DIBRUGARH, July 27 � Governor Janaki Ballabh Patnaik today unveiled a bust of RG Baruah at the Lakshminath Bezbaroa Park here at a solemn function, organised by the RG Baruah Memorial Committee. Those in attendance included senior and leading citizens from here and from places like Duliajan and Tinsukia. The function was presided over by the committee�s president, Bharat Borpujari.
In his speech, the Governor lauded the role of RG Baruah for being a pioneer in several activities in Assam, and stressed that the State always draws inspiration from great sons like him. He went on to state that RG Baruah by founding an institution like The Assam Tribune, has done a great service to the nation. He also recalled RG Baruah�s stellar role in starting banking and insurance services from Dibrugarh for the first time in Northeast India. He also took note of Dibrugarh�s prominent role in being the pioneer in the field of medical sciences in the country, and in being among the first places in the country to be linked by railways, apart from being a major river port of the country since the pre-Independence days. He said the bust of RG Baruah here will go a long way in reminding the people of the city of the pride of place that Dibrugarh enjoys in the country.
The chairman of the Assam Tribune Group, Tulsi Govinda Baruah, in his brief address going down memory lane recollected his childhood days in the city. He mentioned walking to the Brahmaputra for a swim on hot summer afternoons. �Dibrugarh, once the pioneering urban hub of the region, is today threatened by the Brahmaputra� something has to be done to tackle this,� he said. He also requested the civil administration here to name a road in the city after RG.
Earlier, welcoming the guests and the VIPs, the secretary of the RG Baruah Memorial Committee here, Dr Kamini Ranjan Baruah, apprised all of the need to resurrect the historic Dibrugarh city and pointed to the need for urgent development activities for better civic amenities here, with better roads, efficient flood and erosion control facilities.
The police band from 11 AP Battalion, Dergaon, played the national anthem at the function. The mangalacharan was conducted by Dr Maheswar Hazarika and the local Aveepsha Choir led by Hiren Gohain and Suresh Hatimuria sang a specially composed song on RG Baruah. The song by the chorus team was appreciated by all for its rich lyrics and exceptionally good music.
The wife of the Governor, Jayanti Patnaik, also graced the function. The other noted persons in attendance included former Dibrugarh MP Sarbananda Sonowal, Dibrugarh University Vice-Chancellor, Prof KK Deka, Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukan, the Dibrugarh Municipal Board chairman, CK Baruah, along with his vice-chairman and ward commissioners, noted artistes, sportsmen, society leaders, doyens of the medical fraternity here, and captains of the business community.
The organisers in their vote of thanks offered their gratitude to the Dibrugarh Municipal Board, the Dibrugarh civil administration, the Dibrugarh police administration, the PWD and ASEB for their support and cooperation in making the function a resounding success.
