Eminent historian passes away

From our Staff Reporter

DIBRUGARH, January 5: The last rites of historian Prof Swarlata Barua were performed here on Monday.

The former professor in the Department of History and Shri Shri Aniruddhadeva Chair, Dibrugarh University (DU), former Chairman of Indian History Congress, and author of several books died at her residence at Rajabheta here on Sunday. She was 78.

Born to Kumud Chandra Dutta and Hemaprova Dutta at Golaghat Missionpatty, Barua completed her post graduation from Gauhati University and won the Surjya Kumar Bhuyan award for securing first class first position in it. She started her teaching career at DHSK College before joining the newly established History Department in DU. The historian was awarded PhD for her research on ‘Last Days of Ahom Morchy: Purnda Singha and his times.’ She retired in 1996 but went on to grace the Shri Shri Aniruddhadeva Chair as founding professor.

Barua authored A Comprehensive History of Assam. Her contribution in research of the history of tribes of Assam is immense. Barua is survived by her husband, Krish Prasad Barua, three sons and daughters–in–law, a daughter and son–in–law, several grand children and a host of relatives as well as admirers.