Prof. Jiban Bora: A Tribute

Distinguished educatiolist, former MLA, born socialist and an advocate of Tezpur Bar, Prof. Jiban Bora is no more. He left for his heavenly abode on February 4, 2015 in a private hospital at Guwahati.

Prof. Bora was born at Jamuguri in 1928 at Barhampur village. He had his early education at Jamuguri Junior School and passed Matriculation Examition from Sootea High School in undivided Darrang district. He passed I.Sc from Darrang College, Tezpur and did his graduation from Cotton College and Master’s degree in Political Science from Gauhati University. Because of the family condition, after passing I.Sc, for a short period, he served as a teacher at Bihali High School and thereafter Tezpur Academy. In 1957, he joined Darrang College in the Department of Political Science and in 1989, he retired as Head of the Department-cum-Vice Principal of the College. He did his LL.B from Gauhati University and served Tezpur Law College as its Principal after retirement from Darrang College. He was one of the founder members of the Law College.

During his student days, he was inspired with the fiery speech of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Puspa Lata Das and joined in Youth Congress in 1946 while studying in the Sootea School. In that year, he attended Youth Congress Conference held at Golaghat as a delegate from Tezpur. In 1970, he came into close contact with Joy Prakash rayan, Ram Monohar Lohiya, Madhu Dandavate, Hem Baruah, Golap Borbora, Lakhya Dhar Choudhury, Ajit Sharma, Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya and Ajit Sharma, who were the followers of socialism. In 1970, he was elected as a ward commissioner of Tezpur Municipal Board. In 1978, he was elected in the Assam Legislative Assembly from Tezpur under the banner of Jata Party.

He joined in the freedom struggle since his student days. While studying in the University Law College, he was elected as a secretwry of the University Law College Students’ Union. Under his dymic leadership, he organised public opinion for the establishment of first Public sector Oil Refinery in Assam. He came in close contact with Bishnu Ram Medhi, the then Chief Minister of Assam and an active Member of Latasil Bihu Sanmilani. He was also closely associated with Kalaguri Bishnu Prasad Rava. He was actively associated for the demand of second Brahmaputra bridge at Tezpur connecting Shilghat. He also appealed to the then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and appraised her of  establish a railway bridge connecting Tezpur and Silghat for communication with Upper Assam. He was the President of Tezpur garik Mancha. In 1989, he joined at Tezpur Bar and had served to poor and down-trodden. He was the president of the All Assam College Teachers’ Association, Tezpur Xahitya Xabha and many other organizations of Tezpur.

The death of Prof. Bora has shocked the people of Tezpur. Hundreds of his well-wishers, ex-students visited his house to pay tributes. His death is a big loss to the society. His death was condoled by many socio-cultural organizations of Tezpur, including Tezpur Bar Association, Darrang College, Law College, Xahitya Xabha, garik Mancha, Desh Barta, Tarun Assam Sangha, Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad, former minister Brindaban Goswami, MLA Rajen Barthakur, RP Sarma, M.P., secretary, Axam Xahitya Xabha and many other organizations of Assam.

Prof. Bora was my teacher, guide, friend, and philosopher. His death is my persol loss. Today, on the occasion of his Adhya Sraddha, I pay my homage and pray to God for the peaceful rest of his soul.

—Subhash Chandra Biswas