Remembering Sukumar Da : A Life Dedicated to River, Culture and Society
I first met Sukumar Da nearly one and half decades ago, around 2010, and from that very moment, a
strong bond began to grow between us. Even today, I clearly remember one Sunday morning when he
asked me to come to Chhaygaon early, saying he wanted to show me something rare. I reached Chhaygaon in the early morning and there Sukumar Da was—standing with his bicycle near
the main town, wearing his unforgettable warm smile. That smile still remains fresh in my memory.
He took me to his residence, and after a brief rest, we walked toward the riverside. I was curious and
impatient, wondering what special thing he wanted to show me.
Then I saw it—the Xihu, the river dolphin.
It was the first time in my life that I had seen a river dolphin so closely. That moment was magical.
He told me, “From our very first meeting, I noticed your love for nature.” This reflected how deeply he
could understand and read a person’s heart and character. He had a rare ability to observe the smallest
qualities in people and connect with them instantly. That was what made him truly unique.
From there began our long discussions about Nau Khel, rivers, boats, and the role of youth in
preserving our cultural identity, physical fitness.
At that time, I was young, energetic and had completed my engineering in 2007. I showed him one of
my newspaper articles and told him, “Dada, Now it is time to make it happen.” He was deeply impressed
by my writings and my thoughts for society.
Two years later, when he came to know more about my family, our connection became even stronger.
He knew my grandfather, Late Dhaneswar Das of Mirza, a well-known social worker cum businessman.
Sukumar Da told me, “You have the same feelings for society as your grandfather.” Those words
touched me deeply, and from there, a new journey began.
Whenever he visited Guwahati, he would simply inform me, and we would sit together for hours
discussing how we could channelize our work for society. Sometimes he come to our residence at
Guwahati. My youngersister, krishangi Kakati, gradually formed a close bond with Sukumar Da. Deeply
fascinated by his Kamrupiya Loka Geet and the vibrant spirit of Nau Khel, together, they organized
summer camps for young children—creating joyful spaces where heritage came alive and young minds
connected with their roots.
Whenever I went to Chhaygaon, he would take me to forests, riverbanks, and remote villages. Once,
he took me deep into an interior area and showed me some carefully selected trees, saying these
would make the best boats for Nau Khel. His love for tradition was unmatched.
Together, we conducted several training programs for traditional Kamrupiya Loka Geet to train
children. Though I was never skilled in singing or dancing, I loved watching the cultural spirit he carried.
I often told him, “Dada, whenever I escape from the busy life of Guwahati and come to meet you—to
hear your songs, visit the riverside, and walk through the forests—I return to Guwahati with renewed
energy.”
From those conversations was born our dream project—“Transforming South Kamrup into a Cultural
Tourism Hub.”
He was connected with many people and organizations, and he was never static in his efforts. He
continuously worked with different groups and individuals, always moving forward with the same
dedication and vision. He had a unique ability to bring like-minded people together and guide them to work in parallel, ensuring that the maximum number of people could benefit from their collective
efforts.
Later, I came to know about his wife’s difficult situation from others, but he never let sorrow define him. He remained calm, composed, and focused. His true worries were always Nau Khel, Geet, and
how to bring these traditions back to the ground where they belonged.
We planned extensively, conducted surveys, and dreamed big. Our journey began with training
programs on Kamrupiya Loka Geet for youth across several villages in Chhaygaon. Alongside this, we visited various government offices to submit our proposal to conduct the same in large scale. At the
SAI office in Paltan Bazaar, our proposal was highly appreciated, though we were informed that final
approval could only come from Delhi.
Our efforts reached a peak when we prepared the proposal for submission in Delhi. However, we
unfortunately lost Sukumar Da, and our plans had to take a back seat.
Yet, with his blessings and the love and support of the people of Chayygaon, we are determined to
continue this journey. We remain committed to transforming Chayygaon into a vibrant cultural hub—
a centre for traditional heritage and a tourism hotspot for Kamrupiya culture. I am confident that with
the collective support of the community, we can turn his dream into reality.
Today, with his sudden passing, we have lost not just a social worker, but a guide, a cultural guardian,
and a man who quietly dedicated his life to preserving the soul of Loka geet.
We, the youth, have lostsomeone we can never truly replace.
But I believe the only way to keep Sukumar Da alive is by continuing to walk in his footsteps—through
service, through culture, through rivers, through songs, and through the dreams he left behind.
Pinak Vaishya
Dispur, Guwahati
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