From a Correspondent
JORHAT, March 22: Abhijit Sharma, student leader, former health minister of Assam, former AASU leader, tea planter and an active social worker, passed at a private nursing home in New Delhi. He is survived by his wife Sap Sharma, three sisters and two sons. He was 57.
Abhijit Sharma was born in a royal tea planter’s family. Right from his school days he showed the traits of a student leader and was elected as general secretary of Balya Bhawan School for three consecutive terms. He was also elected as the general secretary of JB College students’ union in the year 1979-80. He was elected AASU general secretary of undivided Sivasagar district in the year 1980. He was also the general secretary of Jorhat Law College students’ union in the year 1983.
He took active part during Assam Ggitation and fought for the empowerment of local youths. He was imprisoned several times under PD Act and tiol Security Act for his active role in the Assam Ggitation. He was also interrogated by CBI and CID several times for suspected involvement in the assassition of Parth Sarathi, the Upper Assam Commissioner, in the year 1983.
Later in the year 1985, Abhijit Sharma was elected as MLA from Jorhat Legislative Assembly seat and became the youngest State Health Minister during the Prafulla Kumar Mahanta government. Till death, Sharma remained as the member of the central committee of AGP.
After leaving active politics, Sharma entered his family tea business and started looking after his three big tea gardens, mely Mabhupur Tea Estate, Oating Tea Estate and Govindapur Tea Estate. He was the former chairman of Assam Tea Planters Association (ATPA), Upper Assam Chambers of Commerce, former president of Lions Club of Jorhat, president of Gymkha Club, member of ASEB and member of Tea Research Association.
His sudden demise was widely condoled by Jorhat district BJP president Shantanu Pujari, his former colleague and State Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Jorhat district Congress general secretary Pankaj Bilas Kaushik, AASU Jorhat district president Jul Khound, Trivenee Club, Lions Club, Ritsewa Social Organization, Mridul Doloi, Lions Club greater president Musti Kabir Alam and district governor Lion Roman Bordoloi, Dissoi Valley Lions Club president Satyabrat Barooah, Jorhat Bar Association, Lakhika Samaroh, Jorhat, North East Tea Association, AJYCP adviser Putul Dutta and several other tea organizations throughout the region.
His body will be flown from New Delhi on Thursday and will be received at Rowriah civil airport at 1.30 pm after which his body will be taken to his residence at KK Barua Road near DCB Girls’ College, Jorhat where last respects and floral tributes will be paid to the departed soul. His last rites will be performed with full State honour at Tarajan crematorium ground at 5 pm, informed family sources.