Parag Kumar Das

Last updated

Parag Kumar Das
Parag Kumar Das.jpg
Portrait of Parag Kumar Das
Born(1961-02-24)24 February 1961
Shillong, India
Died17 May 1996(1996-05-17) (aged 35)
Guwahati, Assam, India
Cause of deathKilled by SULFA
Other namesBuman
Education Master's Degree in Economics
Alma mater Cotton College,
St. Stephen's College,
Delhi School of Economics
Occupation(s) Journalist
Newspaper Editor
Human rights activist
Notable credit Amnesty International
SpousePurabi Das
Children2
Parents
  • Durgadhar Das (father)
  • Anupama Das (mother)

Parag Kumar Das was the former editor of Asomiya Pratidin, [1] [2] a radical journalist, human right activist and one of the founders of the human rights movement in Assam. [3]

Contents

Parag Kumar Das was also the founder leader of Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS). [4]

Prior to that Parag Kumar Das was the manager of Guwahati Stock Exchange.

Parag Kumar Das was assassinated by SULFA in 1996. [5] [6]

Das had his education in St. Stephen's College and Delhi School of Economics, Delhi.

Early life

Parag Kumar Das was born in Shillong on 24 February 1961. He did his lower primary, primary and high schooling from Chenikuthi Boys School, M.C.M.E. School and Cotton Collegiate Government H.S. School respectively. In 1977, he got the 4th position in HSLC examination. He also got 4th position in the Pre-university examination from Cotton College in Science stream. Then he moved to Delhi for higher education. He took admission in St. Stephen's College for his graduation in Economics. After that he joined the Delhi School of Economics at the University of Delhi for a master's degree.

In 1984, he joined as a manager in Punjab National Bank. After that he was appointed as general manager in Unit Trust and Guwahati Stock Exchange. In 1995 he quit from his job and joined as an editor in the Assamese daily Asomiya Pratidin.

He married Purabi Das and they have two children. [7]

Journalism life

Parag Kumar Das started his journalism in Prantik and The Sentinel (an English daily published from Guwahati, Assam) in the late 80s. Later in, 1989, Das launched Boodhbar (English: Wednesday), an Assamese weekly. In 1994, he launched another Assamese magazine Agaan(English: Steps). [8]

Both Boodhbar and Agaan were stopped following his arrests. Finally, in 1995, he joined as the Executive Editor of Asomiya Pratidin, quitting his job from the Stock Exchange of Guwahati. [7]

Books

Parag Kumar Das' Books
BookEnglishAssamese (Origin)
Rastradrohir Dinlipi Diary of a State Rebelৰাষ্ট্ৰদ্ৰোহীৰ দিনলিপি
Swadhinataar Prostab Proposal for Independenceস্বাধীনতাৰ প্ৰস্তাৱ
NISIDDHA KALAM ARU ANNYANYA Banned writings and othersনিষিদ্ধ কলম আৰু অন্যান্য
Swadhin Axomor Arthaniti Swadhin Axomor Arthanitiস্বাধীন অসমৰ অৰ্থনীতি
Sanglat Fenla Call for Independenceছাংলট ফেনলা
Early Writings of Parag Kumar Das Early Writings of Parag Kumar Das [9] No

Assassination

In the afternoon of 17 May 1996, [10] while taking back his young son from school in Chandmari, Guwahati, Das was assassinated in broad daylight by four SULFA members - Mridul Phukan alias Samar Kakati, Diganta Baruah, Tapan Dutta alias Biswajit Saikia and Nayan Das alias Guli. His open murder created huge outrage in the entire state of Assam and the human rights circles of the country.

International Condemnation on Assassination

Several international human rights forums and journalist forums condemned the brutal killing of Parag Kumar Das. Amnesty International, on its note, stated, "...The killing of Parag Das highlights the suppression of human rights activity within Assam, where human rights violations and abuses have been committed with virtual impunity by both security forces and armed opposition groups." [11]

Human Rights Watch stated, "...death of Assamese activist Parag Das in May exposed the security forces, use of irregular militias to carry out abuses..". [12]

Trial & Judgement Controversy

In 2001, CBI filed its chargesheet in Kamrup District and Sessions Court against the four accused - all members of the surrendered group of ULFA. Before the CBI filed its chargesheet, Diganta Baruah and Tapan Dutta were killed in 1998 and 1999, and in 2003 Nayan Das was hacked to death by a furious mob in Dibrugarh. Promod Gogoi and Prabin Sarma, two other suspects were not charge-sheeted for lack of evidence against them. Mridul Phukan is the only surviving accused in the case. But after thirteen years, on 28 July 2009, Justice Dilip Kumar Mahanta, District and Sessions Judge, Kamrup, has acquitted the prime accused citing lack of solid evidence. [13]

The acquittal of Mridul Phukan, the lone survivor of the accused in Parag Kumar Das killing, sparked criticism of judgement and investigation done by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, the then editor of Asomiya Pratidin, of which late Das was executive editor, said, "The judgment ( by the Kamrup Metro District and Sessions Court) has exposed the hollowness of our inquiry and law system". [14] [15]

MASS reactions

According to human rights activists, the key witnesses were not interviewed, some were intimidated, related materials were tempered to ensure the acquittal of the accused and cover up the state machinery's role in the case. [16] Three of the accused were expired. The human rights activist, media, friends and family members of Das, all call it as a betrayal of the CBI and the Court. MASS leader Lachit Bordoloi, expressing his disappointment with the verdict, said that the MASS would approach higher courts and continue the fight for justice to the slain activist. [17]

Parag Kumar Das Memorial Trust

The Parag Kumar Das Memorial Trust was formed after his death by the family members and the well wishers. The trust has been organizing an annual debate competition at the state level since 1997. In 2021, the silver jubilee edition of the debate will be organized and from 2022 onward annual memorial lectures will replace the debate competition.

A documentary on Late Das sponsored by the trust was also released on 24 February 2018 on the occasion of his Birthday and is available in YouTube. [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asom Gana Parishad</span> Indian political party

Asom Gana Parishad is a political party in the state of Assam, India. The AGP was formed following the historic Assam Accord of 1985 and formally launched at the Golaghat Convention held from 13 to 14 October 1985 in Golaghat, which also allowed Prafulla Kumar Mahanta who was the youngest chief minister of the state to be elected. The AGP has formed government twice once in 1985 then again in 1996. The popularity of AGP surged in the late 1980s but declined in the 2000s. After a 20-year gap, AGP, in alliance with NDA, won a Lok Sabha seat in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lachit Borphukan</span> Commander in the Ahom kingdom

Lachit Borphukan was an army general, primarily known for commanding the Ahom Army and the victory in the Battle of Saraighat (1671) that thwarted an invasion by the vastly superior Mughal Forces under the command of Ramsingh I. He died about a year later in April 1672.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assamese literature</span> Literature in Assamese language

Assamese literature is the entire corpus of poetry, novels, short stories, plays, documents and other writings in the Assamese language. It also includes the literary works in the older forms of the language during its evolution to the contemporary form and its cultural heritage and tradition. The literary heritage of the Assamese language can be traced back to the c. 9–10th century in the Charyapada, where the earliest elements of the language can be discerned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assamese cinema</span>

Assamese cinema is the Indian film industry of Assamese language. It is based in Assam, India. The industry was born in 1935 when Jyoti Prasad Agarwala released his movie Joymoti. Since then the Assamese cinema has developed a slow-paced, sensitive style. In the beginning the industry were called Jollywood, for Agarwala's Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhabananda Deka</span> Indian writer

Prof Bhabananda Deka was a pioneer Assam economist and author who conducted novel research on the economy of the far eastern part of India. He was also a leading Indian-Assamese litterateur of the famed 'Awahon-Ramdhenu Era' of Assamese literature during the mid-20th century. He was the author of a total of 115 English and Assamese books including textbooks on a range of fifteen subjects including economics, ancient Assamese literature, philosophy, education, religion, mythology, archaeology, tribal study, poetry, drama, memoirs, civics, political science, biographies; he also edited books and journals. He also authored a variety of research papers and articles about the state of Assam, a state in the north-eastern part of India. He pioneered the writing of books on Economics in Assamese. His Assamese book Axomor Arthaneeti was the first ever research-based comprehensive book on Assam Economics, which was published for the first time in 1963. He was conferred with the honorary title of 'Asom Ratna' -- 'Jewel of Assam' by the intellectuals of Assam on 19 August 2007 at a public meet held under the presidency of Prof. (Dr) Satyendra Narayan Goswami.

Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS) is a regional non-profit human rights NGO in Assam. It was founded in 1991 by Parag Kumar Das along with a group of intellectuals and journalists of Assam. The present chairman is Ajit Kumar Bhuyan and its headquarters is at Bamunimoidam, Guwahati.

The People's Consultative Group (PCG) was a citizen's group in Assam, India, comprising 11 members and established by the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) on September 8, 2005. Its objective was to initiate the peace talk process as mediator between the central government and ULFA. The PCG was dissolved by ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa in February 2011. ULFA continued the peace talk process without the PCG on 10 February 2011 in New Delhi.

Pabitra Kumar Deka was a progressive writer, columnist, publisher and editor of monthly magazine, film critic and screenwriter of the State of Assam in India. He is the winner of the Best Film Critic Award in 1988 from the Eastern India Motion Picture Association. The Government of Assam has instituted the State Best Film Critic Award in the name of Pabitra Kumar Deka Award from 2010 after his death.

Kaliram Medhi was a prominent linguist, writer and essayist from Assam who wrote in both the Assamese and English languages in the early part of modern Assamese literature. He was the third president of the Asom Sahitya Sabha in 1919 held at Barpeta. He was honoured with the Rai Bahadur title in 1946. Versatile Assamese short story writer and Professor of Physics and later a lifetime associate at Assam Engineering College Surendra Nath Medhi better known by his pen name Saurav Kumar Chaliha was his son and noted Mathematician, Emeritus Professor of statistics at Gauhati University and Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology Jyotiprasad Medhi was his grandson as he was the son of his daughter Kadambari Medhi and her husband Binandi Chandra Medhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pratidin Time</span> Television channel

Pratidin Time is a 24-hour Assamese news channel. The programs of the channel include various infotainment, sports, entertainment, lifestyle, showbiz, fashion, and education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nishita Goswami</span> Indian actress

Nishita Goswami is an Indian actress who works in Assamese language films. Her notable Assamess Movies are Rong, Ratnakar, Hold My Hand, Mon, etc. She has also acted in a number of stage dramas.

Prodyut Kumar Deka is an Indian film & stage director, screenwriter and author residing in Assam, India. His films include Dhunia Tirutabur, Samiran Barua Ahi Ase, Surjasta, Borosi, Chiyahir Rong, Ji Golpor Ses Nai and The Government Servant. He turned to writing english fiction gradually from 2016-17 with the anthropological Ambari Series based on the Ambari Archeological site in Guwahati.

Aikyatan is a progressive drama group based in Guwahati in Assam founded by humor writer and film critic Pabitra Kumar Deka, historian and former principal of Cotton College Udayaditya Bharali, writer Anil Kumar Deka, noted editor of Assamese daily Asomiya Pratidin Nitya Bora and others in 1976. It has produced many memorable plays like Janani, Surjastak, Panchatantra, Sinhasan Khali, Hewers of Coal, Upahar, Night of January 16, and A Doll's House. The play Night of January 16th directed by National award-winning film director Sanjeev Hazarika was also performed for Guwahati Doordarshan on the occasion of World Theatre Day on 27 March 1990.

<i>Ratnakar</i> (film) 2019 film by Jatin Bora

Ratnakar: A New Myth of Love is a 2019 Indian Assamese-language action thriller film directed by Jatin Bora and produced by Bora and Navanita Sharma's J.B. Production. The film stars Bora and Barsha Rani Bishaya, with Nishita Goswami, Pabitra Bora, Chetana Das, and Sanjeev Hazarika in supporting roles and features young Ashramika Saikia. It is the adaptation of 2016 Tamil film Theri.

<i>Piyoli Phukan</i> (1955 film) 1955 Indian film

Piyoli Phukan is a black & white Assamese language film directed by Phani Sarma, released in 1955. The film is based on the life and struggle of a historical character of Assam, Piyoli Phukan, son of Badan Borphukan, who revolted against British occupation. He was sentenced to death and hanged in 1830 at Jorhat. The film is produced by Gama Prasad Agarwalla under the banner of Rupjyoti Productions, Tezpur, Assam. Music is composed by Bhupen Hazarika. Piyoli Phukan is the first Assamese film, which got national recognition. The film was honoured by the Certificate of Merit in State Awards, 1956.

Rajen Sharma, commonly known as Uddipta Hazarika, was the first publicity secretary of the militant organisation United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Popular for his poem Mor Rakta Borna Protigya, Sharma was killed on 8 October 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Bajrang</span> First Indian military operation against United Liberation Front of Asom

Operation Bajrang was a military operation, conducted by the Indian army, in Assam, against the militant organization, United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).

Japarkuchi is an urban locality in Nalbari district, Assam, India. As per the 2011 Census of India, Japarkuchi has a population of 4,626 people including 2331 males and 2295 females, with a literacy rate of 87.44%.

Neel Pawan Baruah was an Indian painter from Assam. In 2021, he was awarded the Assam Sourav Award, the second-highest civilian honor of Assam by the Government of Assam. Some of his notable paintings include Green Bird, Kaliya Daman, Shankhachakra Gadapadma, Sleeping Man, Victory of Vietnam, Scream, Three Powers, Patchitra and The Three Faces of the Godde.

References

  1. ↑ Al-Ahmed, Saikh Md Sabah (4 August 2009). "Parag Das murder verdict: bleeding Fourth Estate". The Assam Tribune. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  2. ↑ Woodhull, Nancy J; Snyder, Robert W (1998). Journalists in peril. New Brunswick, N.J., U.S.A.: Transaction Publishers. ISBN   978-1-351-51054-7. OCLC   1036271590.
  3. ↑ Human Rights Watch (Organization) (1996). Human rights watch world report 1997: events of 1996. New York, NY: Human Rights Watch. pp. 161, 162. ISBN   978-1-56432-207-4. OCLC   1170613166.
  4. ↑ Karatnycky, Adrian; Freedom House Survey Team (2017). Freedom in the world: the annual survey of political rights & civil liberties, 1996-1997. ISBN   978-1-351-29082-1. OCLC   1020319020.
  5. ↑ Kashyap, Samudra Gupta (30 July 2009). "Assam editor's murder: CBI under scanner". The Indian Express. The Indian Express . Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  6. ↑ Ghosh, Srikanta (1997). Indian democracy derailed politics and politicians. New Delhi: APH Publ. Corp. p. 250. ISBN   978-81-7024-866-8. OCLC   237324663.
  7. 1 2 Thakuria, Nava (27 January 2019). "Paragda, We Are Still Deprived Of Justice". Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  8. ↑ Pandey, G. P (2013). Press in the North-East. pp. 42, 43. ISBN   978-81-230-1840-9. OCLC   855213745.
  9. ↑ Baruah, Apurba Kumar; Yolmo, Nima Lamu, eds. (2014). Early Writings of Parag Kumar Das: Articles in English Dailies 1982-1985. DVS Publishers. ISBN   9788186307878.
  10. ↑ "India: Assam: the killing of a human rights defender - Amnesty International". Amnesty International . 31 May 1996.
  11. ↑ "India: Assam: the killing of a human rights defender". Amnesty International . 31 May 1996. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  12. ↑ "ASIA". Human Rights Watch . Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  13. ↑ "VFF demands retrial of Parag Das killer". Voices For Freedom. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  14. ↑ Kashyap, Samudra Gupta (30 July 2009). "Assam editor's murder: CBI under scanner". The Indian Express . Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  15. ↑ "Parag murder accused freed - Court blames CBI for lack of evidence". The Telegraph (India) . 28 July 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  16. ↑ Borborah, Sanjay (28 July 2009). "13 Years After: Waiting for Justice in the Parag Das Assassination Case". assam.org. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  17. ↑ "Parag Das murder suspect acquitted; Assam bandh on Thursday". newkerela.com. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  18. ↑ "PARAG KUMAR DAS | TILL WE MEET AGAIN PARAG". YouTube . Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  19. ↑ "Books of Parag Kumar Das". Amazon (company) . Retrieved 28 November 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.