People's Democracy

Comrade Braja Mohan Sarma

COMRADE Braja Mohan Sarma, general secretary of the Assam unit of the All India Lawyers’ Union (AILU) and a prominent advocate of Guwahati High Court, died at a nursing home on September 3. He was admitted to the nursing home after suffering an extensive cerebral haemorrhage on August 30. He was 51 and left behind his wife Manju, only son Maharshi, a host of relatives and a large number of admirers.

Comrade Sarma, a CPI(M) member and former student leader, was also one of the convenors of recently formed ‘Ellora Vigyan Manch’, a voluntary organisation to spread scientific temper and to fight against all forms of superstition and obscurantism. The Assam state committee of the CPI(M) mourned the death of Comrade Braja Mohan Sarma and paid rich tributes to the departed leader. The Assam state units of the SFI, DYFI, CITU, AIDWA, AIKS, along with various socio-cultural organisations, have also expressed shock and grief at the sad demise of Comrade Sarma and paid homage.

Comrade Braja Mohan Sarma was a popular leader known for his amiable personality, cheery smile and outspoken nature, coupled with honesty and integrity. His premature death has cast a pall of gloom among the legal fraternity and the progressive circles in Guwahati and the state as well.

Born on September 28, 1953 at Pathsala town in Barpeta distirct, Sarma did his schooling at Bajali Multi-Purpose Higher Secondary School and later graduated from Kirori Mal College, Delhi, under Delhi University. He did his post-graduation in Economics from Guwahati University. He was elected as general secretary of the Post Graduate Students’ Union of Guwahati University as a SFI candidate during the academic session 1978-79. He heroically led the democratic student movement inside the campus and during the dark days of AASU-sponsored ‘Assam agitation’, Comrade Sarma evinced courage and conviction and fought against the disruption of normal academic atmosphere. He was also unrelenting in his fight against the chauvinistic and secessionist forces that raised their ugly heads under the banner of AASU-led agitation on foreigners’ issue.

Immediately after his post-graduation in 1981, he joined as an officer of the Assam Co-operative Apex Bank. However, in 1990 he resigned from the Bank and started legal practice in the Guwahati High Court. And within a very short time of his legal profession, he carved out a niche and rose to prominence.

Comrade Sarma was actively associated with the democratic movement since his student days. He was also one of the chief architects in forming the state unit of the All India Lawyers’ Union and the ‘Ellora Vigyan Manch’. Just a day before the fatal haemorrhage struck, Comrade Sarma was actively involved in organising a seminar, which was addressed by eminent economist Professor Prabhat Patnaik of the JNU. The seminar, organised by the Bank Employees’ Federation (NER), was held at Guwahati on August 29.

As the news of the sad demise of Comrade Sarma spread, the grieving CPI(M) members, supporters and sympathisers, along with wide cross-section of people, made a beeline to his residence and later to the CPI(M) state headquarters where his body was kept. The body was also taken to the district Party office at Hedayetpur, where a large section of people, including prominent personalities, assembled and paid-floral tributes to the departed leader.

Sarma’s body was also taken to the Guwahati High Court where, among others, High Court judges, president and other members of the Bar Association, Advocate Generals of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram etc. paid respectful homage to Comrade Braja Sarma.

Finally, people bade tearful farewell and his body was consigned to the flames at Nabagraha cremation ground in the city in presence of large gatherings of Party members, relatives and admirers.