GUWAHATI, May 7 � Eminent historian and social scientist Dr Amalendu Guha breathed his last at 3.45 in the wee hours today at his residence at Ulubari. He was 91.
The mortal remains of the creator of Planter Raj to Swaraj, were handed over to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) as Dr Guha had pledged his body in 2005 for the purpose of research work and enrichment of medical science.
State honour was bestowed on Dr Guha as the body was being received at the anatomy department of the GMCH. He had also pledged his eyes to the Shankardeva Nethralaya, which collected the organs early in the morning today.
Born on January 30, 1924 in Imphal, Dr Guha was an eminent writer, poet, historian, social scientist and Communist thinker. He wrote in English, Assamese and Bengali languages. Planter Raj to Swaraj : Freedom Struggle and Electoral Politics in Assam - a remarkable historical research work - is considered to be the greatest among his creations.
Tomaloi - a collection of poems, Soviet Deshot Ebhumuki, Afghanistanot Ebhumuki and Vaishnavbador Pora Mayamoriya Bidroholoi, among others, are his books in Assamese, while his Bengali literary works include Luit Parer Gatha.
His other books are Medieval and Early Colonial Assam: Society, Polity and Economy and Central Asia: Movement of Peoples and Ideas from Times Prehistoric to Modern.
He was honoured with the Sahityacharya Sanman of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, Pt Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Gold Plaque of Asiatic Society, Asom Prakashan Parishad Award, Netaji Smarak Garima Award, Aniruddhadev Chair Award of Dibrugarh University among others.
Dr Guha was admitted to a city hospital last month after a mild heart attack. Family sources said that he was brought back to his residence after about two weeks. Along with his wife, he is survived by his son Supratik Guha.
Governor PB Acharya has condoled the death of Dr Guha. In a condolence message, the Governor said Dr Guha�s death was a loss not just for the State, but for the entire nation �which has lost a great soul, a patron of learning and knowledge, and an extraordinary philanthropist.�
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also condoled the death of the scholar. In a condolence message, he termed Dr Guha an unrelenting pursuer of truth and knowledge who enriched Assam�s scholastic and social life like few had done before him. �It is an irreparable loss for Assam,� he added.
