GUWAHATI, Sept 30 - Eminent journalist, writer and Editor of Dainik Asam, Radhika Mohan Bhagawati passed away at the Apollo International Hospital in the city at 9.20 this morning. He was 85, and had been admitted to hospital following respiratory problems on September 17.
Born to an illustrious family at Jamugurihat in Biswanath district on January 19, 1933, Bhagawati passed his Matriculation examination from Jamuguri High School in 1950. He did his Intermediate (IA) from Darrang College in 1952, followed by his BA from JB College, Jorhat, in 1954, and MA (Economics) from the Benares Hindu University in 1958.
In between, he served as a teacher at Jamuguri High School from 1954 to 1956, followed by another stint at the Sonaram High School here from 1958 to 1960. He also served as a part-time journalist in Natun Asomiya while working at the Sonaram High School.
While still working with Natun Asomiya, Bhagawati joined the celebrated literary magazine Ramdhenu (then edited by Dr Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya) as Assistant Editor in 1960 and became its Editor in 1963. Following the closure of Ramdhenu in 1967, he assumed full-time responsibility in Natun Asomiya and became its Editor in 1976 and continued in that capacity till March 31, 1981. He became the founder Editor of Tinidiniya Batori on October 19, 1981 and served there till its closure on April 7, 1983. This was followed by a stint for two terms as part-time lecturer of Journalism at the Gauhati University in 1984. He joined Ajir Asam, published by the Sentinel group in 1987 as its founder Editor and retired in 2004. He was also the Editor of the Hindi Sentinel as founder Editor from 1989 to 2004. He joined Ajir Dainik Batori in 2007 and worked there till March 31, 2010 as Editor.
He joined Dainik Asam, the vernacular daily published by the Assam Tribune group, in October 2010 and remained its Editor till his death.
A prolific author, Bhagawati wrote on diverse subjects, including children�s literature. Some of his works include Banaria Phool (short-story collection, 1967), Viet Cong (translation of Douglas Eugene Pike�s Viet Cong), Mukta (translated novel, 1966), Fehujali (children�s novel, 1967), Raktajawa (novel, 1970), Bharatar Navajagaran (translation of Rishi Aurobindo�s articles, 1971), Sonali Charai (children�s fiction, 1994), Ejon Raja Asil (children�s fiction, 1970), Desh-Bideshar Sadhu (children�s stories), Sonali Nao-Rupali Botha (children�s fiction), Batori Kakotor Kahini, Sadhur Sofura, etc. He also edited a number of volumes that include children�s literature, history of journalism in Assam, articles on Mahatma Gandhi, etc.
Bhagawati won many awards and honours, including the Harendra Nath Baruah Award (1988), Sahitya Akademi Translation Award (1991), Harmony Award, New Delhi (1996), Jyotiprasad Agarwala Award by Purvottar Marwari Yuva Sammelan (2001), Kedarnath Goswami Best Editor Award (2004), Kamalkumari Siba Prasad Baruah National Award for Journalism (2010), Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya Sangbadikota Bota by the Assam government (2011), Lakshminath Phukan Sangbadikota Bota by the Asam Sahitya Sabha (2013), Dr Ambedkar Ratna by Jodhpur Dalit Sahitya Parishad, and RN Borooah and Protiva Borooah Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism (2016). He was also conferred the titles of Deshsevak by the RG Baruah Smritiraksha Samti (Dibrugarh) in 2007 and Sangbad Siromani by the Swasthya Aru Shiksha Parishad the same year. He was also conferred the honorary DLit by the Down Town University, Assam.
He was associated with a number of organisations, including the Publication Board Assam as its vice chairman, president of the 150 Years Celebration of Assamese Newspapers Committee, president of the Media Trust, and president of the Asom Pran Harendra Nath Baruah Memorial Committee.
His last rites were performed at the Bhootnath crematorium later in the evening with full state honours.
Earlier, his body was taken to the Media Trust, The Assam Tribune premises, Guwahati Press Club and Swahid Nyas to enable the people to pay homage to the departed soul.
He leaves behind a daughter and two sons, besides a host of relatives.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, besides numerous organisations and individuals across the State, termed Bhagawati�s death as an irreparable loss to the world of journalism in the State and extended their condolences to the members of the bereaved family.