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Chit chat with Bhupenda and Lily Baideu

(Recollecting a President’s time)

2008-augsept-472

This is a trip down the memory     lane about the senior most     Assamese couple in Delhi. It’s been 43 years since they have landed here in 1966. Bhupenda was brought to Delhi by Late Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed when he was appointed Union Cabinet Minister. Bhupenda’s service with Late Ahmed Saheb which was started in Assam in 1958 ended in 1977 with his demise.  Although you can call them partly Australian citizens now, as they have moved to Sydney; every spring they spend their time in Delhi with their younger son Devjyoti, and reconnect with the long list of friends they left behind. I am talking about Bhupendra Nath Barooah and Lily Baideu.

Lily Baideu has been more active and she has long served Assam Association and Uruli in various capacities including Presidentship. I wanted to know how it was like, serving the first couple of the country and how well they connected with the Assamese community of Delhi. I was also curious to know about the President who affixed his signature on the emergency proclamation of 1975, how much of an Assamese he was, and whether he had any compassion for Assam. Bhupenda and Lily Baideu didn’t disappoint me as they opened up a door to another world and time for me.  Here’s a synopsis of my chit chat with them.

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed’s father Dr. Zulnoor Ahmed hailed from Kacharigaon of Titabor Mouza in present day Jorhat district. He was the first Indian to join the IMS (Indian Medical Service) after doing his London MD. He was a good friend of Anando Ram Barooah, the first ICS officer from Assam. Alongwith them was Col. Siba Ram Baruah. All three were staying together. While Zalnoor and Anando Ram cleared their entrance, Siba Ram continued his study in London. Other two friends supported him sending money from India. Anando Ram and Zalnoor were posted in Sibasagar district which was a large tract then.

Bhupenda recounted an incident to me that dates back to Fakhruddin’s father Dr Zulnoor’s time. The Commissioner, a British Officer came on a visit to Sibasagar. A dinner party was hosted in his honour. A separate table was arranged for the young brown sahibs in that party. When they got to know about it, the two young proud officers Anando Ram and Zalnoor decided to boycott the dinner in protest. Getting the wind, other senior officers tried persuading them not to do so. But they did not turn up. They were promptly punished of course. Anando Ram was transferred to East Bengal, and Zalnoor to NWFP (North West Frontier Province).

Anando Ram later died of malaria at a very young age of 39. Zalnoor got married to a Delhi girl, who was from the Loharu family. Their son was Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. He was sent to Cambridge to study Bar at Law. After his return Zalnoor took Fakhruddin to Gauhati and handed him over to Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi, a towering Congress leader. Fakhruddin joined Congress and remained a loyal soldier till his death in office of Presidency. What did he do for Assam!? Regarding this sensitive issue, a lot has been said against him. The leaders from Assam were quite different during those days. They were pan Indian leaders and always thought that parroting about Assam will make them look blinkered and parochial. In fact, Delhi was jokingly said to have been ruled by the Barooahs that time. Mr. Dev Kant Barooah was the Congress President, Mr Bedabrata Barooah was the Minister of State for Industry, Mr Bhupendra Nath Barooah was the Private Secretary to the President, and Brigadier Mani Lal Barooah was the Controller of Hold of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Was Fakhruddin’s Ali Ahmed a party to what happened to Assam today? He was the only Muslim Minister in Bimala Prasad Chalihas’s ministry. It was quite unlikely that a single person could do so much damage to bring in East Pakistanis that time. In fact, the flow of Bengali Muslim settlers started during Syed Shadullah’s tenure. A special train was started from Sylhet to bring in Bengali Muslim settlers under the Grow More Food Campaign. Probably at that time, the problems never showed up, and the real motive was covered up by the crafty leader. Unfortunately for Assam, the politics of vote bank was executed quietly. He then became the caretaker Chief Minister, when Mr Chaliha became very ill. It will be improper to say anything against a man who is no longer amidst us to defend himself. He patronized Syed Abdul Malik, and made Mauzadar of Barpeta Azizur Rehman an MLA.

The problem of illegal immigrants was always there since long. Whenever there was a complaint of Pakistanis entering Assam, police would round up a few people and deport them to the border. The villagers would show the number of thalis they had, and the number of persons rounded off as Pakistanis. Invariably, there would be a hue and cry about Indian nationals being deported as Pakistanis and that would be the end of the exercise. It served no purpose and it was very difficult to identify who was legal and who was illegal, as they all looked similar and spoke the same language. They took full advantage of the confused system and exploited it to the hilt. Perhaps monetary incentive would have helped identification.

In 1975, President was to go on a visit to Indonesia, and he decided to take a Sattriya troupe from Notun Kamalabari Sattra. Mandarins in Delhi advised him to take a renowned classical dancer. Begum Abida Ahmed, the first lady was very firm and declared only a team from Majuli would go. After few screenings, Ram Vijay Bhaona was selected. Mr Hiteswar Saikia was the Cultural Minister and Mr Rudra Barua was the Director, Dept of Culture in Assam at that time. They took keen interest to prepare the team on time. The team eventually went by an Air India flight from Calcutta. It was a pleasant sight to see the cultural troupe dressed in pristine white from head to toe and walk on the tarmac of the Calcutta Airport. Their costumes were sponsored by the Govt. of Assam for that trip to Indonesia.

I got to know from Bhupenda that President used to offer namaz on the Juma day at the Mosque near the Transport Bhawan, adjacent to the Parliament. Incidentally, it also became his final resting place. One Friday afternoon after his namaz, he was on the dining table and it struck him suddenly that ‘bhakats’ will have problems finding the right kind of food in Muslim Indonesia. They would probably have to resort to eating only fruits. He was, however, relieved to know that most of the ‘bhakats’ were non vegetarian and only 2-3 were vegetarian, so food would not be a problem.

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was a saintly person. Once Swami Gyanananda from Rama Krishna Mission sought an appointment and was allotted a slot of 10 minutes. The meeting ended after 1 and half hours. There was a pile up of succeeding visitors. The Swami after the meeting commented “Mr. Barua, thank you very much, I not only met a good man, but a good soul!”

President was a very devoted Congressman as well and enjoyed immense confidence of the Nehru Gandhi family. In 1958 when Indira Gandhi visited Shillong as Congress President she stayed in Ahmed’s house. Muslim league used to put a lot of pressure on him and there used to be demonstrations and provocations before his house. But he remained firm and never wavered from his party allegiance.

He also knew how to be firm and maintain his stand in times of crisis. During the language movement, there were complaints of Bengalis being prosecuted in Assam. Nehru summoned Fakhruddin, who was the caretaker CM in place of Mr Chaliha at that time. Nehru told him that Govt. of India is considering putting Mr Ashok Sen, Union Law Minister in charge of Assam. Fakhruddin replied “Ours is a constitutionally elected government and you cannot do that. Otherwise we’ll resign en bloc and oppose you.”  Nehru relented. He called up Fakhruddin in the evening and commented that he had consulted constitutional experts, and Fakhruddin was right.

Lily baidew was very close to Begum. In fact, many thought she was her Private Secretary. Begum was excellent in floral decorations, and she was an accomplished painter. She was very compassionate and once visited Majuli to see the flood affected people. When asked about her reactions, she said- ‘I am moved to see your sufferings’. It is unfortunate that she earned ill fame as her name got linked to the first martyr of Assam Agitation who died during her filing of nomination from Barpeta. Both of their sons are apolitical. Mr Badar Durrez  Ahmed is a Judge with Delhi High Court and the other Dr. Pervez Ali Ahmed, a CEO with Max Healthcare. They are proud to identify themselves as 5th generation Assamese.

Lily Baidew used to organize parties for the visiting Presidents’ wives. Once during the Hungarian President’s visit a fashion show of traditional Assamese costumes was organized. Famous mountaineer Atanu Prasad Barua’s wife Prarthana was a newly married bride then and she was put on the ramp, set up by the poolside, to present Assamese Muga and Pat silk costume.

Rashtrapati Bhawan has two halls for shows. An Assamese magician M Hussein’s show was organized once to entertain the President’s guests. On another occasion an Assamese drama ‘Fatima Bibir Ghor’ was staged in the Hall No. 1, which is exclusively for the President and his close officials. In fact, one fine actress found her life partner during that trip in Delhi.

Assam Association, Delhi was like a close knit family in those days. It had about 150 members and the current Chief Minister of Assam, Mr. Tarun Gogoi was the President then. Once he went to collect donation and also to invite the President for Magh Bihu function. President suggested to Mr. Gogoi that the Bihu function could be held inside the Presidential estate by the pool side. Obviously such a golden opportunity was grabbed quickly. Lily Baidew was the Sports Secretary and her job was to organize a Sports event, inviting students from Delhi University. President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was the Chief Guest of the function. Mr. Gogoi told Lily baidew to take charge of food preparations for the President at home and leave the sports event to someone else. She prepared Caramel Custard, Baked Fish and Sour fish curry. President’s food tester allowed it to be served to the President without him checking first.

Lily Baideu and Bhupenda have now migrated to Australia, to be with their eldest son, Ronjyoti. The quintessential socialite, there too she is engaged in social service. She has taken a 3 months training as well in order to serve old age homes, destitute shelters and orphanages better.

We wish them good health and a long happy life!

Manoj Kumar Das, New Delhi