A Tribute to Renowned Drama Artiste Amar Barua

A renowned drama artiste of yesteryears from Jorhat, Amar Barua breathed his last in a city Nursing Home due to an old age ailment. Born on August 5, 1930 to Nakachari Mauzadar Rosheswar Barua and Mrilalini Barua, Late Barua was a very popular figure of Bongal Pukhuri area of Jorhat.

From his early days, he was fond of acting, and he bagged the Best Actor award of JB College, Jorhat in 1952. A classmate and close friend of former Union Minister Late Bijay Krishna Handique, Late Barua was famous for his role of Piyoli Phukan. Even Natya Surya Late Phani Sharma highly praised him for that. Barua started his career as a school teacher in Nakachari and later joined a tea estate as a welfare officer. But to pursue his passion for acting he resigned and started his own business as a government contractor.

He penned several dramas for All India Radio, Jorhat and Dibrugarh respectively. His dramas were performed by several troupes in different stages of Upper Assam. A collection of his dramas Manchor Mouchak was published in 2012, which was highly acclaimed by drama critics.

He was also an active member of Jayprakash Narayan's Socialist Party. An ardent devotee of Lord Shiva Late Barua visited almost all the holy places of India. I was surprised to know that he visited Kedarnath at the age of 80. Every year he performed Shiva Ratri at his residence temple in Bongal Pukhuri.

My Uncle Amar Barua was a disciplined person and his dressing sense was tremendous. He was quite active till his death and did his pujas and pranayams regularly. In the last few years of his life, he was staying in Guwahati. In this year's Holi, he visited our ancestral place Kakojan where Dol Utsav observed from our forefathers' days.

He left behind his wife, son, daughter and a host of relatives. On his Adya Sarddha, we prayed to Almighty for eternal peace of departed soul.

(Bijaylakshmi Baruah)

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