Dalgaon, Feb 4 � Always on the lookout for the untold story, Dr Mahendra Prasad Barooah, a pioneering figure in the field of journalism in undivided Darrang district and regular correspondent of The Assam Tribune from Mangaldoi, himself became an untold story last night when his bicycle, he used to ride always, took him to the Mangaldoi river in front of the Gandhi Smriti Park, some 200 metres away from his residence at Sankar Nagar.
According to his family members, he remained untraced for the whole night with both of his mobile phones in inactive mode since 9 pm. Family members along with well-wishers searched for him only to find his body and his bicycle on the riverbed of Mangaldoi river. Doctors in the Mangaldoi Civil Hospital identified serious head injuries and pointed them out as the major cause of death. It may be mentioned that along with his mobile phones, some cash, the script of his last news despatch �Encounter� were also recovered from his pocket.
Born in 1938 in the family of Tara Prasad Barooah, a pioneer legal practitioner of Assam, in Golaghat, Dr Barooah had later settled in Mangaldoi. Brother of former Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University, Dr Deba Prasad Barooah, Dr Barooah after completing PG in Assamese in 1963, had joined the Mangaldoi College as a lecturer in the Assamese department and later also completed his Master�s degree in English literature. He had retired in 2002 as the vice-principal of the college.
In the field of journalism, he is a veteran of around 25 years. He was associated with The Assam Tribune till his last breath. He was also associated with other vernacular dailies and journals like Amar Asom, The Dainik Asam, Gariyoshi, The Natun Dainik, The Dainik Janasadharan, either as a columnist or news reporter. He has two books � Sahitya Baibhav and Ronga Suryatu Namiche to his credit, in addition to hundreds of articles, poems, etc., published in different journals and magazines.
Known for his child-like, straightforwardness and humanism, Dr Barooah was loved by people from all sections of the society � regardless of he being a rickshaw-puller or a vegetable vendor or a leading industrialist or a fellow newsman.
He was also associated with various socio-cultural bodies like Mangaldoi Press Club, Mangaldoi unit of Indian Council for Child Welfare and Darrang district unit of AAJU.
His untimely death was mourned by almost all the leading organisations and personalities of Darrang. Condoling his death, Dhruba Hazarika, DC, Darrang and secretary of North East Writers� Forum, termed it as a very shocking incident of his life after the death of his father. He said not a single day passed without his talking to Dr Barooah and added that the wisdom of Dr Barooah was recognised by all. Bhupendra Nath Kakati, a retired lecturer of Mangaldoi College, said, �I have not found a second person in Mangaldoi who has the depth of knowledge of literature, both western and Indian, as Dr Barooah had. According to Tuwaram Deka, a veteran journalist, Dr Barooah was simply a master of grammar and phonetics.
This noon his body was taken in a procession throughout the main thoroughfares of Mangaldoi town while various institutions namely Ranjit Sarma Academy and Mangaldoi College offered their last respect. Members of the press fraternity of the entire district, leading citizens, students, former MLA Basanta Das, former MP Madhab Rajbongshi, Deputy Commissioner Dhruba Hazarika, Mangaldoi Media Circle, APCU, Progressive Media, Darrang District Congress, Zila Sambadik Karma Parishad and hundreds of other mourners and admirers also offered their last respect to Dr Barooah at his residence.
He leaves behind his wife, two sons and a host of relatives.
