Guwahati: Pradip Baruah, founding editor of the renowned Assamese fortnightly magazine Prantik, passed away on Wednesday evening following a cardiac arrest. He was 87.
Baruah had been undergoing treatment at Down Town Hospital in Guwahati for the past 12 days. According to family members, he suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away at 7:27 pm.
His mortal remains will be taken to his residence on Thursday morning at around 8:30 am. The last rites will be performed at Navagraha crematorium at approximately 11 am.
Prantik was a household name among Assamese middle-class families for decades. As a veteran journalist and editor, Baruah led the magazine for over four decades and played a key role in nurturing generations of Assamese writers and thinkers.
For his contribution to Assamese literature and journalism, Baruah received several honours, including the prestigious Birendra Kumar Bhattacharjya Award.
Born on September 3, 1938, in Dibrugarh, Baruah completed his schooling at Don Bosco School in Guwahati. He later graduated from Cotton College, now Cotton University.
Speaking to the media after his demise, his daughter said, “My father was always independent. He never wanted to work under anyone. Prantik was like his child. We will do everything possible to keep it alive. It will continue to shine under the Assam sky.”
Pradip Baruah was the youngest son of Radha Govinda Baruah, founder of The Assam Tribune Group of Publications. He was also the brother of Tulashi Govinda Baruah and the late Prafulla Govinda Baruah, who passed away just days earlier.
He is survived by his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and three granddaughters.