New Delhi, 15 December (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief on Monday over the death of Prafulla Govinda Baruah, the Padma Shri-awarded editor and managing director of The Assam Tribune—Northeast India's oldest English daily since 1939—who succumbed to age-related ailments at Guwahati's Apollo Hospital late Sunday evening at age 93.

In twin posts on X in English and Assamese, Modi hailed Baruah's enduring contributions to media, his zeal for advancing Assam's development, and efforts to spotlight the state's vibrant culture, extending condolences to his wife, two daughters, family, and admirers with prayers of Om Shanti.

A towering figure in Assamese journalism since joining the industry in 1962, rising to managing director in 1966 and editor from 1997, Baruah—affectionately known as PG Baruah—served as Chairman Emeritus of the Assam Tribune Group, blending professional excellence with socio-cultural engagement in organisations, amateur theatre, and cancer awareness via honours from Asam Sahiya Sabha and Dr B. Borooah Cancer Institute. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma echoed the sentiment, terming him a towering figure in Assam’s journalistic landscape, as tributes poured in for the visionary whose cremation was anticipated in Guwahati later Monday.

Baruah's legacy, rooted in sustaining a flagship publication through turbulent decades, underscores his role in fostering Northeast media's growth and regional pride, leaving an indelible mark on Assam's intellectual and cultural fabric.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar