The man who rode on time : A Tribute to Shri DN Barua
- July, 2020
Guwahati Management Association (GMA) condoled the demise of its immediate Past President late Mr. D N Barua who left for his heavenly abode on the 16th of May, 2020. Late Mr. Barua was President of the Association from 2007 to 2018. Under his able stewardship, GMA was successful in achieving new heights by transforming itself in to a vibrant position which it is of now. On the day of his Aaidya Shraddh ceremony i.e. 26th May, 2020, a cloud meeting of GMA members was organized where rich tributes were paid to this doyen of GMA, as a mark of respect and acknowledgement of late Mr. Barua’s contributions, in the successful making of GMA as a vibrant institution.
A tribute on behalf of GMA written by Mr. Parag Phukan, Director GMA and published in the Assam Tribune on 26th May, 2020 is given below for kind information of the viewers.
The man who rode on time : A Tribute to Shri DN Barua
The seminar circuit of Guwahati would never look the same again without Shri Digendra Nath Barua. We will miss this impeccably attired 98 year young man, a stalwart on his own right, who would arrive at a meeting or seminar on the dot, adorn one of the front chairs, listen to, participate and be there till the end. On days, he even attended more than one without any sign of fatigue! An accomplished fighter all along, alas, he failed to hit the century milestone and bade final adieu to his innumerable admirers on May 16, 2020.
Born into simple parents of late Trailokya Nath and Pushpa Barua of suburban Haibargaon, Nagaon, he cleared his school leaving exams from Nagaon Government High School holding the first position. After initial college education in Cotton College, Guwahati went on to pursue BSc in Chemistry Honours from Scottish Church College, Kolkata and then Chemical Engineering degree from Jadavpur University putting himself in the unassailable position of being the first chemical engineer from the entire North East Region. ‘First Class’ had been his hallmark all throughout his academic and professional pursuits.
Joining the Sindri unit of the Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation, rose quickly in the career ladder. But joining Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) as its technocrat Managing Director in early seventies was a landmark event for his own as well as for the nascent industrial development scenario of the State. He ushered in a hitherto unseen vibrant industrial culture in the State by taking pragmatic and timely steps to establish many new industrial units, like Assam Petrochemials Ltd, two sugar mills, a mixed fertilizer plant so on before leaving AIDC in 1977. He also revived quite a few then defunct major industrial units. Another feather in his cap was the sprawling AIDC office campus at RG Barooah Road, Guwahati. I joined AIDC as a trainee engineer when he was its all powerful MD.
There was no stopping for this aggressive restless man. Immediately after, he ventured into a match-stick making unit as an entrepreneur. Subsequently, became the Chairman of prestigious Fertilizer Association of India, Founder president of NE chapter of Institution of Chemical Engineers, instrumental in setting up of Guwahati Stock Exchange as its first President, FINER, NEDFi and many other institutions of repute. Joining Guwahati Management Association (GMA) as its President (2007 to 2019) was another turning point. He virtually spearheaded the revival of this limping association and nurtured it to its present state of glory. Was also actively involved with many other professional and social organization including Rotary Club, SEForum etc.
Widely travelled throughout the world, Shri Barua received many international and national awards and accolades till his penultimate days. Space is limited to mention about all of those. He has over 50 odd published techno-commercial articles to his credit. Even at his ripe old age at the time of his death, he was working on a project report to establish a sugar mill in Assam. After his soul mate Shrimati Chabi died in 2008, he nurtured the careers of his daughter Mamoni, son Arindam and was a doting grandfather to his three grandchildren.
I on behalf of all members of Guwahati Management Association, his innumerable admirers and on my own behalf pay mournful homage to the man who could ride on time and tame it at his will. May his positivity continue to guide us all! Om Shanti!!
(-Parag Phukan)