A CORRESPONDENT
DOOMDOOMA: Leading small tea grower, social worker and sports organizer Naren Hazarika passed away at his Lachit Nagar, Rupaisiding residence on Thursday morning. He was 76 and is survived by his two sons, two daughters and a host of relatives. His wife Rumi Hazarika, a poet and social worker, predeceased him a few months back.
Born to Budhbor Hazarika, mouzadar of Lahoal mouza and Sarubhoni, at Lahoal on August 24, 1946, Naren Hazarika had his early education there. After graduating from DHSK college, Dibrugarh in arts stream, he joined as Manager of Prabhat TE in 1969 and worked there for 12 years. As an entrepreneurial effort, he then started his own green leaf garden at Daisa and soon earned a niche for himself as a leading small tea grower. He was president of the Small Tea Growers' Association (STGA), Doomdooma Regional Committee, for 10 years. Alongside he lent his untiring service as president of Doomdooma Sports Association (DSA) and Doomdooma Rajahua Rongali Bihu Sanmilan. He is also a former president of Rotary Club of Doomdooma. His wife Rumi Hazarika was president of Country Women Association, devoted solely for women empowerment. They took the lead in the rehabilitation of some families of flood victims at Rupaisiding.
Hazarika once contested the State Assembly election in 2006 as a candidate of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) but lost. Subsequently he quit politics and shared his time between business and social service. For quite some time he was a familiar name in the social life of Doomdooma and Rupaisiding.
He was cremated today at the backyard of his Lachit Nagar residence in presence of a large number of his admirers. His death cast a pall of gloom at his hometown Lahoal and workplace Doomdooma and was widely mourned by many organizations and individuals including, MLA Rupesh Gowala, former MLA Dilip Moran, STGA, Rotary Club of Doomdooma, Doomdooma Sakha Lekhika Samaroh Samity, Doomdooma and Rupai Sakha Xahitya Xabha, Tinsukia District Journalists Association, Tinsukia Zila Xahitya Xabha, Doomdooma Press Club, Doomdooma Regional Students Union and others.
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