On Saturday, morning I had a phone call from Guwahati, that was my brother in the other end saying sadly: “Keshab Sir passed away”. In those days Keshab Mahanta was a household name amongst the neighbourhood of Panbazar area when he was a brilliant teacher at Don Bosco High School. For my brothers and most of the boys of Panbazar he was their most beloved and respected: Keshab Sir. I remember after school he used to visit our house not only as a teacher but as a family member to discuss the boys progress at school over a cup of tea.

 

That tall, calm, face is still vivid in my memory. It is indeed difficult task to write a tribute to a person with so many good qualities. No amount of words would be enough to praise such a good soul. I remember when I met him on February, last year at Prag Cine Awards function at the Nehru Stadium. He smiled and wished me well for my continuing interest in the cultural field.

 

His lyrics and poems bore the indelible mark of being ingrained in the soil, gave a new dimension and melody to the Assamese film music through his masterly composition: were rooted in the soil. He combined in him the greatness of Assamese culture with the compassion for sorrows and suffering of the common people with his brilliant compositions both in lyrics and poetry.

 

It is not everyday that great people like him is born. We will treasure his memories as : Bukur tezere likha gan mor, sokur panire numusibi. Sokur panire likha gan mor , Aloi athani nokoribi. (Jyoti Prasad Agarwala)

 

At this moment of grief I join the members of his family and friends in silent prayer and conclude with that emotional quote of an unknown poet: “Your stars will shine now in the sky, farewell my friend but not goodbye”

 

Rini Kakati



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