Chit chat with Bhupendra Nath Barooah and Lily Baidew

Chit chat with Bhupendra Nath Barooah and Lily Baidew

 

I have known Bhupenda since 1981, when as a trainee I landed in Assam House seeking to stay in the dorm for two months. I was shooed away. He was the OSD at Assam House. I was very angry and upset.

 

Then when I landed in Delhi as the luck would have it, I grew quite close to him and Lily baidew. Today, learning that I was born in the same year as that of her elder son, she told me to call her ‘ma’.

 

Bhupenda and Lily baidew cameto Delhi in 1966, it’s been 43 years in Delhi. Although you can term them as Australian citizen now, as they have moved to Sydney; every spring they would spend their time in Delhi and reconnect with the long list of friends they left behind.

 

Col Jalnur Ahmed hailed from Kacharigaon of Titabor area Jorhat. He was a good friend of Anando Ram Barooah, the first ICS from Assam. He went to London to write for IMS (Indian Medical Serivice). Alongwith them was Col Siva Ram Baruah. All three were staying together. While Jalnur and Anando Ram cleared their entrance Siba Ram continued his study in London. Other two friends supported his study by sending money from India. Anando Ram and Jalnur were posted in Sibasagar district.

 

Then an incident occurred. The Commissioner, a British person came to Sibsagar and a dinner was hosted in his honour. There was a separate table arranged for the young brown sahibs, and they decided to boycott the dinner in protest. Getting the wind other senior officers tried to persuade them. But these two proud officers did not turn up. They were punished and Ananro Ram was transferred to East Bengal, and Jalnur to NWFP (North West Frontier Province).

 

Anando Ram suffered from Malaria and died at a very young age of 39. Jalnur got married to a Delhi girl, who was from the family of Nawab of Rampur. Their son was Fakruddin Ali Ahmed. He was sent to Cambridge to study Bar at Law. After his return Jalnur took Fakhruddin to Guwahati and handed over him to Karmanir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi. Fakhruddin joined Congress and remained a loyal soldier till his death in Presidency.

 

What did he do for Assam. A lot has been said against him. The leaders from Assam were quite different that time. They were pan Indian leaders and always thought that parroting about Assam will make them look parochial. In fact Delhi was jokingly said to have been ruled by Barooahs. Dev Kant Barooah was the Congress President, Mr Bedabtrata Barooah was the Minister of State for Industry, Mr Bhupendranath barooah was the Private Secretary to the President, and Brigadier Mani Lal Barooah was the house keeper of the Presidential Estate.

 

Was he a party to what happened to Assam today? He was the only Muslim minister in Bimala Prasad Chalihas’s ministry. It was quite unlikely that  a single person could do so much damage to being in Mymesinghias that time. In fact the flow of Bengali Muslim settlers started during Syed Shadullah’s time. A train was started from Sylhet to bring in Bengali Muslim settlers under the grow more food campaign. He was caretaker Chief Minister, when Mr Chaliha became very ill. It will be wrong to say anything against a man who is no more there to defend him. He however thought about the well being of Assamese Muslims. He patronized Syed Abdul Malik, and made Mauzadar of Barpeta Azizur Rehman an MLA.

 

The problem of illegal immigrants was there since long. Whenever there was a complaint of Pakistanis entering India, police would round up few people and deport to the border. The villagers would show the number of thalis they had, and the number of persons rounded off as Pakistanis and deported. There would be huge hue and cry of Indian nationals being deported as Pakistani and that would be the end of the exercise. It served no purpose and it was very difficult to identify who was real and who was illegal. They took full advantage of the system and exploited to the hilt. Monetary incentive would have helped identification.

 

In 1975 President on a visit to Indonesia decided to take a Satriya team from Notun Kamalabari Sattra, Majuli. Many in Delhi advised to pick up a reknowned Classical dancer. Begum was very firm and said only team from Majuli would go. After a screening Ram Vijay Bhaona was selected. Mr Hiteswar Saikia was the Cultural Minister and Mr Rudra Barua was the Director, Culture. The team went by Air India flight from Calcutta. The cultural troupe was wearing pure white dress from top to bottom, sponsored by the Govt. of Assam and it was a sight to remember.

 

President used to offer namaz at the humble mosque near the Transport Bhawan, adjacent to the Parliament. One Friday afternoon, he was on the dining table and suddenly commented that the ‘bhakats’ will have problem in eating at Muslim Indonesia. They should eat only fruit. Mr Barooah, told him that most of the bhakats are non vegetarian and only 2-3 are pure vegetarian, so eating would not be a problem. 5^th May is his birthday incidentally.

 

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed sahib was a saintly person. Once Swami Gyanananda from Rama Krishna Mission sought an appointment. He was given an appointment for 10 minutes. The meeting ended after 1 and half hour. There was queue of succeeding visitors. The Swami after coming out commented that “Mr Barua, thank you very much, I not onlymet a good man but a good soul”.

 

He was a very devoted Congressman and confident of Nehru Gandhi family. Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi used to stay in his house during their visits to Assam. Muslim league used to put lot of pressure on his and there used to be demonstrations and provocations before his house. He remained firm and never wavered from his party allegiance.

 

He was also firm at times. During the language movement, there was complaint of Bengalis being prosecuted in Assam. Nehru summoned Fakhruddin, who was the caretaker CM, due to illness of Mr Chaliha. Nehru told him that Govt. is considering to put Mr Ashok Sen, Union Law Minister as incharge of Assam. Fakhruddin replied that we are a constitutionally elected government and you cannot do that. Otherwise we’ll all resign en bloc and oppose you. Nehru relented. He called Fakhruddin in the evening and commeted that he had consulted constitutional experts, and Fakhruddin was right.

 

Lily baidew also comes from an aristocratic and rich family of Sibasagar. She was very close to Begum Abida Ahmed. In fact many thought she was her Private Secretary. Begum Abida was excellent in floral decorations, and she was an accomplished painter. Begum Abida Ahmed was a very fine lady. She was very compassionate and once visited Majuli to see the flood afftected people. When asked about her reactions, she said- ‘I am moved to see your sufferings’. It is unfortunate that the first martyr of Assam agitation Khargeswar Talukdar got linked to her filing on nomination from Barpeta. Her both sons are a poliical. One……… is a judge with…….Court and the other a CEO with Max Healthcare.

 

Lily baidew used to organize parties for visiting President’s wives. Once during Hungarian Presidents visit a fashion show of traditional Assamese costume was organized. Famous mountaineer Atanu Prasad Barua’s wife Prarthana just came as a newly married bride. She was put on the ramp set up by the poolside.

 

Magician M F Hussain’s show was organized in the Presidential house. Once a drama ‘Fatima Bibir Ghor’ was staged in the Hall No. 1, which is exclusive for the President and his close officials. One beautiful actress of the drama found her life partner during that trip.

 

Assam Association, Delhi was that time quite close knit. It had about 150 members. Mr Tarun Gogoi was the President. He went to invite the President for Bihu function and collect donation. President suggested why not hold the Bihu inside the Presidential estate by the pool side. Lily baidew was the Sports Secretary, her job was to organise a Sports event, inviting students from Delhi University. As President his said he would come, Mr Gogoi told her to prepare food for the President at home, and leave the sports to someone else. Lily baidew prepared Caramel Custard, Baked Fish and Sour fish curry. President’s food tester allowed it to be served without he checking.

 

Lily baidew and Bhupenda have now migrated to Australia, to be with their eldest son. She is engaged in social work there, where she has taken a 3 months training. She serves old age homes, destitute shelters, orphanages. We wish them good health and cheerful life!