Ashok Kumar Mahanta, former president of Tezpur Bar Association, a frontline leader of Assam Agitation, former working president of Assam Lawyer’s Association is no more. He died on September 19 at a local hospital due to massive heart attack. Late Mahanta was born in 1949 at Bhotai Gaon under Nagaon district. However in connection with the service of his father his family was settled at Tezpur. He had his early education at Government High School, Tezpur and after higher secondary he joined Darrang College and completed his graduation under Gauhati University. During his school days he was actively associated with NCC Navy wing and command the unit, while in Darrang College he was actively connected with the literary competition of the college and honoured with best debater and reciter and in state level debate competition he brought laurels to the college and university as best debater of the State. While studying in the University Law College, Gauhati University he served as the general secretary of the college. He was also news reader of Guwahati Radio Station for a brief period. He could continuously recite the poems of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Hiren Bhattacharjee and could make the listeners spell bound.
During Assam Agitation he was detained under Preventive Detention Act. After passing LL.B he joined at Tezpur Bar and extended legal help to the persons who are detained in jail during Assam Agitation. As a lawyer he was lucid in deliberation and precise in submission to the point. He could cite the decision of Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court instantly on any matter. He was very vocal for the cause of Assam and never compromised with any injustice. He was closely connected with all Assam Students’ Union and advisor of Assam Jatiya Parisad of Sonitpur District. He was a live member of Ban Theatre, Tezpur. He was a very bold and courageous person. His sudden death has cast a pall of gloom in and around Tezpur and a huge loss for the Lawyer’s fraternity. He was 74 when his wife predeceased him. His death was widely condoled, funeral was largely attended, the judicial function of Tezpur Court was suspended as a mark of honour to his departed soul. On the occasion of Adya Shraddha, I pray for the eternal peace of his soul.
Subhash Chandra Biswas
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