“A eulogy on Sudarshan Gupta” writes Dr. Arundhati Dutta Choudhury

//Dr. Arundhati Dutta Choudhury//

Life is like a Checkered board of Dice where each throw either releases a new life to a square or instantly eclipses its span. Sudarshan Gupta, the deceased Head of the Department of History of Radhamadhab College proved his short-lived life to be such. My acquaintance with Sudarshan was long back in the 90’s when I met him as a pass out of JNU, in the old Assam type staff room of Radhamadhab College.

He was young,energetic and with his signature smiling face. When he became a colleague of mine, I gradually learnt to realize that in our small, unbecoming College, we had a gem of a person who never cared for his own profits and benefits but had been steering the course of the college towards a goal, a recognition, a presence of hope and encouragement. Yes, we sojourned many good days, crossed many hurdles, solved many crisis, passed many many moments of grace and mirth jubilation and celebration shouldering together. He was a friend, a brother and a sensitive co-worker who could release our burdens, problems instantly ever and ever.

Sudarshan’s maturity didn’t only mean his mental stamina but a spreading charisma in all walks of life, from cultural to social, from academic to administrative, from media to journalism and always from one to many. And thus, Sudarshan mingled with the mass and became an icon of super performing gentleman, an excellent organizer, a skilled orator, an accomplished trainer and always a decision maker.

We are unfortunate to lose such a soul so helplessly because a person like Sudarshan is a special individual whom we rarely meet and appreciate in our span of life.
The Barak Valley chapter of Assam College Teachers’ Association has witnessed under the able leadership of Sudarshan many noticeable occurrence, unprecedented agitation drives and the voice of the teaching fraternity in Barak Valley has achieved a strong hold in all fronts due his tremendous presence in important academic forums.

Yes, the untimely demise of Sudarshan has created a void because he had created a strong space and the void is very difficult and hard either to be replaced or refilled.

If premonitions have any solid stronghold in the wavelength of human mind, Death knocked the door in silence in Sudarshan’s life too. Probably as we all are beguiled with the charms of life, he too was not aware of it. His repeated requests towards me for celebrating a get-together that ultimately was thrown on 22nd December, 2022 was a proof of this and his strongly decided move that led me to become the Central Executive Member from Cachar Zone of ACTA for the session 2023-24 too was surprising even towards me.

My final conversation was with him on 2nd January, 2023 and on that day he bade me final adieu by greeting pre-congratulation for an unrevealed fact. His moves and acts were always unusual and today I only ponder on innumerable memories spent with Sudarshan and feel in despair that we could not read the premonitions correctly.

I wish his departed soul eternal peace and rest and eternal sleep which he hankered after ever in life. Rest in Peace, Sudarshan.

(Dr. Arundhati Dutta Choudhury is the Head of the Department of English, Radhamadhab College.)