A tribute to Hari Kanta Kalita

Nonagenarian Hari Kanta Kalita of a sleepy village Sujanpara, Rampur in Chaygaon area of South Kamrup was not an extraordinary man. He became a glaring example of a successful father though he was born in the family of a rural farmer. His dream to mould and shape his children as successful people became a reality when his eldest son Kalyan Kalita completed technical education and joined as a Professor in Assam Engineering College. His second son Major General Bhaskar Kalita joined the Indian Army and was promoted as Major General, that too with several gallantry medals and awards for distinguished service. His daughter Eva Kalita too completed technical education to join the Oil India Limited as a senior official. Significantly, his grandson (son of Major General Bhaskar Kalita) has also joined the Indian Army as an officer. This proud father of two worthy sons and a daughter finally closed his innings on May 24 in a private hospital in Guwahati following old-age ailments at the age of 93.

Hari Kanta Kalita was born in the family of rural farmer Nanda Ram Kalita and Sirambi Kalita on August 27, 1927. With an ardent desire for higher education he took admission in Cotton College and completed his pre-university course. But due to financial crunch, he left the college and got deeply involved in agriculture. He joined the Girls' Polytechnic in Guwahati as a clerk and later joined Assam Engineering Institute, Chandmari in Guwahati. He served with dedication, integrity and honesty and took his retirement as the Head Clerk. He started his conjugal life with Malati Kalita who later took her retirement as teacher in Hindi in a school of the locality.

Today on the auspicious adya shraddha of this worthy father and a very inspiring pious soul, I offer my heartfelt tribute to him and share the pain and suffering with his wife Malati Kalita, sons Kalyan Kalita and Major General Bhaskar Kalita, and daughter Eva Kalita and all the bereaved family members. May the Almighty grant eternal peace to the departed humble soul! Om Shanti.

– Bhargab Kumar Das

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