International Journal of Management (IJM) Volume 11, Issue 11, November 2020, pp. 1438-1443. Article ID: IJM_11_11_136 Available online at http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJM?Volume=11&Issue=11 Journal Impact Factor (2020): 10.1471 (Calculated by GISI) www.jifactor.com ISSN Print: 0976-6502 and ISSN Online: 0976-6510 DOI: 10.34218/IJM.11.11.2020.136

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RADHA GOVINDA BARUAH(1900-1977), THE ARCHITECT OF MODERN AND HIS TIMES

Jyotishman Das Department of Assamese, Tezpur University, Napam, 784028, India

ABSTRACT The nineteenth century is a very significant period in the history of Assam. At that time a new era started in Assam in the light of colonial modernity. Radha Gobinda Boruah is one of the well known figures born in the last year of this 19 th century who set up a new momentum to the economic, cultural, educational and social renaissance that emerged in the 19th century Assam in the hand of intelligentsia formed by literate middle class of contemporary Assam. He played a pioneering role in almost every sphere of public life of mid 20 th century Assam. He was the founder of the Assam Tribune Group, he brought ‘bihu’(festival of Assam) onto stage from the fields, and initiated a number of other cultural and sports activities. That’s why he is called ‘the architect of modern Assam’. The objective of this research paper is to discuss his contribution in modernization of 20th century Assam. The nature of modernity in Assam during that period will also be highlighted. Key words: Assam, Economy, Modernization, Radha Govinda , Twentieth century. Cite this Article: Jyotishman Das, Radha Govinda Baruah (1900-1977), The Architect of Modern Assam and his Times, International Journal of Management, 11(11), 2020, pp 1438-1443. http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJM?Volume=11&Issue=11

1. INTRODUCTION The contribution of Radha Govinda Baruah(1900-1977) in social life of 20th century Assam is significant and its scope is phenomenally well spread with a greater possibility in future. In Nirod Choudhary’s words- ‘The heap of problems was always a matter of challenge for Radha Govinda Baruah (Translated from Assamese, Radha Govinda Baruah, p.4). He was known as ‘Sinhapurush’ (Lion-man) for his abundant bravery and enthusiasm and as ‘Rupkhanikar’ (Architect of beauty) for his indefatigable creativity. says, “His works were just as beautiful, extensive and well planned as his name Radha Govinda Baruah means beautiful and heavenly. That is why I am happy to put the word ‘Rupkhanikar’ before his name.’’

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We notice Radha Govinda Baruah’s contribution basically in four aspects of social life of mid 20th century Assam : Economy, Journalism, Culture and Sports. Radha Govinda Baruah, a son from a middle class Assamese family was a successful individual from every aspect. His contributions are discussed below.

2. RADHA GOVINDA BARUAH’S CONTRIBUTION IN THE ECONOMIC FIELD OF ASSAM There was a drastic change in the economic field of Assam during the second half of 19th century. Business and commerce brought a new chapter in economic sector of life. The development of textile industry began a new era. As Radha Govinda Baruah was the eldest son of the revenue officer and a tea businessman, Gunagobinda Baruah, he was well introduced to the economic and business world. Radha Gobinda Baruah had a dream of becoming businessman since adolescence and become a businessman later. Radha Govinda Baruah’s works enriched the economic sector of contemporary Assam. As he dreamt of becoming a businessman Radha Gobinda was attached to the tea business of his father. After doing business of opium and thatch, Baruah went to Calcutta to learn accountancy and book- keeping. The struggle-full life in Calcutta inspired him to build a new Assam. The banks that he saw in Calcutta also inspired him to establish bank in Assam. Radha Govinda Baruah established the first bank of Assam in 1923 accompanied by Mr. Cameron in Treasury of Assam. The name of the bank was ‘Imperial Bank’. It was the milestone in the economic history of Assam. Through the bitter and sweet experiences, the bank business of Radha Gobinda Baruah was able to gain success. However, he also gained success as an agent of ‘Bombay Mutual Company’. This was an uncommon experience for Assam. From this angle, Radha Govinda Baruah could be recognized as the path-founder of insurance business of Assam. It is remarkable that he was able to gain the best agent honor for the two times in all India level and it was published with photograph in the magazine ‘Avahan’. As a member of ‘National Savings Central Advisory Board’ and the chairman of ‘Small Savings Advisory Board of Assam’ he too got to earn the special recognition. The chairman of ‘National Savings Central Advisory Board’ belonging to that time Tarakeshwari Sinha praised Radha Govinda Baruah for having served these two positions wholeheartedly. He was always broad minded when he had to keep faith protect it with respect. He played a vital role regarding saving drafts, by travelling from one place to another of Assam in order to understand the problems related to different regions. Under his leadership Assam got to earn the 1st position in all over India. He also played the main role organizing a ceremony for the auction of tea in , Assam.

3. CONTRIBUTION OF RADHA GOVINDA BARUAH IN THE FIELD OF MEDIA The role of printing press is an utmost important thing regarding the uprising of human civilization. The importance of ‘Baruah Press’ which was belonged to Radha Govinda Baruah’s family is also there in the historical record of media and journalism. The role of Radha Govinda Baruah in the field of media is explicitly remarkable and renowned in his whole career. An immensely unexhausted struggle is involved too along with his role. ‘Baruah Press’ in Dibrugarh was given a modern shape after buying two or more small printing presses by the opportunity seeker Mr. Baruah. The business he took up about the press gradually started to develop like his earlier businesses. In this field he also got the success as he desired. But he never let the extreme and indomitable spirit be overcome by the success he earned on the way. He had a question in his mind that working for the ‘Saheb’(British tea-planter) who were in tea estates, making weeding cards and making the

http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJM 1439 [email protected] Jyotishman Das hand bills for Cinemas, are these only task remained that a printing press could do? Due to this thing, he felt a sort of dissatisfaction and something missing, herein Radha Govinda Baruah dreamt of publishing an English news paper. At that time a weekly English news paper was used to be published which name was ‘The Times of Assam’(1895-1947) under the editorship of Kedarnath Goswami from Dibrugarh. Mr. Baruah prepared a plan to make something from this sample but the challenges were always there for him. Goswami, the Editor of ‘The Times of Assam’ apparently expressed his disappointment towards Mr. Baruah. But he was not the sort of person who easily forgets his sworn pledge that he set it to do or complete thoroughly. He accepted the challenge whatever Kedarnath Goswami declared. At the time of silver jubilee of ‘Assam Tribune’(the first English daily of Assam) a story was published where he writes- “Actually his doubts made me more determined and I made up my mind to see that a second weekly got its footing in Assam.’’ According to the counsel from Superintendent of Maijaan Tea Estate and the vice Chairman of ‘Indian Tea Association’, Assam branch, the paper about to be published and the name was kept as – ‘The Assam Tribune’. The problem was still there after the name was kept and got the press ready. At the last moment, Radha Govinda Baruah came close to Lakshminath Phookan(1897-1975). The bright star of news paper in the history of Assam Lakshminath Phookan was working as a co-editor of English daily news paper ‘The Hindustan Standard’ then, which was firmly established in Calcutta. In Assam there was not available a suitable environment to run an English news paper. So, first, Mr. Phookan denied the proposal from Radha Govinda Baruah. In the later period, in order to editing the weekly ‘The Assam Tribune’ he returned from Calcutta for the sake of regardless and faith. He had under the influence of Mr. Baruah’s ability and great enthusiasm towards the news paper. The union of these two regarded person gave a new momentum and status towards the history of news paper. Mr. Boruah’s dream came true on 4th august 1938. The weekly English news paper ‘The Assam Tribune’ was published from Mr. Baruah’s press located in Dibrugarh. The popularity of ‘The Times of Assam’ was decreased as soon as the news paper ‘The Assam Tribune’ was published and within a few years of the circulation of that news paper, it had been stopped. As one and only English news paper ‘The Assam Tribune’ started a new flow in the field of Assamese news paper. Radha Govinda Baruah and Lakshimanth Phukan had to confront different sorts of challenges concerning to editing and the collection of advertisement; though Mr. Baruah had dreamt of publishing an English daily and started to make plans for it to be successful. He also realized that it will not be a suitable place for publishing an English daily in Dibrugarh. He decided to publish this news paper from Guwahati. He bought a land from Mohini Goswami to establish the printing press and launch it as soon as possible in Guwahati. The weekly ‘The Assam Tribune’ was published from Guwahati in august 16th,1946. After the one and half month, on September 30th, 1946, ‘The Assam Tribune’ was published under the editorship of Lakshminath Phookan as an English daily news paper after making the history of prosper of Assamese news paper. That was the first news paper daily from Assam. With his impartial and courageous nature of journalism Tribune became an ideal daily. It is remarkable that owner Radha Govinda Baruah never intervened in the perception of the editor or the publisher of the paper. He believed only in the tireless and continuous work. After the finishing the task of The Assam Tribune, he dreamt of an Assamese weekly chronicle, from which ‘Asam Bani’(1955-) was born out of it. After getting published ‘Asam Bani’, it earned a huge popularity. ‘Asam Bani’ succeeded to earn a wide response from the readers. In the help of Radha Govinda Baruah the daily Assamese news paper ‘Dainik Asam’ was published under the editorship of Kritinath Hazarika on 4th august, 1965. To the Assamese news paper the momentum he provided using his own ability and skill was undoubtedly a vast contribution towards the social life of Assam. Actually Radha Govinda Baruah transformed the news paper into an industry in Assam.

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Radha Govinda Baruah also established a book publishing corporation namely ‘Sahitya Prakash’ along with Tribune press. He mainly gave an utmost importance to publish the books written by the olden writers. For the first moment ‘Sahitya Prakash’ gave a vital importance to publish Rajnikanta Bordoloi’s novels and ’s literary pieces. Keeping the connection with Bezbaroa’s centenary of his birth anniversary in the help of Radha Govinda Baruah, without any government allowances ‘Bezborua Granthawali’(Complete works of Lakshminath Bezbaroa) was published in the biggest two volumes. It was a great contribution of Radha Govinda Baruah towards the social life and literature of Assam. In the following time, books on different subjects are published till now through the literary publication which enriches the field of .

4. CONTRIBUTION OF RADHA GOVINDA BARUAH IN THE FIELD OF CULTURE As a cultural worker, the role of Radha Govinda Baruah is remarkable. Radha Govinda Baruah gave birth to ‘Asam Sangeet Sanmilani’( Assan Music Association) in Assam in order to rehearse the classical songs and along with the development of folk songs. Radha Govinda Baruah remarked regarding the objectives of ‘Asom Sangeet Sanmilan’ as- ‘We form the Sangeet Sanmilani with the two fundamental objectives. One is to popular classical songs and another is to develop folk songs and dance of Assam.’ With the help of him, the famous renowned musicians belonging to that time Pandit Rao Patwardhan, D.V Paluskar, Ustad Bode Ghulam Ali Khan, Rasuloon Bai, Amir Khar; the most famous instrumentalist Pandit Ravishankar, Vilayet Hussain Khan, Ali Akbar, Nikhil Benarji, Prasant Das, Nikhil Ghosh, Keramatullah and Segiruddin; eminent dancer Damayanti Joshi, Sitara Devi, Gopalkrishnana were assembled in the Church field, Guwahati under the same stage made of tarpaulin. This was possible only for Radha Govinda Baruah. At the time of aggression of Bengali music in the field of Assamese music, it was undoubtedly significant that he made an attempt to create awareness for the practice of folk songs with the help of ‘Asam Sangeet Sanmilani’, and ‘the Assam College of Music’ was established in the month of January, 1957 by Asam Sangeet Sanmilani. Though ‘ Asam Sangeet Sanmilani’ was closed for well-decided planning and lack of essential fund, but its place will be remained permanent one in the field of cultural history of Assam. The open bihu dance (folk dance of Assam) under the trees succeeded to the stage to perform in the help of Radha Govinda Baruah. He overcame the different challenges, laughter, contempt and criticism and established the Bihu in the form of new and modern tradition. In the later period, the renaissance of Bihu emerges in the ‘Latasil’ playground of Guwahati in 1952, touches the whole Assam. In the language of Atul Chandra Hazarika- “By organizing ‘bihu’ for the first time in the field of ‘Latasil’ of Guwahati, Radha Govinda Baruah welcomed the ‘bihu’ of village to the city. He gave a new shape of the old ‘bihu’, but now-a-days, some wastages and irregularity enter in this city-base Bihu. But this was not the fault of Radha Govinda Baruah. If the extreme Bihu loving people rectify this fault, Radha Govinda Baruah’s departed soul will rest in peace. (Radhagonind Boruah: Nirod Choudhary, page: 8-9). A great agenda of Radha Govinda Baruah was hidden in regarding to the open ‘bihu’ related to bringing in the stage. This was a powerful attempt to establish the traditional in front of the world. It is also remarkable that later on, Radha Govinda Baruah began to giving prize to drummers, singers of bihu dance too etc. Radha Govinda Baruah played an important role in the case of reforming the heritage drama theatre of Amulapatti, Dibrugarh and to revitalize the Dibrugarh drama-movement. Co- acting was initiated in the help of the good actor Radha Govinda Baruah in Dibrugarh. Through Co-acting, that Brajanath Sharma used it to create a new flow, a flow that was carried onto the place Dibrugarh by Radha Govinda Baruah. Co-acting was not a subtle matter

http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJM 1441 [email protected] Jyotishman Das in the contemporary time. He opened a new path by overcoming the various challenges that confronted at the time. In the midst of ongoing drama, the dance was also performed because of the attempt towards the co-acting of Radha Govinda Baruah. Before that in the midst of an Assamese play the dance was not performed in Dibrugarh. It can be mentioned that in his 3rd Assamese motion picture ‘Monumoti’(1941) he played the character of ‘Mansena’ too.

5. CONTRIBUTION OF RADHA GOVINDA BARUAH IN THE FIELD OF SPORTS IN ASSAM The Contribution of Radha Govinda Baruah as an active member of sports committee is unforgettable. He was very attentive in maintaining a healthy life. In 1937 he organized Assam Olympic in Dibrugarh to encourage the youth of Assam to maintain a good physical health. The Olympic game was organized by Radha Govinda Baruah for five days. He went to Guwahati and became an active member of various sports committee. There were two significant sports committees during that time- ‘Guwahati Town Club’ and ‘Maharana Club’. When the Guwahati Town Club came to know about his passion for sports he was nominated as the vice president of Guwahati Sports Club. In the representation of Radha Govinda Baruah the club was alive again. He became president of the club next year. After that he sacrificed himself as a president of ‘Guwahati Sports Club’, ‘Assam Football Association’, ‘Assam Cricket Association’, ‘Assam Lone-Tennis Association’. During that time, Lokpriyo Bordoloi Football Trophy held at George Field of Guwahati.. George Field was the only platform for such sports. Though people had to go through lots of trouble for that, but the enthusiasm of the people was unresistable. Even In that situation sports competition was organized making a temporary boundary of sheets of tin. But at that time an order came from Chief Minister not to organize sports in such way. Radha Govinda Baruah raised voice for the sports organization, and placed a demand of a stadium for those kinds of sports. He had a dream of building a stadium in Guwahati. During that time, P. D Stracy built a stadium in Jorhat. Though the purpose Stracy to build a stadium was very important, but it was small,not well planned and not well infrastructure. This was the first stadium in Assam. Radha Gobinda did not want to be failed as Stracy. He well planned his dream of building a stadium in Guwahati. He chose a dumping ground of the Municipality to build the stadium. After getting the legal permission and documents he started to build it in steady way, with the donation collected by various individuals and institutions. To fill up the basement of stadium he had to invest a huge amount of lacs. Though he did not back off. He organized a wrestling competition for the first time in Church Field, Assam inviting well- known sports personality such as Dara Singh. He Collected few amount from that wrestling competition, which he invested in the development of the stadium. After that both state and central government including sports council came forward to help and the stadium was completely built with a covered galleries, few cemented galleries, mostly the wooden galleries. The stadium was officially inaugurated in 1963 on 16th July. This stadium was known as Nehru Stadium in the most abandoned area of Guwahati. The 23rd National and 4th inter-state badminton championship were held in its indoor stadium after its completion within 45 days under the supervision of Radha Gobind Baruah in 1958. The role of Radha Govinda Baruah is notable to mention in the case of building up a Flying Club for young boys and girls. In the help of Radha Govinda Baruah ‘Assam Flying Club’ was established in 1958. His selfless service took the sports sector of Assam too far regarding the development of sports sector in Assam.

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6. CONCLUSION Radha Govinda Baruah, the main and fame person who devoted his whole life for the society was an only sculptor of modern Assam. It is remarkable that he also tried his best to develop the tourism industry of Assam. When he was working as a member of ‘Asam Tourist Advisory Board’, he tried to transform Assam into an only attraction spot for the tourist along with providing some advice and taking steps towards its progress. Radha Govinda Baruah, who was involved with the public works for life-long also got the chance to become the 1st Mayor of Guwahati city towards the end of his life. After paralyzed his right leg, he taunted himself to go to the ‘Expo Seventy’ of Japan and ‘Munich Olympic’. Although this person who was readily brave organizer of society departed from the Earth, but for his own deeds and ideals, he will be always alive in the form of symbol of eternal strength, endless inspiration. Bhupen Hazarika also said that Radha Gobinda cannot be dead. As a creative person he will be always remembered and dignified one among all (Radhagobind Borua: Nirod Choudhary, pp.286). But until this day, the life and the real evaluation of Radha Govinda Baruah’s work has not been done yet. Through his life and microscopic study of works there is a possibility of inception of an undiscovered things related to the creation of modern Assam or many approaches of the Renaissance in 20th century in Assam.

REFERENCES [1] Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya, Dersho Bosoror Asamiya Sanskritit Ebhumuki, (Guwahati: Asom Prakashan Parishad, 2005) [2] , Unobinsho Shatikar Nabajagaran Aru Adhunik Asomiya Mon, (Dibrugarh: Kaustav Prakashan, 2014) [3] Nagen Saikia, Background of Literature (Guwahati: Purbancal Prakash, 2011) [4] Nirod Choudhary, Radha Govinda Baruah, (Guwahati: Sahitya Prakash, , 1978) [5] Prosenjit Chowdhury, Socio-cultural aspects of Assam in Nineteenth Century (New Delhi : Vikas, 1994) [6] Tillottoma Misra, Literature and society in Assam (Guwahati: Bhabani, 2011)

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