Guwahati: Mortal remains of Dipok Kumar Barthakur, a veteran social worker, entrepreneur and administrator were consigned to flames at Navagraha crematorium in the city. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma along with many family members and well-wishers were present at Navagraha, where Barthakur was cremated with full state honours on 19 February.
The veteran Swayamsevak of Assam breathed his last on 16 February in a Chennai hospital at the age of 84. He was serving as the vice-chairman of State Innovation and Transformation Authority (SITA) of Assam. Barthakur’s body was flown to Guwahati on Thursday and was kept at his residence in the city for the public to offer tribute.
Paying his last respect by bowing down and laying a flower wreath to the moral remains, in presence of several State ministers, senior government officers and dignitaries from all walks of life, CM Sarma commented that Barthakur’s demise was an irreparable loss to Assam. Barthakur played a crucial role towards development of the entrepreneurial & industrial landscape of the State and his role as the SITA vice-chairman will always be remembered, added Sarma.
He also expressed his empathy to the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty for eternal peace of the departed soul, who in his lifetime contributed immensely to the establishment of the well-known Vivekananda Kendra, Sankardev Netralaya, New Art Players, Balaji Temple, Nagarik Samabaya Samiti, Shankardev Shishu Niketan, etc.
Earlier, floral tributes were paid by Sunil Ambedkar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the city, where he commented that Barthakur was actively involved in various social activities of the region for the last five decades. The youth of Assam was moving in a positive direction for all-around development and strengthening the spirit of national integration, added Ambedkar.
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s regional general secretary Neeraj Gilani also paid tribute to Barthakur along with many luminaries of northeast India. Eminent thinker S. Gurumurthy expressed profound grief over Barthakur’s demise. Terming him a great human being and a beloved son of Mother India, Gurumurthy commented that his departure is a great loss to Vivekananda Kendra and the north-eastern region in general.
