Senior jourlist Chino Basumatary passes away

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, Dec 29: Veteran jourlist Chino Basumatary, the founder Chief Editor of Bodosa, a Bodo daily published from Kokrajhar ,who was also the former president and advisor of All Assam Small Newspaper Owners’ Association and Bodoland Jourlists’ Union, breathed his last on Tuesday morning at 9 am at the Intertiol Hospital in Guwahati due to prolonged suffering from diabetes and thyroid. He was admitted since over a week in the hospital. He leaves behind a son, two daughters and grandchildren. He was 61.

Basumatary’s body was brought to Kokrajhar at his office of the Bodosa newspaper in the evening where the employees, staff and other well wishers offered floral tribute. Later, his body was taken to Kokrajhar Press Club. The president of Kokrajhar Press Club, A. Kr. Basumatary, president of Jourlists’ Union of Assam, Kokrajhar district committee, M. Sharma, local MLA Pramila Rani Brahma, social worker Rani Helen Wary and leaders of ABSU and AASU, Kokrajhar district committee offered floral tribute to Basumatary. Kokrajhar DIPRO Ansuma Mohilary also paid floral tribute to Basumatary at Kokrajhar Press Club on behalf of Information and Public Relations, BTC.

The Kokrajhar Press Club president opined that Basuamtary was the founder of Kokrajhar Press Club and the beautiful office building of Kokrajhar Press Club was built at his initiative. He said Basumatary was the pioneer in the revolution of newspaper and weekly Bodo magazine and he created a new age called ‘Aroi age’ in the society.  MLA Pramila Rani Brahma also expressed deep condolence saying that his demise had created a vacuum in the region.

The president of the Kokrajhar Press Club hoisted the flag at half mast and this would continue for a week as a mark of respect of Basumatary. The president of Kokrajhar district JUA paid floral tribute in the me of Basumatary.

Basumatary started the monthly magazine Aroi in 1986, weekly Bodosa in 1991 and daily Bodosa in 2003. He was associated with the different media organizations. He was an active member of North East News Paper Society and trustee of Media Trust, Assam. The Bodofa UN Brahma Jourlists’ Guest House at Rup gar, Guwahati was established at his strong initiative. He was also the founder president of Kokrajhar Press Club and founded the building of the club which is now developed to a two-story building. He served as president of All Assam Small News Paper Owners’ Association for 15 years.

The chief of BTC Hagrama Mohilary, general secretary of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) Kamala Kanta Mashahary, the general secretary of All Bodo Student’s Union (ABSU), Lawrence Islary expressed their deep pain and condolence.

The Bodoland Students’ Union (BSU) also expressed its deep and sincere condolences on the demise of Basumatary and said his outstanding contribution in the field of jourlism could not be measured. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest jourlists of BTC, the BSU press release stated.