Debo Prasad Barooah was an Indian academician, author, historian and the former Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University. Barooah, highly regarded for his knowledge of political science and history of the region had a brilliant academic record beginning with his graduation in 1954.
Life and education
Barooah was born in Golaghat to the family of Tara Prasad Barooah. His father Tara Prasad Barooah was also an eminent lawyer of Assam, University Prize-man, Gold-medalist in English from Calcutta University. Barooah passed his matriculation from Golaghat – Government Boys Bezbarooah Higher Secondary School and graduated with first class in 1954 and got masters from Gauhati University in 1956 where he topped his class. He did his D Phil on the thesis Indo-British Relations 1950–60. He was UGCEmeritus Fellow for two years and was also Senior Associate of National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore. He was married to Renu Devi, Former Dean – Faculty of Arts, Gauhati University, Assam.
Barooah is credited for a large number of research papers, which are highly regarded in intellectual circles. Some of those have been published in national and international journals. Few of his published works are:
As an academician he mentored many students and researchers and acted as guide to 23 scholars. He was involved in several post-retirement assignments, including his association with the University Grants Commission. As a writer his write-ups had been published in various English National Dailies. He was a Guest Column Writer for The Telegraph newspaper published from Kolkata. Barooah was a Professor and Head of Political Science from 1978 till his appointment as Gauhati University Vice-Chancellor in 1986. Barooah was also a nationalist blended with regionalism and had contributions in different assignments including a case relating to 17 May 1996, murder of noted journalist Parag Kumar Das. A Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court, comprising Chief Justice J Chalemeswar and Justice Hrishikesh Roy, admitted a revision petition as regards investigation into the case. The court had then registered the plea on the basis of a letter written by Dr. Debo Prasad Barooah to the Chief Justice of the High Court where, in his letter, Barooah alleged "slackness on part of the CBI in investigating the case." Barooah played a role in organising the first political convention of the AGP in Golaghat in October 1985. But he stayed away from direct involvement with any political party.
Death
Barooah died on 28 January 2013 due to cardiac arrest. His death was deplored by various people including Assam's Governor JB Patnaik and Minister for Information & Public Relations – Basanta Das. Chief MinisterTarun Gogoi also expressed his deep condolence at the demise of Dr Barooah. In their condolence messages, they said that "Assam has lost a great educationist, academician, litterateur and a social worker."
