Guwahati, April 28: Economist, educationist and father of the quiz movement in Assam, Dilip Kumar Barua, passed away here today.
Barua was 73. He is survived by his mother, wife and two sons. He was admitted at Ayursundra Hospital on April 12.
"He expired at 11pm of septic shock (sepsis). He had been on life support for five days," a senior official of the hospital told The Telegraph.
Barua had turned quiz to an art and travelled far and wide to promote it. "He organised the first quiz competition in 1964 in Cotton College. There may have be quiz contests on the All India Radio before that but the quiz that we see today was organised for the first time by him. I was fortunate to be one of the participants of the first competition," said Amarjyoti Choudhury, former pro-vice chancellor of Tezpur University.
"I believe Barua's contribution to the field of debate was the greatest. He taught the new generation how to present a topic in a debate with data and reasons rather than making the debate an emotional outburst. Many politicians owe their oratory skills to him," he added.
As the news of Barua's death spread, his fans and followers rushed to his residence at Bharalumukh. His body was then taken to Cotton College.
Barua, who joined Cotton College as lecturer of economics in 1966, later he became its head and also served the college as its principal for nine months in 2000.
Barua was born at Sipajhar in Darrang district to Swarnalata and Satyanath Barua. His father was a government employee who had a transferable job. So, Barua also travelled with his father to the various postings. He studied at Shillong Government School, St Anthony's College, Shillong, Cotton College and Delhi University.
Barua served Haflong Government College as its principal for a few weeks in 2001.
He was the joint director of the Assam Administrative College and consultant in Administrative Reforms Commission. He was a member of the State Planning Board, Assam, Second State Finance Commission, Independent Public Committee for evaluating the management and implementation of Solid Waste Management in Guwahati and State Audit Advisory Board, 7th Pay Commission of Assam government and several other bodies.
Barua was a guest faculty at several institutions, including IIT Guwahati and Gauhati University. He authored several books on economics for higher secondary and undergraduate courses.
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal condoled Barua's death. "The contribution of Barua as an academician and economist would always remain memorable in the minds of the people of Assam."
Barua's visionary leadership as principal of Cotton College helped the premier educational institution to scale new heights, Sonowal added.
Assam PCC president Ripun Bora attended Barua's funeral at Navagraha this afternoon. "He was soft spoken, a successful and ideal teacher and an economist," he said.
Gauhati East MLA Siddartha Bhattacharya, writer Hiren Gohain and leaders of All Assam Students' Union also attended the funeral.
"He was an exceptional teacher. He taught economics like one narrates a story to a child," said Arupjyoti Choudhury, dean (academic), Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University.
The Cotton College family and Association of Past and Present Office-Bearers of Cotton College Union Society are organising a condolence meeting at Sudmersan Hall on Tuesday.
Cotton College alumnus Sumana Roy remembers an anecdote about "DKB Sir", as his students called him.
"Just before my graduation exam form filling, I took photocopies of all marksheets for attestation to DKB Sir. He was sitting at his desk in the economics department. When I requested him to attest the documents he asked for the original. I told him that I was not carrying the original ones. He said, 'You must bring them, otherwise I will not be able to attest the photocopies.'
Armed with all the documents, I reached the economics department the next morning, only to find hordes of students waiting. I was not sure whether Sir would be able to attest my documents considering the long queues. The waiting students thrust forth their documents for him to sign as soon as DKB Sir arrived.
I stood watching helplessly when I heard him saying, ' Tumaluke wait kora. Moi tar tu agote sign korim,' and called me forward. Sir took my documents and asked, 'Originals anisa?' He signed all my documents patiently and only then called the rest of the students. RIP Sir."