Veteran jourlist Paritosh Paul Choudhury passes away

Special correspondent

Silchar, Jan 23: Paritosh Paul Choudhury, a well-known jourlist, writer, columnist and a frontline social activist of Barak Valley breathed his last at around 2.30 am today at his Subhash gar residence here. His life was marked by various remarkable events and achievements. During the language movement of 1960-61, he played a decisive role and was one of the key players in resolving the vexed problem of language. The movement ultimately came to a fruitful result and the Government of Assam recognized Bengali as an official language as well as the medium of instruction for Barak Valley.

He also was one of the pioneers in the movement for unraveling the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in 1945. Even today, he was to participate in a discussion on Netaji in the Doordardhan studio here. He also wrote a series of books on various issues. One of them ‘Cacharer Kan’ (Woes of Cachar) is widely read and highly appreciated by the readers. For the book lovers of this valley, he took initiative to organize book fair every year which brought in publishers and book sellers from not only this valley but also from Tripura, West Bengal and Bangladesh.

To Paritosh Paul Choudhury also goes the credit of launching and carrying forward the movement for demanding Cachar as an Union Territory. It was a long drawn movement under the banner of United Territorial Demand Committee (UTDC) initiated by him. He also floated a political party Barak Bhumi Gatantrik Dal. Besides, he was always fighting for better surface connectivity of this valley with outside world. It was he who took the lead for the revival of the old Silchar-Guwahati road passing through the Borail hills as an altertive to tiol Highway 6.

His mortal remains were taken to Banga Bhawan at 11 AM and from there to Silchar Press Club and then to Gandhi Bag to eble people in general to pay their last respect to his departed soul. Apart from distinguished persolities from different walks of life offered their tributes and prayed to the Almighty for resting his soul in peace in heaven. He was 83 and left behind his wife Alo Paul Choudhury and two sons Biplob Paul Choudhury and Rajiv Paul Choudhury.