A tribute to Prafulla Goswami

A n active activist of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the All Assam Ga Sangram Parishad (AAGSP)-led historic Assam Agitation and an active social worker, Prafulla Goswami, popularly known as ‘Putul Khura’ among his close circles, closed his chapter and left for the heavenly abode in the midnight of October 29 at his residence at Moijuli of Swahid gar, Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district following prolonged illness.

Born to the family of eminent freedom fighter and Xatradhikar of Murari Xatra at Rangamati village of Bihaguri mouza in Sonitpur district, rendra th Goswami and Bimala Devi on April 13, 1936 as their eighth child, Prafulla Goswami  represented his tive Barchola LAC in the Assam Assembly for two terms in 1985-90 and 1996-2001 as AGP candidate and also headed the Assam Khadi and Village Industries Board as the chairman on both the tenures of legislator and tried to revive the Board which had been struggling for survival at the time. Due to his clean image he was entrusted with the responsibility of chairman of the all party Assembly Committee instituted to inquire into the much-talked LoC scam. Besides, he also headed the Assembly Library Committee for improving the all-round environment of the State Assembly library.

 He was socially active since his young age and after completion of his graduation, he served as the founder headmaster in two frontline high schools of the district, mely Jugal High School and Bihaguri High School. However, his keen interest for social work took him towards active politics. He began his political career from the grassroots level as the GP president to a councillor of Tezpur Mohkuma Parishad before being elected as a MLA twice on AGP ticket. But much before joining the regiol politics, he was the pioneer to form the Jatiyatabadi Dal in the erstwhile Darrang district. Later, he joined the All Assam Ga Sangram Parishad to get deeply involved in the Assam Agitation for which he was imprisoned for several occasions. I still recall the moments during the days of Assam Agitation when on my way to Tezpur I frequently found him taking part in organizing activities on a bicycle. I came into close contact with him since my younger days as my departed father Pani Ram Das had a very cordial relation with his father who used to visit Mangaldai from Tezpur on foot during the freedom movement. His elder brother Khargeswar Goswami of Mangaldai College too took an active role in the Assam Agitation. The parental house of Prafulla Goswami in Rangamati was almost transformed into a head office of the Assam Agitation as all of his family members, including nephews Anjan Goswami and Ramen Goswami, got deeply involved in the agitation.

Strongly built ‘Putul Khura’ was a symbol of courage and help for underprivileged local people in their days of crisis. He was not only popular as a public leader among the locals but also as a prominent artiste of ankiya bhao, playing mostly the role of the Lord Krish, a skillful Bihu dancer as well as an energetic footballer playing in Tezpur League on a regular basis. His demise has created a void in our family as well as in the entire society of Sonitpur district.

Today on the day of his adyashraddha, I pray before the Almighty to grant eterl peace to his departed soul and share the deep pain and sorrow of his family members.

Om Shanti

     – Bhargab Kumar Das