Skip to content Skip to navigation

Remembering Dr. Phani Sharma

By editor |

August is a month that I miss Deta the most. Although he passed away in the month of July, I always find myself thinking about him more frequently at this time of the year. However, that’s not to say, I sit down weeping and feeling sad on that day; if anything, I like to celebrate in style. Of course, he had his ways to let me know that he is enjoying the day with me too...in style.


Sadly, in life, there is only one set of parents and they don’t live forever. The more you can give or/and can spend time with them, the better you feel within. Ailing health didn’t stop Deta from his work obligations. One minute he was in the hospital. The next you would catch him attending a meeting under the scorching heat. He never stopped or rather nothing could stop him.


Those who live far from their family will empathise how it feels to receive a call in the middle of the night. I used to wake up in sweats just thinking that the phone will ring any moment until one day my good husband said, “Enough of this, get on the next plane and be with him”. Every single day, I just had one small prayer. Don’t give me “the news” over the phone. I want to be near him. I had to be of some use to the person who gave me so much in life. If not now, then when? Emotionally I think I needed him more than he needed me. I quit my work in London, packed my bags and spent most of 2007 with him and that was the best decision until date.


Deta is known to the world as Dr.Phani Sharma, the entrepreneur, philanthropist, social worker, sports enthusiastic & politician. For me, he was an entrepreneur above everything else. An entrepreneur who loved sports and felt that we can build a better world through sports. He was awarded his doctorate degree for his contribution to sports. When he was appointed as the Mayor of Guwahati, I asked - Why take that offer? He said, “Guwahati has given me a lot. I want to serve this city” and he surely did.


Son of a school teacher, he came from a very humble family. From the remote corner of Dhemaji to make it big in the city without knowing a single soul is truly inspirational & brave for me and I still can’t fathom how he did it. The city loved him.


One thing he surely had... Hunger! Hunger for work & dedication. Whenever I moan about overload of work, he had no sympathy and told me off- “Maa, If you don’t work now then when will you work? Stop complaining. Tough love!



Lessons in Life: Life is a marathon not a sprint:


I say he was brave because he had nothing to give except his dedication and hard work. During his initial days he visited the then newly build Guwahati Refinery and requested for work. “I have neither past experience nor any recommendation but I can promise you quality output”. Try me once at least”. After several attempts, the kind person did approve a small job and Deta delivered as promised. That was the first of many. Two years later the entire department work was vested on him. “When you cheat at work, you cheat yourself before cheating others. You think you are smart but for some momentary gain you close doors for the rest of your life. Silly isn’t it? Maa, Life is a Marathon not a Sprint”



Lesson in Life: Make money run after you!


Another lesson I learned from Deta was not to run after money. He said: Rather, be so good in what you do that money will be compelled to run after you. Work for free initially if you have to. Learn the trade, know the secrets and listen, for that’s how you learn. I didn’t take all of this seriously until recently. I trade the currency market. The first thing my guru (who has 25 years of trading experience at the city) told me, don’t think about the money, just concentrate on the process of making a good trade. I had that knowledge from my Dad and I ignored it so far..well better late than never!



Visionary:


I love tea gardens and I want to own one someday even if it isn’t a pragmatic decision. Ma once said you almost bought a tea garden but despite several criticisms you went ahead and built a cinema hall from scratch Deta. Why? No labour problems and I had control on what I received. Besides, there wasn’t any cinema hall in that area. Well..his exact words were: Look, there is this ticket counter with a small outlet in it. All I see is a hand with money coming in through and once it’s inside my premises, I have full control over it. No slippage or commissions to anyone. Agree? I had to!


When he started Anuradha on January 1st 1971, there wasn’t any concrete road leading towards the Theatre Hall or any transportation beyond Chandmari where the city ended. He arranged for a special bus from Anuradha to Chandmari and beyond especially for the night show audiences. Once this happened, his ticket sales soared.


While in London, I like to celebrate his birthday watching the film I made interviewing him about his life journey. Then flick through the photo albums and remember the best parts we had together. Our family celebrates the day publicly every two years by giving a financial grant to a promising sports player of Assam from a deprived background, something that he wished the family continued after him.


More on http://www.drphanisharmawelfaretrust.org


This is the first time I am attending the occasion here in Guwahati but to be honest, I rather have him next to me by the fishing pond at our farm and watch the thrill in his eyes as he catches a Rohu. That would have been so much better.


Happy Birthday Deta!


Bublee (Sanchayita Sharma Goswami)
Twitter: @bubleeg
www.facebook.com/bubleeg


  • 26124 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Flash flood-wave hits 7 districts

Assam is in the fresh grip of flood wave triggered by heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of river Brahmaputra. Rain waters have wreaked havoc in seven districts. According to information, rainfall in the catchment areas of the Brahmaputra, has resulted in alarming rise in water level. There was, however, no report of any loss of lives so far.Huge areas of human habitation and cropland in Baksa, Barpeta, Kamrup, Nalbari, Dhemaji, Sonitpur and Sibsagar districts have been submerged and nearly 150 villages with a population of nearly two lakh were affected. The government has opened 15 relief camps in Baksar, Goalpara, Kamrup and Nalbari districts which are housing more than 50,000 people...

Govt to feel heat of ethnic clash

BJP is preparing to put the UPA government in a fix over the strings of ethnic clash in BTAD areas when parliament will resume its session on Wednesday. The party’s executive committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss the strategy. Disclosing this BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters that BJP will be raising issues of general public concern such as the communal violence in Assam. He said the party has decided to raise Assam clashes on the very first day of the session, contending the violence has not stopped as yet.Same it was what Sushma Swaraj said before the reporters in Delhi.

Centre blames external element in riot

The Centre on Monday blamed external elements in the ethnic clashes in BTAD areas and Dhubri areas where almost 60 were killed. Dispur is also likely to hand over the probe into the recent violence to CBI. Talking to reporters in New Delhi Union home secretary RK Singh said that the situation is under control as of now. There could be some external elements behind the violence. Singh had ruled out the possibility of involvement of anyone from across the border saying it was simply impossible for any organised group crossing over to India from across the border as the international border was sealed. He said that state and the Centre are determined that we will have this investigated and...

One more refugee dies in camp

Refuges in Chirang alleged inadequate medical facilities in the camps. The medical teams find it quite difficult to move to the camps in the absence of security forces. CRPF jawans sprang upon a team of health workers in Bijni. On the other hand, so far 8 refugees died of various diseases. Indefinite curfew was reimposed in Chirang district where three bodies were recovered on Sunday. Night curfew was continuing in Kokrajhar, where two bodies were recovered, besides Baska and Dhubri districts.

Riot–hit BTAD areas calm but tense

Tension still grips BTAD areas. Dispur has set up 104 police pickets in Dhubri and BTAD areas. Security personnel start manning these violence-hit areas from Monday.A SSB team had a narrow escape on Sunday when unidentified miscreants opened indiscriminate firing in Amguri area in Bijni. On Monday miscreants set on fire a house in the area. Security forces have apprehended a former militant in this connection.

BTAD: Gogoi reviews relief measures

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday reviewed the relief measures in BTAD areas and Dhubri district where 60people were killed. Gogoi directed the senior officials to carry out relief and rehabilitation measures on a war footing. He said that the topmost priority was relief and rehabilitation measures and all our energies should be channelized towards it. He asked the additional Chief Secretary to instruct the Deputy Commissioners of the affected districts to decongest the camps immediately and to open up new camps so that there is no major outbreak of diseases. Gogoi further instructed the PHE Secretary to construct latrines and to install water pumps in and around the relief camps in a...

2 Ulfamen killed in Rongjuli encounter

Two hardcore Ulfa militants were shot dead during an encounter with police in Goalpara district on Sunday. The encounter took place at 8-30 in the evening at an inaccessible area in Rongjuli. Acting on a tip off, a team of police from Guwahati launched an operation where the heavy gunbattle took place. The Ulfa duo died on the spot. Identified as Ratul Asom and Raghu Asom, the duo was allegedly involved in the recent attack on army in Goalpara where a jawan died and 4 others have been injured. Identified as Ratul Asom and Raghu Asom, the duo was allegedly involved in the recent attack on army in Goalpara where a jawan died.

EMFA welcomes Satyam Foundation initiative

The Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) has welcome the gesture of Satyam Foundation to offer Rs 51,000 as financial assistance for the treatment of Lalit Sarma, a Guwahati based television reporter. The EMFA also thanks Bhaskar Dev Konwar, a city based advocate, for offering Rs 11,000 for his treatment. Sarma, a crime reporter of DY365 is suffering from the ailment of partial paralysis for some weeks and he needs urgent treatment outside Assam. He is planning to visit Kerala for undergoing treatment with traditional medicine there. Mentionable is that Satyam Foundation, a Guwahati based welfare institution comprising some prominent cultural personalities of Assam, had honoured over 20...

Goreswar: 3 injured in explosion

Three persons have been injured when a powerful bomb exploded in Goreswar on Sunday. It took place at around 4-30 and bomb was planted on a tree which exploded at a village beside the Rangia-Goreswar Road. The bomb exploded with a huge sound when one of the trio tried to switch on a radio after he came to see it on a tree. The injured have been rushed to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital after preliminary treatment at the Goreswar Hospital.

Tension in Chirang; 2 killed

There is report of escalating tension in Chirang district following recovery of the bodies and there are reports of minority community protesting on the streets against the death of the three men. Additional reinforcements of police and para military forces have been rushed to the affected areas, where forces are already deployed since the outbreak of Bodo-Muslim clashes in July. Night curfew continues in Kokrajhar and Chirang, which are part of Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts, and Dhubri.