THE OTHER SIDE OF GENIUS L. N. BEZBAROA. LAKSHMI NATH BEZBAROAS genius of business was lost in oblivion for his socio-cultural contribution overpowered that faculty. BEZBAROA was one of the few young men from EASTERN INDIA who was selected for a covenated position in a multinational corporate entity. Whwn LAKSHMINATH BEZBAROA died in DIBRUGARH, he was 70 years old. Out of these 70 years, he lived 52 years outside ASSAM physicallyWhy did BEZBAROA PREFERED to live outside ASSAM for such a long time despite his huge contribution to ASSAMS culture and literature ? According to historian HUSANUR RAHMAN, BEZBAROA must have felt that living in BENGAL would give him an extra edge to learn the modern development and the new form of world literature quickly and easily. This was the only reason that compelled his predecessor ANANDA RAM BAROOAH also to stay and live in BENGAL. Much later BHUPEN HAZARIKA too followed his example.RAHMAN added,- But literature, according to me, may not the only reason for BEZBARPAS staying back in BENGAL and ORISSA. He lived in ORISSA for nearly 20 years mainly to pursue his livelihood. BEZBAROA was the first business executive from NORTH EAST INDIA in a multinational company. The company was the famous, BIRD & CO . It was was an international merchant company--a managing agency then. During those days, many people thought, it was MANIRAM DEWAN, who was the first ASSAMESE business executive. But MANIRAM BORBHANDAR BARUAH was not a covenated excutive of the corporate entity, ASSAM COMPANYLIMITED.hE WAS AN ASSOCIATE, AN ADVISORY REPRESENTATIVE, A RETAINER on yearlybasis in thetrue sense of term.He used to get honoriumm ans not wagrs.LAKSHMINATHS ACHIEV HAS NOT BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BEFORE.He could have got a good job in the ASSAM GOVERNMENT. But he wanted to work independent ly.He wrote in his autobiography, I would rather earn my livelihood, with hard work, independenyly, without being a servant of government. His first job was with BHOLANATH BARUAS BUSINESS ENTITY. Bholanath Baruah hired him as a businees partner. Bezbaroa was a working partner. The capital infusion was done by Fatick Chandra Baruah. The Chief Executive was Bholanath Baruah. Lakshmi Nath was his capable partner in the arm. Bholanath knew well as to how much vibrant the connection of Lakhshmi Nath was with the Kolkata social circle with the Railways and the trading community. He vizualized how well this connection would help their business. Bholanath and later Lakhsmi Nath actually took the timber business enterprise to great height. After a conflict of interest Bezbaroa started his own business in Orissa. But by then he grew older. He built his own house there and later gifted the house tp his elder daughter Aruna. Possibly, at a later date the property was sold out. As Lakhsmi Nath grew he turned more a philosopher than a businessman. He started devoting more time in spiritual persuits. He was invitted by the Maharaja of Baroda to give a series of lectures on Vaishnavism and Rass Leela that earned him much fame and peace of mind. According ot many critics Lakhsmi Nath felt very humiliated and sad when his second daughter embraced Chritian religion and became a nun. The greatest tradgedy in his life came when hi youngest daughter Surabhi died at the age of 5 years in 1895.He had loving relations with the Tagore family. Many of his ardent fans, admirers and critics wanted to know why he returned to Asssam after a long stint of 52 years outside his State. The simple answer as his daughter narrated was for he loved Assam and wanted to die in Assam on the Bank of the Brahmputra. (Prepared with the help of an article written by---- Gautam Prasad Baroowah & printed in the Assam Tribune)
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 07:06:51 +0000