Several people have condoled the demise of eminent educationist, writer, lyricist & singer Dr Lakshahira Das who breathed her last at her residence in Guwahati following a heart attack
GUWAHATI, March 15: Eminent educationist, writer, lyricist & singer Dr Lakshahira Das passed away at her residence at Rajgarh in Guwahati following a heart attack.
She was 94.
Born on Feb 13, 1931, to Late Lalit Bhandra Baishya Saud and Late Dharjya Baishya Saud in Sualkuchi, Dr Lakshahira Das passed her matriculation examination from Jorhat Government Girls’ High School in 1946 while completing her intermediate from JB College, Jorhat, before graduating from Cotton College in 1950. She then bagged the 2nd position in her Masters Examination from Gauhati University in 1954.
Lakshahira Das joined Cotton College in 1957 and worked as professor of the Education department before going on to head the department until 1977 when she joined Gauhati University.
She retired from Gauhati University as Head of the department of Education in 1993.
Dr Das was awarded the Doctorate degree by Gauhati University in 1973.
Besides being an educationist of repute, Dr Lakshahira Das was a multifaceted genius and is also known as a lyricist and singer having composed over 2,000 songs in the past 60 years besides authoring a great number of books.
Dr Lakshahira Das had the rare distinction to have been recognised by the All India Radio in 1948 as the first and only Assamese woman lyricist, composer and singer while she was a student of Cotton College.
She was conferred with the Silpi Award by the Assam Government in 2003 and the ‘Amol Prabha Das’ Award in 2011.
Dr Das was also conferred the Basanti Bordoloi Award by the Asom Sahitya Sabha besides being honoured with the title of ‘Sangeetacharya’ in 1995.
She leaves behind three sons — retired professor and head of the department of English (Cotton College) Dr Amlandeep Das, pediatrician Dr Abhinandan Das and eminent ghazal singer Anirban Das — besides a host of relatives, friends and acquaintances.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma led the State in mourning the demise of Dr Lakshahira Das saying she “will be remembered for her invaluable contribution in enriching Assam’s cultural & literary landscape”.
