volume, Guwahati Pran Dhiren Baruah containing write-ups on the contributions of Dhiren Baruah.
Baruah has been an avid activist throughout his life and had participated in the pre-Independence student movements. He later joined the Socialist Party. He also served the Gauhati Municipal Board from 1956 to 1962. He is also closely associated with the Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani. Baruah had made sincere efforts for the establishment of the B Barooah Cancer Institute.
After receiving the title, Baruah thanked the people of Guwahati for their love and affection and said that this recognition has encouraged him to work with renewed vigour.
Other persons who spoke on the occasion were GMC Mayor Abir Patra, president of the Dhiren Baruah Felicitation Committee Minoti Choudhury, Dilip Hazarika and Sailen Medhi.
