SHILLONG: Eloquent tributes were paid to Ardhendu Chaudhuri on his 13th death anniversary at a memorial function held in Rilbong on Friday organised by Ardhendu Chaudhuri Charitable Trust.
Chaudhuri was killed in a chopper crash along with nine others on September 22, 2004. Besides floral tributes, recollections of his contribution by different personalities in city marked the occasion. President of Central Puja Committee, Naba Bhattcharjee said Babluda, as he is fondly remembered, was not a man who used to distribute pots, pans, blankets or money, but he taught people to sustain themselves.
Local headman DS Mawlong said that late Ardhendu was a man who crossed all barriers and reached out to all sections of people.
“He was always with us and even in Dorbar meetings, he had given varied suggestions” the headman said. According to Mawlong, for the construction of Dorbar Shnong building, he had given valuable suggestion besides arranging meeting with a few ministers in Secretariat. The plan was not materialized due to his sudden demise, he added.
The leader of Cantonment Lease Holders Association, BB Chettri remembered that in line with TH Rangad, late Ardhendu had also published accounts of MLA scheme which was also emulated by Manas Chaudhuri when he was a legislator. He recollected that for making a Bhanu Bhakta bust, late Ardhendu promised assistance from his MLA scheme and it was installed with the help of a Manipuri artist.
“Later, when he found that there was no provision under MLA scheme for the project, he paid the cost of bust from his own pocket”, Chettri said.
Working president of Central Puja Committee, Ram Sevak Singh also recalled the contribution of late Ardhendu and termed him as a man who was dedicated to the cause of the poor.
Managing Trustee of Ardhendu Chaudhuri Charitable Trust, Manas Chaudhuri said after the Trust was formed in 2005, he had donated all his allowances and even small pension to the Trust.
Quoting Tagore, Chaudhuri said that a man’s longevity is not known by how many years he lived, but by the works carried out by him.
According to Chaudhuri, the Trust could carry out the legacy of the late leader by providing scholarships to 4058 students, enrolled 200 persons for group insurance, formed 20 self help groups to empower women, distributed 200 sewing machines, released old age pension to 45 persons and initiated free medical treatment to the needy.
Five school buses were also introduced by the Trust which helped in ferrying students to respective schools in time besides easing traffic congestion. Another initiative was the introduction of water carrier to provide water at nominal rate.
Other welfare schemes included providing interest free loan to the entrepreneurs, distribution of rice and other food items to175 BPL families, release of wheel chairs, walker and oxygen cylinders on loan to the needy, cleanup drive along with other local bodies, and 100percent immunization of children.
The chief guest on the occasion, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, PS Dkhar said that it was a privilege to be part of the gathering.
While recalling his association with the late leader, Dkhar said that this is an occasion for the people to take a pledge and follow his examples.
The Deputy Commissioner recalled the assistance provided to him by the late leader for printing materials when the former was a junior officer.
The Deputy Commissioner also praised the Trust for its varied initiatives.
The Trust released financial assistance to several organizations including Lumparing Sports Club, Gitanjali Dance Academy, Centre for hearing impaired children, and ration cards to a large number of BPL families on the occasion.