People and various organisations pay a tearful tribute to cultural icon Adya Sharma at his hometown Nalbari in lower Assam before the cremation on Monday afternoon.

Sharma, 86, who revolutionised the technical aspects of mobile theatre in Assam, passed away on Sunday evening at a private hospital at Nalbari following age-related ailments. His body was taken to Makhibaha, his birthplace, and then to Nalbari where thousands gathered to pay tribute.

Among them were writers Sachi Sharma and Kanaksen Deka, Assam cultural affairs minister Bismita Gogoi and AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharjya. 'We have lost a great personality. I had known him for the past 70 years,' said Sharma.

Born in 1929 to Chandranath Sharma and Ghunusapriya Devi, Sharma, who was more interested in painting and sculpture than academics, entered mobile theatre in 1966 through Purbajyoti Theatre.

One of his remarkable achievements was staging The Titanic at Kohinoor Theatre, one of the leading mobile theatre groups in Assam.

He received the Bishnu Prasad Rabha Award and Pranab Barua Award and was felicitated by numerous organisations for his contribution to the cultural world. The Assam government honoured him with artiste's pension.

Picture by UB Photos