A bust of Late Dhyanada Charan Sharma, popularly known as Bah Dhan among the indigenous people of the State was unveiled today by cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai.
This was done to recognise the services of different personalities of Shillong for their contribution to the society and in a similar gesture the bust of Sharma was erected at Kench’s Trace in collaboration with the Raid Laban Sports, Social & Cultural Organization.
This is the first bust of an Assamese to be erected in a public place in Shillong in recent times.
Shullai said it was important for the present generation to know about the selfless contributions made by the elders. He emphasized on the moto of secularism and mentioned how late Sharma not only preached but practiced it in true sense.
He said Sharma was involved with all communities of Shillong and initiated in getting the present Civil Hospital land released from the Cantonment Head Quarters by taking it up with former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during one of his official visits to Delhi. He was also one of the initiators of the present Electric Crematorium of Shillong apart from being actively associated with the Laban Namghar, Shillong for over 70 years and was the President for more than 20 years.
Sharma also had active involvement with organizations like Sri Aurobindo Institute of Cultural Centre, the orphanage at Shillong Hindu Mission, Central Puja Committee, Vivekananda Kendra, to name a few till the age of 90.
The South Shillong MLA took personal interest to get the bust constructed in West Bengal (Krishnanagar) by professional sculptures.
Speakers who recollected Sharma’s contributions to society were Air Comdr (Rrd). Iqubal Hussain Hazarika, Dr V. K. Mishra Director, ICAR, Umaim, Shantanu Pujari, Chairman AIDC, Krishna Dasgupta from AIR Shillong and Jayanta Sharma.
