Vivekanda Sonowal, a former civil servant passed away at his Rukminigar residence in Guwahati on February 19 at the age of 80 due to old-age ailments. He was born on October 1, 1936 in a small but quite T.E. village med Doimukhiya near Doomdooma in Tinsukia District, and got his early education in Dangopi English School established for diffusing the spread of knowledge in the tea belt in those days.
On completing his post—graduate studies in Economics and obtaining a Law Degree from the University of Gauahti, he appeared in the Civil Services Examition and qualified for being inducted into the Assam Civil Service in 1961 in his maiden attempt in order of merit. Accordingly he joined the Assam Civil Service Class One — the Premier Civil Service of the State and commenced his dedicated service to the people of Assam for the next three decades. The suave and ussuming ture, soft style of his speech, disarming look, silent and earnest zeal for work had been the treasure of his persolity, and they are also the prized qualities of an ideal Civil Servant. The numerous positions, very responsible posts came in his way during the progress of his career. Late Sonowal made his mark as the sound and efficient administrator while rising from the initial post of Extra Assistant Commissioner to the post of Secretary to the Government holding various other important positions in between.
It may be noted that at a very critical juncture of turbulent period in the eighties of the last century, he held the posts of Deputy Commissioner in the Districts of Dibrugarh and Karbi-Anglong and headed important Departments under the Government of Assam such as Panchayat & Rural Development. In recognition of his meritorious Public Service, he was nomited to the Indian Administrative Service by the President of India. His last assignment being the honorable member of the Assam Public Service Commission was the high water-mark and perfect file of his glorious career.
Completing his assignment with the APSC, he gracefully retired to lead a serene and contented life devoted to nurturing his bobby of floriculture to add beauty to home premises and derive perennial joy to his inner soul.
Today, on the day of his Adyashradha, we pray to the
Almighty - may his soul rest in peace in heaven.
—NK Das