A tribute to Bhupen Chandra Mahanta

During my various sojourns in the city of Guwahati, I have indulged myself of tea and snacks around its nooks and corners. When the overpowering urge was to partake in hot samosas along with tea, I would inevitably be drawn to 'Lakhi Cabin' located at Kumarpatty. I always wondered what magic potion they might be adding as an ingredient to make these the tastiest samosas in town. The day soon came when my curiosity got the better of me and as I dug deeper, an amazing story unfolded.

The year was 1942. The freedom struggle was at its peak. The war was on. The Japanese had advanced up to Dimapur. Many businessmen were fleeing Guwahati in fear. One such person handed over his shop at Kamarpatty to Bhupen Chandra Mahanta, a young man of 23, who then started a food and lodging hotel. Thus was born 'Lakhi Cabin'.

Now, Mahanta was not an ordinary man. Even at this young age he had become a revolutionary and a radical. He had joined the freedom struggle and the RCPI, already making much headway in working towards the uplifting of the working classes. He soon found himself among the confines of the Tezpur jail as a political intern. Mahanta's dream of a self-sufficient Assam was to a large extent influenced by B.P. Chaliha, Bhupen Hazarika, M.M.Choudhury and Bishnu Prasad Rabha who used to frequent Lakhi Cabin for a cup of tea and a samosa. He assisted the unemployed youth with numerous self-help projects, composite farms and agro/horticulture projects.

On his 102nd birth anniversary today, we realize that although he never attended any business school, Bhupen Chandra Mahanta left behind a legacy of self-taught entrepreneurship. Lakhi Cabin founded by him stands out as a flagbearer to this very spirit and provides a 'Cup of Hope' in these trying times.

– Parthapratim Phukan

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