Dr Pabitra Kumar Chaudhuri: A Life Richly Lived

It is a bit of a daunting task to write a tribute to a man who lived not just a long life, but a very full one, chock-a-block with social, cultural, academic and corporate engagements galore. But first things first. He was the fourth of the seven sons of the illustrious freedom fighter and member of the Indian Constituent Assembly from Assam, Sri Rohini Kumar Chaudhuri and Smt Hemaprava Chaudhuri. Schooled at St. Edmunds, Shillong, he graduated from St. Stephens College, New Delhi and then proceeded to London for further studies. He later completed his doctorate on political concepts in ancient India.

Upon his return to a newly independent India, he began his corporate life in the Tea Industry, but later joined the diplomatic corps and was posted at Dhaka, Bangladesh. After this stint as a diplomat, he joined Assam Oil Company as executive administrator and then moved to OIL and was posted at Duliajan. Thereafter he moved to Delhi after taking early retirement; he next joined HMT as Director, Personnel. Meanwhile, he had also joined the Bar at the Supreme Court of India as an advocate.

Post-retirement life for many might mean taking it easy – not so at all with Supai Dada – as we knew him. Life simply became busier, and he had a finger in many pies, donned many hats, and took care to conscientiously attend to all his commitments. Whatever he undertook, he put in his one hundred per cent; he also expected the same from others.

Among his most valued achievements was the founding of Chaygaon College, his way of giving back to his roots. He was Member, Assam Administrative Reforms Commission; Chairman, Assam Petroleum Ltd.; Director, Assam Minerals Development Commission; Chairman, Institute Management Committee; Member of the Assam Public Service Commission; Chairman of the Assam Finance Corporation; Member, PESB, Delhi, Govt. of India; Advisor to the Chief Minister of Assam; Member, Executive Councils of Gauhati, Dibrugarh and K. K. Handique Open Universities; he was also an active teacher – guest faculty at the MBA, and Journalism Departments of Gauhati University. His was a mandatory presence in the meetings of the Executive Council of Gauhati University despite failing health in the last few years. Dr Chaudhuri’s mind remained alert and agile to the very end, despite the frail and ageing body – and everyone at these meetings knew that he would keep them on their toes. He kept abreast of new developments until the very end – I discovered a copy of Banerjee & Duflo’s Poor Economics at his bedside.

Socially dynamic, Dr Chaudhuri was member, Oil Narangi Club, Delhi Gymkhana Club, Delhi Golf Club, and India International Centre, Delhi. He was always around for family, too, when required, and he leaves behind a very large extended clan who mourn his passing. And every one of us – the young and the not so young – has a little story or anecdote to relate – the fact that he was 92 did not mean generational gaps. It only meant that he could relate to people of sundry ages and connect on different registers. In fact it is the youngest in the family who talk about his internet savvy, his social media interactions, making new friends on Facebook; he even managed to get the young ones talking!

All of us recall his humour and his sense of fun, his many private jokes and the not so private ones. Even his failing health refused to deter his zest for life, and he celebrated his last birthday on 14th November surrounded by all his family and loved ones. He leaves behind Makan Khuri, his comrade through thick and thin; three sons and a very large Chaudhuri clan who hold him dear to their hearts, apart from the many numbers of people he has helped at different levels.

You lived a life brimming with energy, Supai Dada, and that is the way your family and friends will always cherish your memory.

- Asha Kuthari Chaudhuri

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