A tribute to my Koka – Kosheswar Gogoi

Grandparents are quite special and a blessing for everyone. They possess unique qualities which everyone looks up to. My Koka passed away on September 5, 2016. He was a marvellous and wonderful person. Being a Geologist he mostly travelled to Sohra to study the geographical features. He took my two uncles and dad for camping during their vacation. He was one of the first to explore the Mawsmai Cave of Sohra. He rrated wonderful stories about his adventurous life as a Geologist.

He was an extremely skilled chess player as well as tennis player. He was the one from whom I had developed an interest for chess and from whom I had learnt the game. He showed great tactics and was always one step ahead in the game. He used quite challenging moves which were quite difficult to beat and that made him a skilled player. I loved playing chess with him. It was due to him that I had developed my skills in chess and won prizes. I had never been able to beat him until last year when he visited us at N.E.P.A.

He was a member of The India Club of Guwahati where he played Tennis. In 2008 during the Platinum Jubilee Celebration of India, Koka was one of the six senior players to have been felicitated by the then Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi.

Koka was also a talented artist. He made beautiful sketches and portraits. The portrait that he had sketched of granny had always inspired me. It looked so realistic that it seemed from every angle that the portrait was staring intently at one’s eyes. I had also been mesmerized by the sketch of a peacock that had been framed in the staircase.

He had a very good persolity and had always rendered assistance to me for completing project works. He had taught me the methods to draw good sketches. He was very good and kind at heart. It was also because of his inspiring works that I developed an interest for sketching.

He also had an interest for gardening. Whenever he visited N.E.P.A he would always preoccupy himself in the garden and plant shrubs. He had always been active and energetic. Even at Guwahati he always kept himself busy with gardening. He loved spending time amidst ture and looked after the flowers which he planted. He was also quite creative. He loved fiddling with unwanted and old things and turning them into something good. He loved recreating things.

It was marvellous to have taken him to Sohra during winter. He enjoyed the trip and rrated about his old memorable experiences. He had also told us about its geological features and how the place was years ago. He was also amazed to see the changes. He was so active and energetic that he even went for a stroll in the evening after sightseeing. He loved exploring the place.

He had even celebrated New Year with us. He was the first one to sit by the bonfire in the chilling winter evening and cook barbecued meat with us. It had been great fun and all of us had a great time sitting by the bonfire and enjoying the evening.

He was very generous and had always taken immense care of his children as well as grandchildren. He was a person to be admired and looked upon for. Koka was an awesome person who had always inspired me and from whom I had learnt a great many things. He was a caring, loving and hard-working. I would always cherish the times that I had spent with him.

—Anisha Gogoi (grand daughter)