GUWAHATI, Oct 25 � Economist and a pioneer modern management expert of the State, Prafulla Chandra Baruah, passed away at his Juripar, Panjabari, residence early this morning.
He was 87 and had been ailing for some time.
Born at Sarbaibandha in Jorhat district, Baruah had a uniformly brilliant career and was a topper in the first batch of MA in Economics from Gauhati University. He also got his postgraduate degree in Social Science from a reputed university of the Netherlands.
An organizer of young socialist league in Assam in the late 1940s, Baruah was the chief organizer of world university service in Assam.
Baruah who retired in the topmost post of the labour department of the Assam Oil Company, was later associated with the National Productivity Council and the North Eastern Institute of Bank Management, of which he was a managing director.
Baruah was associated with the Assam Management Association and the Vivekananda Kendra. A founder president of the Panjabari Sahitya Sabha and Panjabari Senior Citizens� Association, he was a prolific writer both in Assamese and English with over 40 books to his credit. He was also a vice-president of Jyotirupa.
Baruah was awarded literary pension by the State Government. He was also awarded prizes for his books on children. His books on the history of petroleum in Assam have been acknowledged as a reference book throughout the world. An award winning debator in his college days, he was a popular anchor both in all India radio and Doordarshan for over a decade.
He leaves behind his wife and three sons.
His last rites were performed in the Navagraha crematorium in a well-attended ceremony.
A condolence meeting will be held at the Panjabari Senior Citizens Club at 5 pm on Saturday.