Assam: Eminent entrepreneur Abhijit Chaliha passes away in Sivasagar

OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR: Veteran entrepreneur and artiste Abhijit Chaliha, also known as Parash Chaliha, passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 65 at his residence in the Melachakar area of Sivasagar town. He was the cousin of former Assam Chief Minister Bimala Prasad Chaliha and the son of Debabrata Chaliha and Hemalata Chaliha. He was also related to noted cultural figure Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwalla through his aunt Jayashree Chaliha and uncle Satyabrata Chaliha. Abhijit Chaliha had been battling a kidney-related illness for a prolonged period. Born on November 11, 1959, he was a dynamic personality who successfully combined his role as a businessman with a deep involvement in music, arts and sports. His early education was at Phukan Nagar Primary School and Sibsagar Government High School. He later studied at St Anthony’s College, Shillong, and graduated from Sibsagar Commerce College in 1983. He ventured into independent business with his uncle Satyabrata Chaliha and brother Ranjan Chaliha. Aside from managing his family’s tea estate in Upper Assam, he also established a cinema hall named “Rupalim” near the ASTC bus station, named after the iconic play by Jyotiprasad Agarwalla. In his student days, Chaliha served as assistant secretary of the students’ union at Sibsagar Commerce College and was closely involved with the Assam Movement alongside leaders like Pranabjit Chaliha and Bhrigu Kumar Phukan. A multitalented artist, he acted in the famous play “Chari Hezar Bosoror Axom” by Seuj Konwar Parag Chaliha and was adept at playing instruments like the mouth organ, tabla, guitar and flute. An accomplished sportsperson, he represented Assam in table tennis and was also known for his skills in lawn tennis. Chaliha had familial ties with the family of Padma Shri awardee and sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and had occasionally performed tabla alongside him. At the time of his passing, he is survived by his 95-year-old mother, Hemalata Chaliha; wife; son; daughter-in-law; and grandson, along with a large extended family. The news of his death prompted an outpouring of grief across Sivasagar, with representatives from various institutions and organizations visiting his residence to pay their respects. Among those who paid tribute were Dipali Chaliha, president of Sivasagar Natya Samaj; noted social worker and sports organizer Saurav Chaliha; Raka Chaliha, wife of the late Pranabjit Chaliha; Dr Saumarjyoti Mahanta, principal of Sibsagar Commerce College; Dr Sabyasachi Mahanta, principal of Gargaon College and president of Sibsagar Press Club; and alumni from the 1983 batch. Organizations including  the Sivasagar Journalists’ Association, Sivasagar E-Media, Sivasagar Yuvadal, Sivasagar Chamber of Commerce, Sivasagar Sports Association, Sibsagar University and various others expressed deep condolences. Family sources informed that due to his son and daughter-in-law residing in Karnataka, the last rites of Abhijit Chaliha will be performed on Sunday at the Thanamukh Shantiban crematorium in Sivasagar, once they return to Sivasagar.

Also Read: Assam: BSF Seizes 202 Sand Boas at Indo-Bangla Border in Dhubri

Also Watch: