A tribute to Anil Hazarika (Lulu da)

Death is inevitable and we are used to getting back to our day-to-day normal routine work immediately after the performances of the last rites of some near and dear one we have lost. Only the bereaved family members and the close admirers fail to forget the memories of the person they miss forever.

The demise of octogerian citizen and a sportsman of high repute, Anil Hazarika is such that everybody who came in touch with him can never forget his persolity and sportsmanship spirit. He became popular as ‘Lulu’ or ‘Lulu da’ as people younger than him called him.

Octogerian eminent footballer and a resident of Gandhi Bosti, tun Sarania in Guwahati, Anil Hazarika left for the heavenly abode at 4.35 am on November 14 after suffering a stroke the previous day. Born in the family of ‘Mouzadar’ Ganesh Dutta Hazarika of Dharamtul in gaon district on January 31, 1931, Anil Hazarika gave up higher education following the demise of his parents and came to Guwahati. As he was highly interested in football and represented the gaon district team, he became a member of Mahara Athletics Club and domited the football field in his left-out position. He was contemporary to eminent footballers of that period mely Suren Ram Phukan, Badal Das, Pilik Chowdhury, Chunni Goswami, Sarat Dutta and represented the Assam State team in the Santosh Trophy and performed a key role in bagging the Champion’s honour.  His close association with Radha Gobinda Barua –the architect of Guwahati helped him in taking the canteen at Nehru Stadium on lease since the foundation of the stadium. His elder brother Abani Hazarika was also a familiar me in the football and cricket world of the State.

Anil Hazarika tied the nuptial knot with Chitra Lekha Hazarika of Rong Mohol in North Guwahati in 1961 and later he was offered the Sports Pension by the State Government in recognition of his contribution to football in Assam

Today he is no more with us. He leaves behind his wife, daughter Madhumita Barua,  sons Sapon Hazarika and Sourabh Hazarika and a number of relatives and admirers. A large number of mourners rushed to his residence to offer their last homage. The funeral was performed in presence of a large number of grief stricken admirers and relatives.

On this auspicious day of his Adya Shraddha today, I pray before the Almighty for his eterl peace and offer my deepest respect to Anil Hazarika.

Om Shanti

– Bhargab Kumar Das