Anima Sarma – A tribute

‘‘Hello, so you are here in Guwahati, but don’t come today since I will be busy with a few meetings,” a sweet voice would echo on my handset. She would continue, “But do come over tomorrow and have breakfast with me”. This was the usual pattern of conversation with Aunty, as we lovingly called her. Ever since both our families came in contact in Nagaon in the early 1970s, while my late father and late Sarma uncle (retired as Additional Chief Engineer) were on postings, our relationship continued to grow over the passage of time. Over the years, whenever we met, be it on the occasions of Eids or pujas, or any other functions, Aunty never failed to engage in  lively discussions on  varied subjects such as culture, polity, city’s woes, global warming , life after retirement, et al.

Aunty was an active member of many socio-cultural organisations such as the Eastern India Women’s’ Association, Officers Ladies Club, Sanatan Dharma Sabha, ISKCON and served in various capacities. She was also a board member of the Eastern Agro Processing and Tea Warehousing Cooperation Ltd.

A caring and compassionate lady, who was full of life, Aunty’s health suddenly began to decline. Last February, I was saddened to see her on a wheel chair and when I presented her a bouquet of flowers, she held it firmly, expressed smilingly a ‘thank you’. Her daughter Indrani (Missi) continued to take relentless care and we continued to pray that she would recover and come out strong, The Almighty willed otherwise, and Aunty breathed her last on the evening of June 26, 2025, aged 88, leaving a void in our lives which she had touched in so many ways. Today, on the occasion of her Adya Shradha, I pay my respectful homage and join innumerable relatives, friends and well-wishers in offering silent prayers for the eternal peace of her soul.

-Tassadaque Hussain

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