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Deuta (Dad) - and those Sunshine days that we lived



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4th January and a lovely joyful morning and I talked to my parents as usual and started my day with zeal. After a few hours, we got a call that Deuta is no more. With Agony and disbelief, I froze and flew to my home state, and part of me probably froze for the rest of my life.
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Don't recall the age, but since I could remember I saw Deuta's inseparable association with radio. Sometimes a flute, Ravi Shankar, Zakir Hussain, sometimes the unknown song on Bangladeshi channel, sometimes BBC or voice of America, known unknown songs that woke us up from Deuta's radio. Our Sundays were filled with music, how we enjoyed Bhupen Hazarika on Sundays. Probably that developed my ear for music and passion for poetry and news for Bhaiti(Brother). Lyrics and fragments of those songs still chimes in me. A prolific writer and an author of 15 published books, Deuta was our best friend, philosopher, and guide.   As a 90s kid, we didn't have a generator in our homes and electricity was so unpredictable and those days television was the no 1 entertainment for us. Since electricity was so unpredictable we often missed watching daily soaps. And Deuta had a solution for it, since he was a born storyteller he came up with his own stories or serials, sometimes-popular stories from Assamese fables or folktales, Maupassant to Tolstoi and made it even more authentic by adding a must-have commercial break. And whenever the electricity blessed upon us we used to Enjoy TV soaps with Deuta wrapping me inside an eri sadar. Ah, I still feel that warmth and comfort in me.
More than going on vacations our trips were mostly to our aunts and uncles and book fairs. We built one big extended family with all our cousins, uncles and aunts. We collected books with Deuta and developed the habit of reading. Our library in Assam is witness to all his vast and precious collection.
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It has been 18 years since I moved from Assam to Connecticut. I visit every other year if not every year. The phone then skype and now WhatsApp is the medium I connect with my family almost every day. Deuta was intoxicating with life. Talking to Deuta turned mundane into an amazing and significant day. Over the phone, his delish description of my Mother's everyday food got transported into my tastebud, whether the sour and light quintessential Assamese fish curry or the crunch of crispy pakora or rainy days hot chicken soup. A vivid description of changing season whether the seasonal flowers foxtail in spring or night jasmine in Autumn, through his words Deuta transmitted all the fragrance, sound, song, taste even seasons from Assam to Connecticut.
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A strict disciplinarian and a man of the method, he had the heart of a child. One who knew how to be happy in other's happiness. Opened a night school for tea garden workers, co-founded the first girl's college in our city and a talent development organization for kids and teens in the early 90s. Words just merely justify his contribution. In spite of all, he was the best human being who enhanced and enriched our life with good memories and experiences that created a path of positivity and inspiration and a little world of love and compassion. Who found joys in small things, watching a sunset while on the way back home or sighting a new bird in the yard. Deuta, who waited for me outside my examination hall, had a drop of tear in his brown eyes eagerly waiting outside the airport, coming back home often bringing spicy samosas for us, never forgot to bring gifts for Ma on every anniversary for last 40 years.
A man on dialysis for the past one year, to be precise 3 times a day, loved the life to the fullest with an undying hope and ever-smiling face left myriad of memory to treasure in our lives. Rest in peace Deuta.

         


Comments

  1. I lost both of my parents in the 2000's and I miss them every day. I can see the love and respect you had for your Deuta and I am sure he will be missed.

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  2. He sounded like a great guy. I am so sorry that he's gone. It's always sad when a family member passes.

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  3. Aw I am so sorry that you don't have your Dad around anymore - I can't imagine what that must feel like. It is hear wrenching losing a family member.

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  4. He sounded like an amazing person with an impressive eye for detail. It's really sweet that he was always able to describe things with such vivid imagery.

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  5. Sorry for your loss. He really does sound like such an amazing person.

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  6. I am terribly sorry for the loss of your dad. I know that feeling all too well. Your dad sounds like an extraordinary man. It's not easy losing a parent.

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  7. I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your father. It is so difficult to lose a parent, and he sounds like a wonderful person.

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  8. My heart aches for you and I cannot imagine the hurt you feel daily. All you can truly do is remember the wonderful times you had with him :)

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  9. I'm so sorry for your loss! He sounds like an amazing man. Sending you lots of love and healing vibes.

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  10. Sounds like a wonderful man. I'm sorry for your loss and enjoyed reading a bit about him. Sending you big hugs!

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  11. He was such a wonderful and amazing man! I could feel the love you have for him and I am sure he will be forever in your heart. I am so sorry for your loss.

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  12. So sorry for your loss. He sounds like a great man!

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  13. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. I have not been close with mine in so long but want you to know that this makes me want to reach out.

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  14. I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. Sounds like he was a wonderful man. I really enjoyed reading through your post too.

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  15. This is such a sweet, heartfelt post. Thanks for sharing so much about your dad. I miss my dad too. It's so difficult to lose a loved one.

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  16. I'm so sorry about your loss. I can feel the pain without a father in life, sounds he was a good guy.

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  17. Sorry for your loss, I lost both my parents, my dad passed away 2008 December. Yes memories of them make our life forward. Sure your dad is watching you from Heaven.

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  18. So sorry for your loss. He sounds like a wonderful man. Thanks for sharing your personal story,.

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  19. It is hard losing a parent. My dad passed away last year and it has been tough

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  20. It is never easy to share such difficult moments, but doing it means paying homage to the life of the lost person. RIP a great man.

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  21. Losing a parent is never easy. I am sorry for your loss. sending good vibes your way

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  22. I am so sorry for your loss. Having lost two very special people to me in 2019, I can empathise. Take your time grieving. Do what ever you need to do.

    My sincerest condolences.

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  23. I am so sorry for your loss. Your Deuta sounds like an amazing man who did so many things to help your community and he loved you well.

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  24. I am so incredibly sorry for your loss, it sounds like he was such an amazing man. Keeping your family in my thoughts.

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  25. I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. He sounds like such an incredible person who brought such joy to you and your family. I will keep your family in my thoughts.

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  26. I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my Dad when I was 24 years old and I still miss him.

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  27. Such a sad story, I'm sorry for your loss. I can't even imagine what must be like for you.

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  28. So so sorry for your loss, he sounds like a amazing person.

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  29. I cannot stop my tears while reading this. I am so sorry for your what happened. Nothing is more painful than losing a family member.

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  31. Im so sorry to know about your dad, I hope he finds peace, he sounds amazing

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  32. I am so sorry to learn about the loss of your father. I have not been near mine in so long however I need you to realize that this makes me need to connect.
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