Noted Educationist Tabu Ram Taid Passes Away

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Noted educationist, linguist, and writer Tabu Ram Taid passed away due to respiratory and diabetic problems at a hospital in Guwahati at 7.30 this morning. Tabu Ram Taid was 77. He leaves behind a daughter and a son, besides his wife Basonti Chayengia Taid. His last rites will be performed at Gogamukh in North Lakhimpur on Sunday with State honours.

Born on August 1, 1942 in a Mising family of Late Ubbang Taid (father) and Late Deuti Taid (mother) in present Lakhimpur district, Tabu Ram Taid had his primary education with scholarship from Tamonshuk LP School at Gunasuti from 1946-50, higher secondary schooling in North Lakhimpur Government HS School from 1951-58, I Sc from Ramkrishna Mission Ashram in West Bengal from 1958-60, BA with English honours from Calcutta University from 1961-63 and MA in English from Delhi University in 1966.

He had a brief stint as a teacher in Ghilamora HS School from 1963-64. He had stints as lecturer in North Lakhimour College, Ghilamara College, Dhemaji College and Cotton College and also a stint as the founder Principal in Dhakuakhana College. He also worked as the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI), Assam in 1981, the Joint Director of Public Instruction in 1989, the Director of ABILAC from 1990-97, the SCERT Director from 1993-97, the Director of Higher Education (DPI) from 1995-1996, the Chairman of SEBA from 1996-2002, the Director of Secondary Education (DPI) and as the Chairman of the State Selection Board for selecting principals and lecturers of colleges from 1997-2004 when he superannuated. This apart, he was a member each of the executive boards of Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University, and member of the State Education Commission, the National Book Trust and Sahitya Akademi, was also the founder president of the Mising Sahitya Sabha.

The books to his credit are Poman Moman (1984), Mising Bhashar Banan Poddhoti (1983), A Dictionary of Mising Language (1995), Glimpses (2007), Ya:yok Do:ying (2005), Mising Gompir Kumsung (‘Mising Sabdokosh’-2007) and Ekunki Nibondho (2007), besides jointly editing Banikanta Kakati – The Man and His Work – with Ranjit Debo Goswami.

He received the ‘Agom Migang Award from the Mising Sahitya Sabha in 2007, ‘Bhasha Sanman’ from Sahitya Akademi in 2010, ‘Sukapha Award’ in 2011, and the ‘Basudev Jalan Award’ in 2011 from the Axam Xahitya Xabha in 2012, among others.

State Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal condoled the death of Taid. In a condolence message, Prof. Mukhi said that with his death the State has lost an educationist, linguist, administrator who worked dedicatedly for the growth on the state on educational, linguistic and administrative parlance.

In a separate condolence message, Sonowal said: “The demise of this educationist, writer and administrator is an irreparable loss to the State and its literary world.” The Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary to ensure that the last rite of Taid is accomplished with State honours. He talked to the widow of Late Taid and expressed his sympathy. On behalf of the Chief Minister, his legal adviser Shantanu Bharali placed a floral wreath on the mortal remains of Taid.

Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Hrishikesh Goswami said that the demise of Taid is an irreparable loss to the social life and the intellectual society in the State.

Others who condoled his death are State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, State Industries Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, State BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass, APCC president Ripun Bora, Axam Xahitya Xabha president Paramananda Rajbongshi, Indigenous Tribal Sabha, Assam secretary general Kamala Kanta Mushahary, AASU leaders, the Assam Secretariat Service Association, and others.

Also Read: Veteran political leader Charan Narzary passes away at a private hospital in Guwahati

Also Watch: Former CM Tarun Gogoi holds press conference in Guwahati