Hundreds bid adieu to Indra Bania

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, March 26: Veteran award winning Assamese film and theatre actor Indra Bania, who passed away yesterday, was today laid to rest.

Hundreds of fans and well-wishers paid their last respects to the actor.

Authorities and staff of Hayat Hospital, where the actor breathed his last offered tributes, after which the body was handed over to the family this morning.

The mortal remains were then taken to the actor’s Kahilipara residence. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Cultural Affairs minister Bismita Gogoi, the Guwahati Police Commissioner and Kamrup metro deputy commissioner besides many well-wishers, including people associated with the film industry, paid their last respects to the veteran actor there. The mortal remains were also taken to Doordarshan Kendra, All India Radio, Rabindra BHavan, Xahitya Xabha Bhavan and Deepak Sangha (Silpukhuri), before the cremation at bagraha ground. The last rites were performed with State honours. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said Bania’s death left an indelible mark in the State’s cultural are.

Several organizations, including the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, AGP, BJP, CPI(M), Karmachari Parishad, AASU, AJYCP and Guwahati Cine Musicians Associations, have condoled Bania’s demise. A minute’s silence was also observed at the State assembly in memory of the departed actor.

Bania was the first Assamese to win Silver Leopard Best Actor’s award at Locarno Film Festival for his stellar performance in Jahnu Barua’s ‘Halodhiya Choraye Baodhan Khai’ (The Catastrophe) that had bagged the Best Feature Film award at tiol Film Awards in 1988.

Born at Dhalpur village in North Lakhimpur district on December 24, 1942, Bania had won the hearts of the people of Assam from 1960 when he started his acting career as a drama artiste, his family sources said.

Remembered for his unforgettable performance in the two acclaimed plays Govardhan Charit and Moir Sangbad, Bania is hailed for his comic and serious roles in film, TV and radio plays, besides being a regular artiste with All India Radio, Guwahati since 1964.

He was honoured with tasurya Phani Sarma Award in the state in 2010 for his contribution to Assamese film and theatre.