Ode to my brother Nipu

One cannot think of my elder brother Nipu without bringing a smile to their face. He was renowned for his sense of humour, friendliness, and intelligence, and he exuded a natural wittiness whenever you met him. You could never quite tell whether he was joking or serious-he always delivered his lines with a perfectly straight face. Among us five brothers and one sister, he was famous for causing mischief during our childhood in Shillong, which was then the capital of undivided Assam-before it was split into the seven sister states.

Nipra (as we lovingly called him) was born in 1948 to Late Jatin and Labanya Prova Dutta Chowdhury and studied at St. Edmund's School, Shillong. He aspired to become an engineer and joined Sibpur Engineering College in West Bengal. Unfortunately, his academic journey was disrupted due to rioting in the college, prompting his return home, where he completed his Bachelor's degree at St. Edmund's College.

When Hotel Bellevue opened in 1971, he became an integral part of its management, especially in the front office and sales, thanks to his excellent communication skills and flair for public relations. After the passing of our father in 1976, our mother took over as Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) until her sudden demise in 1985. She was instrumental in turning the hotel into a world-renowned institution-an iconic landmark in the city and a pioneer of luxury hoteliering in the region.

Following her death, our eldest brother Dipuda became CMD, but due to his other business commitments, the hotel was managed by our brothers Opu and Nipu. Together, they became the face of the establishment, guiding it until it was eventually acquired as the Raj Bhavan.

Nipu was also the owner of Sandhan Gas Agency, which grew to become the largest LPG distributor for Indian Oil in Guwahati. Being a highly sought-after product and under government regulation, his business flourished, and he ran it with dedication and integrity.

He leaves behind his wife, a son and daughter, a daughter-in-law, and two grieving brothers and a sister.

He will be forever missed by all who knew him.

May his soul rest in peace!

-Papu Dutta Chowdhury, Los Angeles

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