Guwahati: Dipok Kumar Barthakur, renowned social worker, entrepreneur and vice chairman of the State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA) set up by the Government of Assam, passed away at a hospital in Chennai on Wednesday afternoon. He was 84.
He is survived by his two daughters.
Barthakur had been undergoing treatment on and off at the Apollo Hospital, Chennai for the past one year after post Covid complication.
Barthakur was Anchal Pramukh of Vivekananda North East India and Chairman of Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture (VKIC), Guwahati.
He was also instrumental in a number of different allied organizations’ works in the North East.
Social activist Eknath Ramkrishna Ranade, popularly referred to as Eknathji, used to stay in his house in Guwahati. VKIC was Eknathji’s dream project for North East and he passed on the idea to Barthakur.
VKIC work started in 1993 and formally launched in 1996 under Dipok Da’s guidance.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed grief at Barthakur’s demise. He said that Barthakur had made considerable contributions for the State’s economic development. Further, Barthakur’s contribution to the socio-cultural sphere will always be remembered, Sarma said.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AAYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal, MP Queen Oja, State BJP president Bhabesh Kalita and SITA co-chairman Ramen Deka have also extended condolences at Barthakur’s demise. Members of New Art Players, a leading socio-cultural organization of the State, deeply mourned the passing away of Barthakur, its founder-member and present president. With agency inputs
