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| Tea baron and industrialist Hemendra Prasad Barooah (Telegraph picture shows wreaths behind his picture) was cremated at 3pm Bangkok time on Sunday. The cremation, performed at a crematorium at a Vishnu temple in the city was a private affair attended by family, relatives and friends. His last rites were performed by his nephew Rajib. Barooah had wished that he be cremated at the place of his death. His ashes are expected in his hometown on Wednesday |
Hemendra Prasad Barooah, grandson of Bisturam Barooah and son of Siba Prasad Barooah and Kamal Kumari Barooah, was the head of the Khongiya Barooah family of Thengal.
By virtue of being the elder brother of my father, Romendra Prasad Barooah, he is my Bordeuta.
When my grandfather, Siba Prasad Barooah, died in 1938, my father was only four-year-old and it was my Bordeuta who filled the void and became the father figure for him. As children we grew up to see this bond and this is how our family continued to love and respect him as head of the family. He was the last of his siblings to go — the end of a generation.
His passing away is not only a big loss for our family but also for society and the tea industry. Having graduated from Harvard University, he came back and at the age of 23 and joined the family business at Haroocharai tea estate which was then going through difficult times and went on to successfully create an empire from his humble beginning.
Having lost my father when I was 17-year-old, I too got involved in the family business at a young age, and thus got the opportunity to work under my Bordeuta. From him I have learnt a lot, of both what they do and do not teach you at Harvard School. He was a stickler for punctuality and I remember times when I waited outside the door of his office chamber and would knock to enter at the precise time he had given. This punctuality gained a lot of his appreciation.
Another one of his many wonderful and meticulous habits was to jot down his thoughts or any other matter that needed his attention later and for this he would always have a notepad and pen beside him at all times. Apart from being an astute and successful businessman who was involved with various organisations at the national and international level, he was also an ardent admirer of the creative arts, be it painting, dance, drama, music or films. He truly appreciated talent and made every endeavour to promote the same. Whosoever had met him will definitely vouch for his sense of humour and the overflowing charm that he possessed.
July 31 is a date that will forever be etched in my memories. It is the birthday of my Borma and my daughter Disha. I still remember the day that my daughter was born. After getting the news of the birth of our daughter, I went to Bordeuta’s flat in Alipore, Calcutta, quite late in the night to give him the good news. He was just getting over with Borma’s birthday party and being informed of Disha’s arrival, he gave his blessings by saying that she would be a beautiful, wonderful and intelligent girl but he pitied the person who would be her husband. In other words, he had all praises for his wife and pitied himself on this count. That was his wit even at that late hour.
Bordeuta passed away on July 31, 2013, in Bangkok and today his last rites are being performed. Rest in peace, Bordeuta.
