Editorial

It has been fifty years since our time in AEC ended, and we each took to
our own journeys in life. We’ve been through our own moments, and momentous
experiences, and unfortunately lost contact with one another as the tightly knit
bonds we had formed with each other in our years in college began to fray with
time.
Now, with much effort, planning, and the collective help of several of our
own, we are able to gather together under the same roof once again. This is a
significant event that will be well-remembered and fondly held by many of us,
and in order to encapsulate this time together, and our time in AEC, the idea of
compiling a Souvenir was put forward, and I was entrusted with the responsibility
of seeing it through.
I must admit that it was not the easiest of jobs to contact, and gather all the
memories, photographs, and words of fond remembrances into this one piece of
literature–in fact, I had to needle quite a few of you to send in your pieces of
college experiences (you know who you are), but I hope I have done it justice,
and I hope that you enjoy walking down this memory lane as much as I have.
In this booklet, you will find articles of reminiscences that have been
shared by some very talented and entertaining writers among us, photographs of
a few memories of our time in AEC, another section of photographs of our fellow
classmates of their past and of them now (with contact information so that we
will no longer lose touch as we once did), and finally a section in memoriam of
those of us who are no longer with us today.
I hope that this Souvenir will take you on a journey of myriad emotions
and nostalgia, and help us all come together as a whole once again.

(Lakhya Kumar Saikia)

01-12-2021
 In Remembrance

Abhay Kr. Das Adhar Ch. Pathak

Ajit Bhuyan Anil Das

Billal Haque Chakradhar Goswami

Dilip Choudhury Jogen Buragohain

1
 Jogesh Ch. Bora Kabita Changkakati

Mukibur Rahman Muzibur Rahman

Narayan Dutta Parimal Karmakar

Pradip Kumar Dutta Prakash Jain

Pratul Barua Sailen Bora

2
 Satya Brata Barua Sisir Goswami

Tapan Majumder Tridip Kotoky

Asish Chanda Bhupen Sarma (Deha)

Chitta Ranjan Deka Chunilal Das

Himadri Dutta Jalaluddin Barbhuyan

Jayanta Adhakari Jayanta Dutta Chaudhury

Jyoti Ranjan Sinha Kumaresh Ghosh

Mrinal Kanti Bhattacharjee Md. Sohrab Ali

Nirmal Das Pritishekhar Sanyal

Ranjit Choudhury Sadhan Paulchoudhury

Samindra Dutta Samsul Islam

Sarbananda Bora Sankar Mukharjee

Subhash Ghosh Subhas Saikia

Surender Kr. Ambarder Sushovan Das

Swaraj Deb

3
An Incident Which
Shaped My Life
Frankly speaking, I could not
recollect any memorable incident
which happened in my student life in
AEC during 1966-72. But because of
much persuasion by our classmate
and good friend, Lakhya, who is
incidentally looking after the
compilation of the write ups
submitted / to be submitted by the
batch mates for the reunion, I had to
retrieve some thing from my hard
disc (memory) and here is a short
account of the happening which gave
shape to my career.
During the B.E. (Civil) final year
exam of '72, I was writing my paper
on Advanced Structural Engineering.
I had to select and solve four out of
six problems. Time allowed was four
hours. Total marks 100, pass mark:
40. Dr. Nirmal Kumar Chaudhury,
HoD, Civil engineering who used to
teach the subject was in the exam hall
as invigilator.
I solved one problem and started
attempting the second one. Got stuck
at one point and could not proceed
further. Dr. Chaudhury came and
stood beside me and gave me a stern
look for not being able to solve the
problem because of a trifle point
4
Bijay Agarwala
where I got stuck, and reminded me
that time is running out for me to
solve the rest of the two problems.
The matter was that I forgot the value
of factorial 1 and so could not
proceed further though I knew the
steps to solve it. I was his pet pupil.
Because of his stern look, the
memory bulb lit up in my brain and I
started proceeding with the solution
because the value of the term which
was zero, I could recall. Dr
Chaudhury came by again after
sometime and stood beside me to
confirm if I could solve the problem.
Having been satisfied he smiled and
went away.
That day, I realised about the bond
between teacher and pupil, and why
the disciples offer Puja pay respect to
their Gurus. On Guru Purnima
disciples bow down to their Gurus
chanting the Sloka:
"गरु
ु र्ब्रह्मा ग्ररु
ु र्वरष्ुःु गरु
ु र्दे वो महे श्वरुः।
गुरुुः साक्षात ् परं र्ब्ह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमुः।।"
The incident is still fresh in my
memory because it gave shape to my
future career. Because of some
accident in 1970 just before 4th Yr.
Annual Examination, I broke my arm
and had to drop the entire
examination, and thus lost one
valuable year of my career. So,
failing in the final year class Exam
'72 and losing one more year would
have been a big disaster.
I can say, Dr Chaudhury is my
mentor who did give shape to my
5
career. His stern look was a blessing
in disguise which I will cherish till
my last breath. Whatever I could
achieve in my life and whatever I am
now, I most humbly dedicate
everything to my mentor Dr. Nirmal
Kumar Chaudhury. ईस सद्गरुु को सत
सत प्र्ाम.
 My AEC Days (1966-72)
I belonged to an economically
insolvent family. My elder brother
just got through ACS and was posted
at Bihupuria with a monthly income
of Rs 250.00. He was the only
earning member in our family of
four; staying in two places, Silchar
and Bihupuria. His dream for me was
to study B.Com in a local college and
do some business for livelihood.
By then, along with my friends, I
appeared (just for fun!) in the
Engineering Entrance exam and
eventually came out successful.
Then, I was perplexed as to what to
do? My friends were planning to go
to Gauhati (now Guwahati) for
admission and due to the financial
constraints; I was trying for
admission in a local college in
Silchar. By that time, I had received
an amount of Rs 750.00 against the
National Loan Scholarship which I
applied for earlier. It was a God-sent!
With that money, I travelled with my
friends to Gauhati and got admission.
This happened without the
knowledge of my guardian (elder
brother), living in Bihupuria. Getting
to know about that audacious action
of mine, he stopped talking to me for
6
Subhash Choudhury (E.E)
many years from then. My first year
was easy going. My knowledge of
PU had helped me to get the ‘all
clear’! The real struggle started in the
second year and continued till the
final year. Earning money to support
my studies, the status of being non-
collegiate, compartmental in one or
more subjects, and losing a year as
well, were very common in my AEC
days. The scene was that I could not
always fulfil my own target of 35
(pass marks) & 40 (Average) in the
marks-sheet. Marks-sheets for many
are their prized possession; however,
for me it had carried NO value. On
receipt of the final year’s report, I
made a bonfire out of all marks-
sheets. I also did not obtain the Final
Certificate from the University, still!
My only prized possession then was
the provisional pass certificate issued
by the college with the signature of
the Principal, Dr. S. D. Gogoi, and
that was enough to manage the only
two interviews in my life that I have
appeared for and cleared.
With my ‘below satisfactory
performance’, I could sail through
and complete my prestigious B.E.
because of some of my classmates
(and seniors), with whom I spent
days and sleepless nights, who I am
forever grateful to. In that juncture,
completing B.E. wasn’t simple.
Many of my friends either struggled
or had to quit engineering and study
in general college. I become nostalgic
7
about my favourite room no 25 in
hostel no 3 where I spent 6 glorious
years. Other roommates were 1965
batch Kalyan Choudhury and Ashim
Debroy; two very meritorious
students of Mech Engg.
 My Sweet Memoirs in my
Engineering College
1966 Entry Batch
An unforgettable year in my life -
choosing an education I was
dreaming to pursue becomes a
reality.
A first timer into hostel life.
5 years of my life in the college
transformed me to what I am today. I
continue to believe I did receive
quality education in my life.
I realized quite early when I went to
USA in 1973 on State Govt.
Scholarship pursuing MS in Paper
Science & Engineering in one of the
top ranking colleges in the field there
and could easily connect myself at
the same knowledge level if not
better with my fellow classmates
there. I could become the topper in
the first semester itself.
I felt proud of the quality education I
received at AEC. I am proud of being
an AEC-ian.
I continue to believe the first 2 years
of our 5-year integrated course has
been very formative, and set up the
general engineering knowledge base
that I practised in my professional life
of 50 years.
8
Niranjan Saha
Our professor mentors in Chemical
Engineering Dr. Sharma, Prof. Patra,
Prof. Raghabendra Choudhury, Prof.
Rama Rao and all others were so
nice, so helpful, and so approachable
to us that even without buying one
book, I could complete my
engineering degree. They were
extremely gracious in supporting us
in every way.
Hostel life was full of fun. Always
looked for Sunday Dinners for
sumptuous meals. Could never forget
Chintamoni who used to fetch us
milk, and evening snacks daily for
some paltry amount. Occasionally
our friends in other hostels used to
invite us for Adda.
An occasional visit to Guwahati
Cinema Halls was a must those days.
We used to buy tickets in rotation for
a few of us. What fun we had!
How can we forget about occasional
evening walks along with friends
near University Girls Hostel!
I remember every year before
commencement of exams, a few of us
would go to Kamakhya Mandir to
seek Maa's Blessings. Not much of
pocket money and therefore we
would climb up the hill. Maa keeps
blessing us at all times.
Over last 40 years I have been
working with Birla Group in their
Paper manufacturing business and
managed the group's paper business
in India and abroad. It has been a very
exciting and satisfying journey for
me. I enjoyed my professional life
very well.
In connection with my professional
work, I had the pleasure of travelling
9
and working in different parts of the
globe.
My wife and I live in Salt Lake,
Kolkata and we have a son Satrajit,
who lives in Dallas, USA and are
blessed with two granddaughters.
Satrajit is well placed and is a Partner
with Deloitte & Touche, USA.
I am looking forward to meeting all
of you in our Reunion on 1st Dec
2021.
 কলেজৰ সেই দিনল োৰ
১৯৬৬ চনৰ জানুৱাৰীত অসমৰ অভিযাভিক
মহাভিদ্যালয়ৰ নাম িভতিৰ িাবি আবিদ্ন পত্ৰ‌
পূ ৰণ কভৰ পভিয়াই উচ্চতৰ মাধ্যভমক পৰীক্ষাৰ
িাবি প্ৰস্তুভত চলাও। ২৫মাচিৰ পৰা পৰীক্ষা
আৰম্ভ হহ িহাগ ভিহুৰ আবগ আবগ প্ৰপ্ৰভিবকল
পৰীক্ষা প্ৰেষ হহভিল। প্ৰম মাহৰ ভিতৰত পৰীক্ষাৰ
ফলাফল ওলাইভিল। জুনৰ ১ আৰু ২ তাভৰবে
কটন কবলজৰ প্ৰপ্ৰক্ষাগৃ হত নাম িভতিৰ িাবি
িাচভন পৰীক্ষা অনুভিত কৰা হহভিল। জুলাই
মাহৰ আৰম্ভভণবত ফলাফল প্ৰ াষণা কৰা হহভিল
আৰু জুলাই মাহৰ ১৪ ১৫ ১৬ তাভৰবে অসম
অভিযাভিক মহাভিদ্যালয়ত নামিভতি কৰা
হহভিল। মই ১৫ জুলাইত নাম িভতি কভৰভিবলাোঁ।
তাৰ ভপিত ৩১জুলাইত কবলজৰ প্ৰহাবেলত িভতি
হহভিবলা। প্ৰসই ভদ্না প্ৰতজপু ৰৰ পৰা িািত
গুৱাহাটী হল হগ মািবোৱাৰ পৰা এেন প্ৰটক্সী
হল মই, অভনল দ্াস আৰু প্ৰবমাদ্ পািক
জালু কিাৰীলল হগ েিৰ কভৰ গম পাবলাোঁ প্ৰয
অভনবল ৩ নম্বৰ প্ৰহাবেলত, মই আৰু প্ৰবমাদ্
পািবক ১নম্বৰ প্ৰহাবেলত ভচট পাইবিাোঁ।
প্ৰহাবেলত প্ৰসাোঁমাওবতই ভচনাভক পৰ্ব্িৰ নামত
ভকবয়ইিা কভৰি িু ভল ভচন্তা কভৰ আভিবলাোঁ ।
ভকন্তু এবকা নহ'ল।িাত োই উভি দ্হটা মান
10
িোল োিৰ উপোধ্যোয়
িজাত শুিলল লওবত প্ৰবমাদ্ক কবলাবয প্ৰথম
ভদ্না িাভিবলা। প্ৰতভতয়াই আমাৰ প্ৰকািাৰ দ্জিাত
িাভহৰৰ পৰা ঢভকওৱাৰ েব্দ শুভনবলা । ভকিু
সময়ৰ ভপিত মই দ্জিা প্ৰোলাত এজন প্ৰজযি
িাত্ৰই ভচনাকী হি নালাবগ প্ৰনভক িু ভল দ্ম ভদ্বল।
আমাৰ সকবলা নতুন িাত্ৰক িাত্ৰািাসৰ
পভটিবকাত জমা কভৰ ভচনাভক পিি আৰম্ভ কবৰ ।
২০-২২ জনমান প্ৰজযি আিাভসবয় নানা ধ্ৰণৰ
অঙ্গী িঙ্গীবৰ আমাক নাভচিলল কবল নহবল পানী
ঢাভলি ।আভম চাভৰজবন িল প্ৰেন্স ভদ্বলাোঁ। তাৰ
ভপিত ভিভিন্ন জবন নানা ধ্ৰণৰ প্ৰশ্ন কভৰ ফুভতি
কভৰ প্ৰেষত “জালু কিাৰী যমপু ৰী”‌‌
“জালু কিাৰীৰ আভমবয়ই ৰজা”‌আভদ্ প্ৰলাগান
ভদ্য়াই ৰাস্তাত মাচিপাে কৰাওবত িাত্ৰািাসৰ
অধ্ীক্ষক ওলাই অহাত প্ৰজযি আৱাভসসকল
পলাই পত্তং ভদ্বল।
ভপিভদ্নাৰ পৰা ক্লাচ আৰম্ভ হ'ল। প্ৰতভতয়া
অসম অভিযাভিক মহাভিদ্যালয়ত প্ৰবতযক িিবৰ
িবিবৰকীয়া পৰীক্ষা হয়। মাজত প্ৰকাবনা িমহীয়া
িা প্ৰেণী পৰীক্ষা অনুভিত নলহভিল।
কবলজত প্ৰেলা ধ্ু লাৰ িাবি সকবলা সু ভিধ্া
আভিল। ভিবকট, ফুটিল, ল’ন প্ৰটভনি, প্ৰটিু ল
প্ৰটভনি, প্ৰিটভমণ্টন, হকী ইতযাভদ্ ।কমন ৰুমত মই সৰুবৰ পৰা তাচপাতৰ প্ৰেলত পালকত
প্ৰটিু ল প্ৰটভনি িেি দ্ু েন মান আভিল। ব্ৰীজ(তাচ) আভিবলাোঁ । কবলজত তৃতীয় িষিৰ পৰা প্ৰাবয়ই
প্ৰেলাৰ সু বযাগ পাইভিল। আমাৰ কবলজৰ ভফচ, ফ্লাচ, িািাৰ, ৰাভম আভদ্ প্ৰেভলভিবলা ।
অধ্যক্ষ গলগ চাৰ, পদ্মাৱতী চাৰ, দ্ত্ত প্ৰচৌধ্ু ৰী চাবৰ মবয় িহুতবক তাচপাতৰ প্ৰেলৰ িক্ত িনাবলা।
ব্ৰীজ আৰু প্ৰটিু ল প্ৰটভনি প্ৰেলা প্ৰদ্ভেবিাোঁ। প্ৰটিু ল
প্ৰবতযক িাত্ৰািাসত িাভষিক পৰীক্ষাৰ আবগ
প্ৰটভনিত েঙ্কৰ দ্ত্ত লহকৰ, নয়ন েমিা ভিকাে
আবগ অভন্তম িষিৰ িাত্ৰৰ িাবি ভিদ্ায়ী প্ৰিাজ
প্ৰিাস আভদ্ প্ৰয় গুৱাহাটী ভিশ্বভিদ্যালয়ৰ
ভদ্য়া হহভিল । আমাৰ অভন্তম িষিৰ পৰীক্ষাৰ
আন্তঃকবলজ িীডা সমাবৰাহত প্ৰচভিয়নভশ্বপ
আগত প্ৰহাৱা প্ৰিাজ-িাত জুনৰ মাজিাগত
অজিন কভৰভিল। কবলজৰ ভিবকট দ্বল এিাৰ
হহভিল। তাৰভপিত ভকিা গণ্ডবগালৰ িাবি
যতীন েমিাৰ প্ৰনতৃত্বত আন্তঃকবলজ
পৰীক্ষা প্ৰায় দ্ু মাহ ভপিু ৱাই গ’ল। ফাইবনল
প্ৰভতবযাভগতাত জয়ী হহভিল।
পৰীক্ষা ভদ্য়াৰ পািত প্ৰবজিৰ প্ৰথভিচৰ কাম
২৫জানুৱাৰী কবলজৰ প্ৰভতস্থা ভদ্িস । প্ৰসই প্ৰেষ কভৰ জমা ভদ্ওবত দ্ূ গিাপূ জাৰ অেমী
ভদ্না কবলজত প্ৰমলা (প্ৰফট)পতা হহভিল। এটা পাবললগ। অেমীৰ ভদ্না পু ৱা আি িজাত মই,
িিৰ আভম ৬/৭জবন ভমভল “হাউচী”‌ প্ৰেলা প্ৰজযাভত প্ৰচভতয়া, অভনল িৰা, ইবেশ্বৰ েৰ্ম্িা
পাভতভিবলা। কলযাণ প্ৰসন আমাতলক এিিৰ
আভদ্ হগ পদ্মনাথ িৰা চাৰৰ হাতত ইবলভিিৰ
কভনি । িৰ ধ্ু নীয়া ভগটাৰ িজাইভিল। আমাৰ
প্ৰবজিৰ কভপ জমা ভদ্বলা।
কবলজ সপ্তাহত ৰাভত সঙ্গীত সভিয়াত
মই আগভদ্নাই ভিচনা পত্ৰ িাভি হথভিবলা। মই
সাংস্কৃভতক অনুিানত দ্ু িাৰ িূবপন হাজভৰকা,
আৰু প্ৰবমাদ্ পািবক মািবোৱাৰ পৰা এেন
জয়ন্ত হাজভৰকা, প্ৰদ্াস্ত হভিিু ৰ ৰহমান, েবগন
প্ৰটক্সী হল জালু কিাৰীক িাই িাই ভদ্, পল্টন
মহন্তৰ, দ্বীবপন িৰুৱা, ৰবমন িৰুৱা, অভনমা
িজাৰত“ৰাভজযকপভৰিহণভনগমৰ”িািত উভি,
প্ৰচৌধ্ু ৰী, পাহাৰী েইকীয়া আভদ্বয় অভতভথ ভেল্পী
ৰৰ ল’ৰা ৰলল ু ভৰ আভহবলাোঁ
ভহচাবি অংেগ্ৰহণ কভৰভিল।

11
Reminiscing my Time
in AEC
Philosophically speaking, there is no
denying we have now reached the
twilight zone in the journey of our
life, leaving behind the prime. Five
decades since parting company with
AEC, the enthralling news of our
Golden Jubilee Reunion has instantly
rekindled emotional reflections on
my bygone days in the Jalukbari
campus. A rewinding down the
memory lane has recalled long-
forgotten nostalgias of my student
days in AEC which laid the
foundation of my engineering career,
although elevated later by my higher
studies in Roorkee along with
academic visits to institutes abroad.
I reminisce the day when I first
crossed over the threshold into the
grand old building of Assam
Engineering College as a new entrant
to the engineering degree course.
That was the stepping stone in pursuit
of my dream to turn out to be an
Engineer. In the hostel, I shared my
room with two other freshers. In the
first evening we were asked to
assemble in the hostel lobby for
‘Ragging’ which turned out to be a
friendly interactive affair with our
seniors, belying our earlier fears.
12
Dr. Nayan Sharma
Initially, the hostel mess food was
fairly interesting as it tasted rather
dissimilar from what had been my
home food. But later the food tasted
quite drab as it became routinely the
same always. However, one food
item of mess cuisine which I never
failed to relish was Axomia ‘aloo
pitika’ revealing a unique flavour
enriched with yummy ingredients of
meticulously mashed boiled potatoes
intermixed with onion and ginger
slices, chopped pieces of green
chilies, few coriander leaves for taste,
pinch of salt and dash of mustard oil.
The aroma of ‘aloo pitika’ was then
further embellished by mixing with
lemon juice of famed ‘Axomia
Nemu’ and sometimes with traces of
traditional ‘Axomia Khorisa’. This
detail of my specific food preference
was known well to the ‘fatherly
Borthakur’ i.e., the mess Head Cook
who took a liking for me and used to
serve some extra helping of ‘Aloo
Pitika’ to me whenever it was in the
mess menu.
Later in 2013, I was invited to AEC
to deliver the Dr Saila Dhar Gogoi
Memorial Lecture in memory of the
eminent college Principal of our time.
After the Lecture was over, I went for
lunch in the mess when to my delight,
my preferred item ‘aloo pitika’ was
also there on the plate. But to my
disappointment, I couldn’t find in it
the same essence of ‘aloo pitika’ taste
of my time, as its delicious old
flavour was sorely missing.
Apparently, the old Head Cook
‘Borthakur’ of my time had gone
long past, not only from the mess but
maybe from this world too. I could
realize that it is the culinary skill of
the hand of the maker that can brand
the excellence of the end-product,
even though the recipe and
ingredients may be the same. The
implied moral I could perceive from
this very simple case was that
intrinsic skill is a critical
precondition for accomplishment of
optimum worth in any creative
endeavour – big or small.
During my college days in AEC, I
became deeply riveted to the game of
Table Tennis which afforded me
several instances to play for my home
state Assam and Gauhati University
in National TT Championships and
Inter ‘Varsity TT Tournaments.
But the unforgettable memory that I
always treasure had been playing for
my AEC team in the Inter College TT
Tournaments. The kind of passionate
support articulated by the crescendo
of loud cheering from my fellow
AECIANs which reverberated in the
playing arena of Gauhati University
had been simply unparalleled. That
13
used to work as a big morale booster
for the AEC team in performing at
the peak form which unfailingly
overwhelmed tough contenders by
always winning Inter College TT
Titles in my time. That was the kind
of unique solidarity of AECIANs of
my time through thick and thin which
I cherish to this day.
In hindsight, I humbly recall the
splendid efforts by the highly
qualified outstanding professors of
AEC of our time who imparted us the
best possible engineering education
in spite of being inhibited with
requisite infrastructure and amenities
like well-equipped labs, advanced
computing systems, well-stocked
library facilities, travel funding for
international research collaboration
etc. as AEC was beset with fund
limitations and administrative
impedance. However, all these were
then available to professors of top
Indian institutions like IITs at world-
class level, even though our own
AEC professors namely Late Dr, S.D.
Gogoi, Dr. Nirmal Kumar
Choudhury, Late Dr. Padma Kanta
Bora, Dr. Hiranya Das, Late Dr.
Madan Mohan Das etc. were no less
talented and accomplished. Amongst
those highly esteemed and talented
professors of my time in AEC, there
was a special one who played an
affirmative role in radically changing
the course of my career in pitch
forking me from a professional
engineer in an Assam Govt. Dept. to
a professor in the renowned IIT dams, hydraulic structures, and river
Roorkee of 175 years legacy. To be engineering techniques in India as
very honest that seemed quite well as abroad. That way I could
unachievable for me then, as it was serve my profession as well as offer
apparently much beyond my my humble service to the society at
confidence level and poise at that large with the proven latest cost-
point of time. efficient solutions. For all that, I
never forget to bow my head with a
Now in retrospect, I appreciatively
sense of humbleness and modesty to
remember my revered
my Alma Mater AEC for first making
Professor Late Dr. Padma Kanta Bora me an Engineer.
Sir of AEC for his mentoring, support
With the deepest sense of
and inspiring words of advice which
somberness, I do treasure the
inculcated tons of self-confidence in
memory of the Late Dr. Padma Bora
me for sidestepping my sense of
Sir for his mentorship at a very
diffidence. This contributed in no
decisive turning point in the path of
small measure to my ultimate
my career. Last but not the least, I
selection for a faculty position in
most solemnly remember our many
Roorkee on the face of very stiff open
close and dear batch mates who left
competition. With an utmost sense of
us forever from the cares of this
humility, I may share here that my
material world for the Eternity.
fortuitous induction in IIT Roorkee
Surely, we all will very intensely
opened up umpteen avenues for me in
miss their physical presence in the
India and abroad assisted by my
forthcoming Golden Jubilee Reunion
single-minded perseverance and
with a very tearful and heavy heart,
sustained hard work to hone my
but will take solace as they have
engineering skills. Being on the
returned back to the lap of the
faculty of IIT Roorkee, I could secure
Divinity to be in a state of sublime
ample opportunities for application
bliss.
of modern technological advances on

14
Assam Engineering
College Memories
Namaskar Batch mates, here are a
few of my memories of AEC
AEC means a lot to me. Every time I
think back, I get rather emotional.
Some of the best years of my life
were at AEC. And some of my
nearest friendships were developed
there. Many of them are no more.
You will not believe it , but my tryst
with destiny in the Northeast of India
had begun when I was a 5 Month old
boy in Shillong where my father was
posted and my brother John was born
in 1949 Oct 04 staying for 2 years &
1 Month in Shillong. Thereafter it
was to be a series of encounters
(pleasant of course) with the east
starting with 3 years in Imphal , my
1966 batch AEC tenure lasting 6
years & 1 Month in Guwahati, then,
coincidently again in the East with
my first posting after joining the IAF
lasting 4 years in Guwahati, back
again in the East after almost 18 &
half years with a posting to IAF
Kumbhigram lasting 1 year & 8
Months . Making it a total of 16 years
& 10 Months in the Northeast.
What is unique about my stay in AEC
though was my longest stay
15
Joseph Fernandez
anywhere in the east and the fact that
it was the first time that I started
living away from home and was on
my own. Travelling alone by train
during the summer vacations very
long distances lasting 5 days was part
of it (my home shifted from Imphal
to Calicut where my father was
posted almost at the same time as I
had taken admission to AEC). The
question arises as to how did I get to
being here in the first place as I was a
person from the far away south -
“what's he doing in an engineering
college in Guwahati''. My father’s
posting to Imphal from Delhi as a
Govt servant working for AIR(All
India Radio) is the answer. In Imphal
I did SSLC as a private candidate
followed by Pre Univ. in DM
College. All this while my partner
was Jayanta Dutta Choudhury (Joy)
when we appeared for the entrance
test to Assam Engineering College
together and were selected. We
grabbed the opportunity and aborted
the Physics Honours Course which
we were on and headed for Guwahati
via Kohima and Dimapur.
Together, as Joy and I headed for
AEC in 1966 and while walking to
the College, we happened to meet
Somnath Choudhry on the road. In
those initial few months we also met
Sisir Goswami, Himadri Dutt and
Prabir Bora, and the rest of you. In
the 1966 batch
I ultimately had to spend an extra
year in college. It is this experience at
AEC that I am working on to cobble
together some of my memorable
experiences.
Subsequently, in 1968 Aug when my
father was posted out of Calicut to
Trivandrum, home again shifted. It
took me a good five days to reach
home - and this journey up and down
is part of my experience at AEC.
AEC was a second home to me .- to
mention the deep friendships I
developed there. Hostel No 2 was
where I stayed; the trips to College,
the cook house with the head cook
Sharma, and the friends
accompanying me were very
memorable. Sisir would sometimes
pick up only the fish in the bowl- and
that was his meal. I would request for
roasted chillies, which were always
provided. Without the Cookhouse
and Head cook Sharma and his team
we would not have survived.
We walked to the classes together; I
don't remember the lecturers, and the
occasions, but do remember the trips
to Kamakhya before the final exams!
I even took part in a One Act Play.
With Sisir as the lead actor & I played
16
a small part as a chaprasi. Sisir’s
father used to sign the Bank Draft
which would come every month from
home. Himadri Dutt was always with
his Guitar.
It was in Guwahati that I developed
as a Hockey Player. I captained the
team and ultimately came out of
College being awarded a College
Blue. Amal Sharma, I do remember
you and that incident when I was hit
on the face by a cricket ball. All my
fault- I really was not a cricket player
and remember playing a defensive
stroke very stupidly. I spat out my
front teeth then and you guys told me
not to look at my face when I sat in
that barber shop while I waited for a
transport. Nevertheless I stole a look
and saw a very ghastly sight. After
that you all looked after me taking me
to Guwahati Medical College
Hospital. With traction every day the
base was pulled up for about 15 days.
I remember I was made a specimen
case for dental students to study! I
was laughing at myself saying here I
am lying back on the dentist's seat
with my mouth open and a bevy of
students looking down my throat!
You guys did look after me then - I
did not inform my home lest they get
anxious.
The Van Gogh paintings, Probir. In
fact, it is you or one of the others in
our group who set me on course to
becoming a painter of sorts in AEC.
During a cultural fest when we were
bidding for a refreshments stall (if I
recall the group included you, Sisir,
Himadri Dutt, Jayanta Dutta
Choudhry , Somnath Choudhry &
Self ) we bought a small set of
watercolors for making posters. I, for
the fun of it, casually painted a
landscape. You guys found it good
enough to be put up for a painting
17
competition as part of the fest and
encouraged me to do so. I ended up
getting the second prize. Later in life
I ended up painting in watercolors
and oils on canvas with copying
Vincent Van Gogh, hence my
observation which you commended.
Here is a sample.
Reflections of AEC
Days
Prabir Kumar Bora

The first day in the AEC campus was
a special day as we met many other
freshmen like us coming from
various schools & colleges spread all
over Assam and other places. We had
a sense of trepidation before joining
the college - the fear of the unknown.
There were stories about ragging in
the hostels and not so flattering
accounts of seniors indulging in
booze and other vices. Ragging was
supposed to break the ice between the
seniors and freshmen and it ceased
soon after an event called "Fresher’s
Social". We quickly settled down in
the allotted hostels, each with 3 or 4
bedded rooms. In the first week itself
a couple of us got summons to meet
one of the final year students called
Tamuli. Thankfully the summons
were not for any form of ragging, but
to assist Tamuli in completing his
project assignment. He instructed us
to copy some engineering drawings
and demonstrated the system of
copying where a transparent glass
was placed delicately over two stack
of books at both end and a lighted
bulb underneath. Later we came to
know that this system is called
"Topo". We promptly nicknamed the
person who first introduced this to us
as "Topo Tamuli”. Conferring
nicknames to people soon turned out
to be a good pastime. We even
nicknamed a Professor as
"Timoshenko Barua" (remember
Timoshenko of “Strength of
Materials”) because of his rather
strict and stern countenance. The
more studious amongst us were
called "Kabiraj".
The copying work dumped on us by
“Topo Tamuli” was quite tedious and
we were relieved when it was over.
Slowly we started exploring the
various aspects of hostel life and
visited each other's rooms for chats or
for making recreational plans. We
discovered that a few of the older
inmates assembled a funny looking
device with earphones and wires
meant for listening to local radio
programs. The odd device did pique
our curiosity then. After the Topo
Tamuli experience we had many
other experiences of hostel life. We
learnt from the seniors the need to
maintain certain decorum in the
dining hall like wearing a proper shirt
when dining (white pyjama was
allowed but not the striped ones), not

18
raising a leg to rest on the bench
while eating, rinsing the thali with
water before food was served etc. I
don't think we were given any boiled
and filtered water in those days.
Breakfast was meagre with 2 or 3
slices of bread (not toasted) with jam
and tea. Then we rushed to classes
which started at 7.00 AM sharp
equipped with our books and
sometimes with accessories like T-
square, Instrument Box and Slide
Rule. If there was an off period in
between classes we could visit the
college canteen for samosas or bread
with scrambled eggs (called
Bhurjiya) which was a standard fare.
Lunch in the hostel was relatively
better with fish being served
regularly except on Sundays. The fish
generally served was “kurhi maas"
light-heartedly termed as
"engineering fish" for the frequency
of its consumption. People like me
who were not fond of fish were
served "Alu Bhaaji" or given a liberal
helping of butter. Sunday lunch was
mostly vegetarian with tasty deep
fried "Mosur Dailor Bor". Sometimes
we carried this item to our rooms and
shared it with friends before
lunchtime. There seemed to be an
endless supply of this delicacy - the
mixture made by hand grinding. Do
not remember seeing any heavy duty
electric grinder cum mixer in the
kitchen. While Sunday lunch was
vegetarian, tasteful chicken curry
was served for dinner. Thankfully,
19
there were no broilers then. Once in a
while there were feasts in the hostels
where you are served chicken & fish
dishes with paapar & pickles and a
couple of vegetable sabjis and "butor
daal". The mess charge was a
princely sum of Rs 75.00 per month
or thereabouts. A boarder was
generally nominated as Manager for
a month to take care of the purchases
of ration and other essentials for
running a hostel. However, very few
took up this task seriously, leaving it
to the staff to take care of the duties.
A trip to town after classes or a stroll
along the road towards the University
campus were popular pastimes. The
authorities very thoughtfully
provided buses for transporting us to
and from Guwahati at specified
intervals of the day. This was done
through a tie-up with the "Assam
State Transport Corporation" or
ASTC in short. The bus fare was
quite affordable (28 Paisa or so) and
probably subsidized by the
Government. While these buses were
not exactly of high standard, they
were relatively clean and in
reasonably good shape. If all seats are
taken in the bus, no problem– you
have sufficient standing room inside
and even the footboards were
considered safe enough for travel. In
fact, it was a pleasure and an honour
to position oneself precariously on
the footboard of a running bus and
hang on to dear life. Once you
disembark from the bus near Pan
Bazar and carefully brush your hair remember even after decades have
(most of the commuters carried gone by. Many of the jokes revolved
combs in their pockets) you are all set around the In-charge of the workshop
to take-on what the town had to offer. who used to bluff that that he had
Simply hanging around in front of the pointed out errors in the design &
store called "Jummatollah" was also construction of the first Road cum
another viable alternative. Rail Bridge over the Brahmaputra
and that it was because of him that the
Among the many eating joints in
Bridge became operational and safe.
town, the favourite was a cosy
It was also believed that he never
restaurant called "Madhumita" where
paid bus fare while travelling in the
you could split a serving of Mughlai
college bus by engaging the
Paratha into two at 75 Paisa apiece.
conductor in small talk or simply
For South Indian fare, you had
switching places to dodge him. One
Malabar Hotel, Madras Coffee
rather poignant incident that still
House, and Madhukunj. A fair sized
haunts some of us was about a
"Masala Dosa" used to cost 50 Paisa.
Professor of Electrical Engineering
Gauhati Dairy, Kalyanee, Kalpana &
Department who started living in a
Laxmi Cabin were other good places
world of fantasy and openly declared
for sweets and snacks like chops or
that he was a Nobel Laureate and that
samosas. In fact, there were several
he worked for NASA. It was really
eating places in town frequented by
sad that a promising scholar lost his
AECIANS, but Robin Cabin in
sanity so early in life. Some of our
Fancy Bazar was unique in its own
friends actually believed that people
way. It was a double storied small
in the Electrical Engineering
food joint in Kolkata style with two
discipline are prone to such mental
tables on the ground floor and four
disorders. Of course, there was no
tables on the wooden mezzanine
scientific evidence to bolster such
floor. Boards were always hung there
belief.
stating that items ordered may take
30 to 60 minutes to be served. The The stories and happenings in the
menu of the restaurant was AEC campus were many, and several
reams of paper can be filled with
displayed on metal plates hung on a
them. It was a life full of fun,
rope. The dishes were very tasty and
beautiful friendships and diverse
reasonably priced.
experiences – not all of them good
There were many hilarious situations and proper. But overall, it was a
in college some of which we still journey worth experiencing.

20
 িু খদৰয়ো ছদ - প্ৰথ োদষিকৰ
পলৰশ খোওন্দ

।। এক ।। শুদ্া গাবটাত প্ৰচুৰ পভৰমাবণ পাউদ্াৰ সাভন

এবকিাবৰ িগা, মুৰত এেন ফুলাম Scarf,
‘অ’ই মৃ ণাল,আহ! ভচকাৰ হৰ আবি’। অহীে
এোল T-Square cross কভৰ েৰীৰৰ লগত
িূঞা (প্ৰেষ িাভষিকৰ পৰীক্ষা ভদ্য়া িাত্ৰ, সদ্য
িিা আবি আৰু তাবত ভলো আবি “Miss
প্ৰয়াত)ৰ কথা, - মৃ ণাল দ্ত্তক উবেেয
Jalukbari”‌ লগত দ্ু জন Body Guard,
কভৰ।ভপিভদ্না অথিাত ১ আগেৰ পৰা আমাৰ
ভিভিন্ন ধ্ৰণৰ dress ভপিা l‌ “Miss‌
ক্লাি। AEC ৰ ৩ নং প্ৰহাবেল। সিযা লগাৰ
Jalukbari”‌ ক আগত হল ৰাভত ১১ মান
অলপ ভপিবত আভম ‘ভচকাৰ’প্ৰিাৰ িাগ িাগলহ
িজাত এটা procession উভলয়াি লগা হ’ল।
প্ৰকইটামান ৰুমত প্ৰসামাবলালগ। ভচকাৰী সকলৰ
৩ নং প্ৰহাবেলৰ Superintendent ৰ ৰৰ
ভচকাৰ আৰম্ভ- এভতয়াও ভকিু মান কথা জল‌জল‌
আবগভদ্ হগ তললল নাভম প্ৰমইন‌ ৰাোবটাবৰ
পট‌ পট‌লক মনত আবি। িৰ interesting
ু ভৰ আভহি লাবগ। Slogan প্ৰিাৰ আভিল-
ragging হহভিল প্ৰসই সময়ত। মই প্ৰদ্ৰগাৱোঁৰ,
“জালু কিাৰী যমপু ৰী”‌‌“জালু কিাৰীত আভমবয়ই
ভত্ৰদ্ীপ কটকী ভেৱসাগৰৰ আৰু সিিানন্দ িৰা
ৰজা”‌ইতযাভদ্। ৫৫ িিৰৰ ভপিবতা প্ৰসই স্মৃ ভত
ভিশ্বনাথ চাভৰআভলৰ ( ভত্ৰদ্ীপ আৰু সৰ্ব্িাৰ
সজীৱ হহ আবি। মনত পভৰবল এভতয়াও হাোঁভহ
আত্মাৰ সদ‌গভত কামনা কভৰবলা ) প্ৰাৰভম্ভক
উবি।
ভচনাকী পৰ্ব্িৰ ভপিবত আৰম্ভ হ’ল ভিহু। কম
প্ৰিভি পভৰমাবণ আভম ভতভনওটাই অলপ ভিহুৱা
আভিবলা। প্ৰটিু ল চভকবিাবৰ প্ৰঢালৰ কাম
কভৰবল। দ্ু জনমাবন Guitar, Bongo আভদ্ও
িজাইভিল। ভকিা িুল হবল এটা িভৰৰ ওপৰত
ভথয় হহ থকা,প্ৰিৰত নাকবটা লগাই প্ৰথাৱা
ইতযাভদ্বিাৰ Punishment আভিল। হিাৎ
প্ৰদ্ভেবলা, আমাৰ লগবৰ ‘ভচকাৰ’‌ এজন
ৰুমবটালল প্ৰসামাই আভহল--- ভপিনত জাভঙ্গয়া,

21
 ।। দ্ু ই ।।
১৯৬৬-৬৭ চন। স্থান নতুনলক উবধাধ্ন প্ৰহাৱা ৫
নং প্ৰহাবেল। দ্ূ গিা পূ জাৰ িু টীৰ ভপিত প্ৰমাক
লগৰ প্ৰকইজনমানৰ হসবত নতুন ৫ নং
প্ৰহাবেললল স্থানান্তভৰত কভৰবল। নতুন প্ৰহাবেল,
নতুনলক লবগাৱা চূণ-প্ৰতলৰ প্ৰগািত ৰুম প্ৰিাৰ
ৰমৰমীয়া হহ আবি। ভেবচম্বৰ মাহৰ প্ৰেষৰ
ফাবল Mess Secretary জবন প্ৰহাবেলৰ
িাভসন্দাবিাৰৰ এেন সিা পাভতবল—উবেেয-
মা ভিহু পাভতি লাবগ। “িাললক পাভতি
লাভগি”- ভমভটঙৰ ভসধান্ত। প্ৰিভিিাগ কাবমই 1st
আৰু 2nd year ৰ ল’ৰাবিাৰৰ ওপৰত।
প্ৰমভজ জ্ববলাৱাৰ ভদ্না আভম প্ৰমভজ জ্বলাই প্ৰমভজৰ
চাভৰওফাবল িভহ আবিা। ভযমাবন ৰাভত হহবি
ভসমাবন আমাৰ ভিভৰৎ িাভি হগবি। প্ৰতবনবত
এজবন এটা ‘প্ৰিট’‌ মাভৰবল। অ’‌ কিলল
পাহভৰভিবলাবৱই- আমাৰ Hostel
Superintendent আভিল অভজত েৰ্ম্িা িাৰ।
Hostel ৰ ওচৰবত থাবক। আমাক অঙ্ক
পবিাৱাইভিল আৰু N.C.C. ৰ In-charge
আভিল। ‘প্ৰিট’‌প্ৰটা আভিল – িাৰৰ ৰৰ সৰ্ম্ু েৰ
প্ৰগট েন প্ৰকাবন উিাই আভনি পাভৰি। প্ৰমাৰ
েৰীৰত ইভতমবধ্য প্ৰগাট োই থকা ভিভৰৎবটাবৱ
কবল – যা পবৰে, তই ‘প্ৰিট’‌ প্ৰটা গ্ৰহণ কৰ।
প্ৰগট েন হল আহ। িিা মবতই কাম। িাৰৰ
ৰৰ সন্মু ে পাবলালগ। ইফাবল-ভসফাবল চাই
সাহস কভৰ প্ৰগট েনত হাত ভদ্বলা। সময়বটা
এবনকুৱা আভিল প্ৰয প্ৰিভি দ্ূ ৰলল চকুবৰ মভনিও
পৰা নাভিবলা। প্ৰগট েন উবিাৱাৰ প্ৰচো কভৰ
থাবকাবতই এিাৰ হহ থকা ৰৰ সন্মু েৰ িাৰান্দা
েনৰ পৰা এষাৰ কথা িাভহ আভহ প্ৰমাৰ কাণত
পভৰল – “পবৰে, প্ৰগট েন ভনভনিা হা”‌‌। প্ৰিবঙ
মুতা গৰুৰ ভনভচনা প্ৰমাৰ অৱস্থা। প্ৰদ্ৌভৰ আভহ
প্ৰমভজৰ ওচৰ পাবয়ই লগৰ প্ৰিাৰক কথাবটা
ক’প্ৰলা। ভপিভদ্না ক্লািত িাৰৰ প্ৰকাবনা
reaction নাই। মবয়া ভযমান পাবৰা স্বািাভিক
হহ থাভকিলল প্ৰচো কভৰবলা। মই ভকন্তু ভপিত
1st year result প্ৰনাবলাৱাললবক প্ৰিি ভচন্তাত
কটাি লগীয়া হহভিল - ভকজাভন
Mathematics ত fail কৰাই ভদ্বয়। ভকন্তু প্ৰসয়া
নহল। িাৰৰ ভিবদ্হী আত্মালল প্ৰসৱা জনাই
সামৰভণ মাভৰবিাোঁ।

22
 জোেু ক োৰীৰ গল্প
েক্ষ্য কু োৰ শইকীয়ো

কাভলললৰ পৰা পৰীক্ষা আৰম্ভ। চতুথি িষিৰ কথা কয়। প্ৰসবয়বহ সকবলাবৱ তাৰ কথাৰ
ফাইবনল পৰীক্ষা। ভনজ ভনজ প্ৰকািাত সকবলা সতযতা দ্ু ইবৰ িাগ কভৰ ভনধ্িাৰণ কবৰ।
পিাত িযস্ত । প্ৰতভতয়া ৰাভত দ্হ িাভজবি ।
নবগন প্ৰযাৱাৰ পািবত প্ৰহাবেলৰ পভৰবৱবেই
িাত্ৰািাসৰ দ্াইভনং হলৰ প্ৰেষ ণ্টা পভৰল,
সলভন হহ পভৰল। পৰীক্ষাৰ আগবত সাধ্াৰণবত
অথিাৎ দ্ু ই এজন আৱাসীৰ িাভহবৰ িাকী
সম্ভািয প্ৰশ্নৰ আবলাচনা হহবয় থাবক। প্ৰতবন
সকবলাবৰ ৰাভতৰ আহাৰ গ্ৰহণ কভৰবি ।
প্ৰক্ষত্ৰত সচাই হওক িা ভমচাই হওক পৰীক্ষাৰ
প্ৰহাবেলৰ পভৰবিে ভনমাও মাও । মাবজ মাবজ
আগত প্ৰকাবনও ‘ভৰস্ক’‌লি ভনভিচাবৰ। প্ৰসবয়বহ
প্ৰহাবেলৰ ভপি ফাবল থকা পাহাৰৰ পৰা
সকবলা ‘িু দ্ প্ৰগট’ক হল িযস্ত হহ পভৰল। ভযবহতু
ভেোঁয়ালৰ দ্ু ই এটা ভিকত ভচঞৰ মাবজ মাবজ
কাভললল হিলগা পৰীক্ষাৰ কাকত সকবলা
িাভহ আভহ আবি । এবনবত প্ৰহাবেলৰ ভসবটা
ভিিাগবৰ এবক, প্ৰসবয়বহ ভচভিলৰ ল’ৰাৰ মাজত
মুৰত দ্ু ৱাৰত ঢভকওৱাৰ েব্দ। সকবলা সজাগ
আবলাচনা চভলল-- আভম ‘লু ইচ প্ৰগট, প্ৰচ’ক প্ৰগট,
হ’ল- ভকবয়ইিা হহবি। িাভহৰলল ওলাই প্ৰদ্ভেবলা
ট’ল প্ৰগট আভদ্বহ পাইবিা, িু দ্ প্ৰগটৰ নাবমই
নবগবন এফালৰ পৰা সকবলা প্ৰকািাৰ
শুনা নাই। িাবৰ ভকজাভন ভচভিলৰ ক্লািত
প্ৰদ্াৱাৰত ঢভকয়াই ঢভকয়াই ভচোঁঞভৰ ভচোঁঞভৰ হক
পিািলল পাহভৰবল। প্ৰমকাভনবকল, প্ৰকভমবকলৰ
হগবি – “অ’ই তহোঁভত ‘িু দ্ প্ৰগ’ট’‌পভিিবন
মাজত আবলাচনা --আভম প্ৰগট িাল্ভ, গ্ল’ি িাল্ভ
নাই? পি পি। কাভললল পৰীক্ষাত আভহি।
পভিবিা ‘িু দ্ প্ৰগট’‌প্ৰতা প্ৰপাৱা নাই। প্ৰেষত ভয হয়
িালদ্বৰ পভি যাভি”। প্ৰতবনদ্বৰ ভচোঁঞভৰ
হি িু ভল ‘িু দ্ প্ৰগট’ৰ কথা তাবতই সামভৰ
ভচোঁঞভৰ ভস আমাৰ প্ৰহাবেল এভৰ দ্ু ই নম্বৰ
সকবলাবৱ অনয ভিষয় পিাত িযস্ত হহ পভৰল।
প্ৰহাবেল পাবললগ।
সাধ্াৰণবত প্ৰেণী সমুহ আৰম্ভ প্ৰহাৱাৰ পৰা
নবগন আমাতলক আগৰ আভিল, ভকন্তু দ্ু িিৰ
পৰীক্ষাৰ জাননী প্ৰনাবলাৱাললবক এই সময়
প্ৰফ’ল কভৰ আমাৰ লগ লাভগবি। কথা-িত’ৰাৰ
প্ৰচাৱাত প্ৰহােলৰ পভৰবৱবেই প্ৰিবলগ। সকবলাবৰ
প্ৰকাবনা লাগ-িাি নাই। সদ্ায় এবোপ ওপৰত
প্ৰকাবনা ভচন্তা িাৱনা নাই – প্ৰকৱল মাত্ৰ প্ৰেলা-
ধ্ূ লা, ভচবনমা প্ৰিাৱা,আড্ডা মৰা আনন্দ-ফুভত্তিৰ

23
মাজত সকবলা েুভি থাবক। ২ নং প্ৰহাবেলত আভিভল ক’ত প্ৰতাৰ ‘িু দ্ প্ৰগট’? পৰীক্ষাত নাভহল
এজন ভচভনয়ৰ দ্াদ্া আভিল । প্ৰহাবেলত প্ৰদ্বোন”।
অনৱবত্তি হহ হাল্লা লগাই থাবক। প্ৰসই হুলস্থুলীয়া
এই ভেভনবত হক প্ৰথাৱা িাল প্ৰয েবগন অলপ
দ্াদ্াও পৰীক্ষাৰ আগত ভনৰৱ ভনমাত হহ পবৰ।
ভেং ভেভঙয়া স্বিাৱৰ । অলপ কথাবত েংবটা
অনয সময়ত দ্াদ্াক যভদ্ প্ৰসাধ্া যায় – দ্াদ্া িাত
ভটভঙচ হক উভি আবহ। আমাৰ প্ৰেণীত েবগনৰ
োবলবন ? দ্াদ্াৰ উত্তৰ – (উিৎ মাবতবৰ
দ্বৰ স্বিাৱৰ আৰু সাতটা মান আবি।
হসবত) িাত প্ৰহ প্ৰনোম প্ৰন? ইয়াত ভক দ্াল
সকবলাবৱ ভসহতক ‘এচ ভট’‌ (চৰ্তি প্ৰটিােি)
কভৰিলল আভহবিা ? োই-হি প্ৰচবহৰা িনািলল
প্ৰিাভল কয় -অৱবেয আনৰ আগতবহ—ভসহতৰ
প্ৰহ আভহবিা। ো ো তহভতও প্ৰপট িৰাই িৰাই
আগত কিলল প্ৰকাবনও সাহস নকবৰ।
োই ল। পৰীক্ষাৰ আগত প্ৰসই দ্াদ্াও িভক্ত
দ্ু টামানৰ েং আবকৌ েবগনতলকবয়া এবকাি
িাৱত গদ‌গদ‌হহ পবৰ। দ্াদ্াক যভদ্ প্ৰসাধ্া
চ’ৰা। ভসহত ‘ই টু ভদ্ পাৱাৰ এচ ভট’‌
যায় ‘দ্াদ্া িাত োবলবন ? দ্াদ্াৰ উত্তৰ -
নাবমবৰ সকবলাবৰ মাজত জনাজাত।
িগৱানৰ কৃপাত চাউল এমুভি প্ৰপটত পভৰল।
েবগনৰ দ্পদ্পভণলল প্ৰকবৰপ নকভৰ নবগনৰ
পৰীক্ষাৰ আগত দ্াদ্াবৰ প্ৰসই অৱস্থা – আনৰ
উত্তৰ- “১ নং প্ৰশ্নবটাবৱই প্ৰদ্েু ন ‘িু দ্ প্ৰগটৰ’।
কথা নকবলাবৱইিা ।
তহভত ভক ভলভেি প্ৰনাৱাভৰভল প্ৰনভক”?‌
ভপিভদ্না পৰীক্ষা হহ গল। মুটা-মুভট িাবলই
আভম ভিলাক হতিাক । ই ভক কয় ? প্ৰমাৰ
হহবি । পৰীক্ষা ভদ্ মই, েবগন আৰু
মুবেবৰ লবগ লবগ ওলাল- ১নং প্ৰশ্নবটা আভিল
চাভৰটা মান এবকলবগ পৰীক্ষা হলৰ পৰা
“What‌is‌Budget‌?
ওলাই আভহবলা। ওলাই আভহ প্ৰদ্বো নবগন
প্ৰকভণ্টনৰ সমুেত প্ৰলাহাৰ প্ৰৰভলংত ধ্ভৰ ভথয় হহ নবগন :‌‌‌“অ’‌প্ৰসইবটাবৱই প্ৰদ্েু ন bud‌‌‘িু দ্’‌
আবি। নবগনক প্ৰদ্ভে েবগনৰ েংবটা ভটভঙচলক get‌ ‘প্ৰগট’’‌ - িু ভল হক ভস প্ৰকভণ্টনৰ ফাবল
উভিবলই নহয়। “অ’ই িালা, চুৱৰৰ িাচ্ছা ! আগুৱাই গ’ল। ভপবি ভপবি েবগবনও তালল
ৰহ ! মই আভজ প্ৰতাক সু দ্াই প্ৰনভৰবিা। কাভল প্ৰচাোঁচা লবল।
ৰাভত ‘িু দ্ প্ৰগট’‌ ‘িু দ্ প্ৰগট’‌ িু ভল প্ৰটটু ফাভল
আভমও হাোঁভহবমই প্ৰন কাভন্দবমই এবকা ভিক
কভৰি প্ৰনাৱাভৰ থৰ হহ ৰ’প্ৰলা।

24
 Snapshots of AEC Days
Our Alma Mater was started in the
year 1955 as “The Assam Civil
Engineering College” with a total
intake of 60 students for the Civil
Engineering course. However, the
name was later changed to “Assam
Engineering College” (AEC) after
the introduction of the Mechanical &
Electrical Engineering Departments
as per the approval of The
Government of India in October,
1955. Later on, Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru, the then Prime Minister of
India formally inaugurated the
College on 16th January, 1958. The
Department of Chemical Engineering
was later introduced in the year 1963.
Though I got selected in BHU,
Roorkee, Rourkela Engineering
colleges in Chemical Engg Dept, and
IIT, Kharagpur in Metallurgical
Dept., I had to opt for AEC, as my
family was not interested to send me
outside the state, being the eldest son.
It was destiny as nobody could guide
us that time, but I am now highly
grateful for that decision as I could
study under some very good faculties
in Chemical Engineering Department
that I could become a First-class
Chemical engineer without buying a
book on Chemical Engg. subjects.
25
Amal Chandra Sarma
Joining AEC in 1966, the days were
passing like fleeting kites, full of
enjoyment and activities. I was
allotted in Hostel no 1 where I stayed
in the same room with two other
roommates namely, Pramath Sarma
& Pramod Pathak till the end of the
college era. Hostel life was full of fun
as we three roommates used to play
cricket & other games. My two other
roommates were very romantic
unlike me. Our room was like a
common room for gossips & other
funs like playing cards. During
Cricket season, nobody could visit
our room because of the foul smells
from the socks of our cricket boots,
as we three used to play for the
college cricket team. Then, a Covid
mask would have been helpful to
outsiders to enter our room.
Initially ragging was posing a little
bit of a problem, but our seniors were
found very cooperative not indulging
in extreme physical treatments. Our
college days’ activities were –
boarding our ASTC buses soon after
college time for Guwahati (3.45 PM
or 5PM), arriving in Madhumita
Restaurant in Panbazar for evening
treats & gossiping, after going back
to Hostel, a singing session used to
start in the common room in the
ground floor. Friday specialty was
going for the First show of a new
release Film, preferably Hindi.
College life was full of fun, enjoying
college works under our revered
faculties, without stressful semesters
like present days. The college days
were so carefree and filled with
friendship, fun, excitement and some
rare hard work that it sometimes
seems surreal. To sum it up, the name
“AEC” reverberates in my mind like
a wonderful dream. Thanks Almighty
for this opportunity.
I could not help sharing some
experiences in college days with our
batchmates on this Golden Jubilee
celebration of 1971 batch.
1. Most memorable Idul Fitr in
Mukib’s place.
Mukibur Rahman; we called him
Mukib, was known to me from
school days as we studied in same
school - Arya Vidyapith H.S & M.P
School in Rehabari, Guwahati since
Class VII standard till Class XI i.e. up
to Higher secondary final
examination. After passing out of that
school, both in High First Division,
we both took admission in Assam
Engineering College, Jalukbari in
1966.
We were fast friends since school
days. I used to visit his place in
Athgaon many a times during college
days. His family members were very
26
affectionate to me, especially his
maternal uncles, who treated me as
their friends. During Idul fitr (Eid)
day, I made a point to visit his house
whether he extends invitation or not.
It was a routine affair during those
school days. Even it extended during
our AEC college days irrespective of
invitation or not. We all used to enjoy
those sumptuous dishes of Eid in his
place in the midst of their relatives.
It was in 1967, during Eid like
previous years, all his friends visited
his place. After enjoying the food,
especially biryani & meat which was
taken in good quantity, our stomachs
were full & we used to feel quite
heavy. Then we remembered that
next day was our exam and we were
not in a position to study that night.
Then a thought came to our mind to
go to the Principal’s house to stop the
exam with the pretext that our course
for that exam was not fully covered.
The Principal was none other than Dr
Sailadhar Gogoi, known for his
strictness & discipline. We do not
know how we could convince him,
but finally he had agreed for the
postponement of the exam for a few
days. We were thrilled to have
achieved this, that too with a
Principal like him. We will never
forget that episode as it gave us a big
relief.
Sadly enough, Mukib is no more with
us today. He was such a good soul,
witty, always smiling and also a good
singer. I will not forget his singing of
“Mere Mehboob’’ with his hearts out.
He was such a nice companion in
every occasion. I take this
opportunity to pray to the Almighty
for peace of his eternal soul.
2. That Inter college T.T final match
with Cotton College in 1970.
Nayan Sarma, Ashish Chand, Bikash
Bose & myself represented Assam
Engineering College in T.T in the
Inter College Championship of 1970.
Our team reached the final in that
year and had to play the final match
against Cotton College. The match
was organized in the University
Indoor stadium. We fought very hard
to defeat the Cotton college team
which consisted of some good
players. After winning, we were
celebrating our win against them. But
some of our college friends went in
and took us to a corner to convey that
there is a fighting going on between
our college and Cotton college for
some incidents that happened during
the Inter College Competitions few
days back. We were not aware of that
as were inside the Indoor stadium and
were escorted out by our friends to a
safe place. Then we could realize the
situation from the narration of our
friends from outside.
Next day after this incident, we were
to leave for our Industrial Excursion
to Bombay as a part of the college
course. We were escorted by the
Police to the Guwahati Railway
Station along with our Guide, Dr
27
Amal Sarma , then HOD of Chemical
Engineering Department and with his
newly married wife. After leaving the
station, we could have a sigh of relief.
3. Sunday feast in the hostel
I was in hostel no 1 throughout my
college days. As we know, on Sunday
nights, there used to be a feast in all
the hostels of the college. During
Sunday, lunch was vegetarian and in
the night meat was served, which we
would call a feast. Sanjay Sarma, a
middle aged cook , used to serve meat
during Sunday night. He generally
did not wear glasses, but while
serving meat on Sunday night he used
to wear them religiously so that he
could serve the allotted pieces of
meat to us. This was okay for us. But
if he intentionally gave more than
allotted quota of meat to us then we
understood that he planned to ask for
a financial favour from us. If it
happened, we used to come to our
rooms very late to avoid the situation.
Otherwise, Sanjay was a very good
cook. We used to relish his hot ‘dal
pakodas' on Sunday lunch and also
‘Khar’ an alkaline recipe.
There are many stories/incidents I
have in mind during those five years;
some sweet and short, some sour and
therefore long but now each of them
tells just one story-that of life and its
learning experiences. My life at AEC
taught me a lot, although it took me a
while to realize it did. Besides study,
I could represent our college team in
Cricket & Table tennis for several
years.
I take this opportunity to express my
gratitude to our faculties, particularly
of Chemical engineering and also to
our wonderful batch-mates.
Finally, I am concluding this piece
with prayers for those batch-mates
who left us prematurely for the
heavenly abode.
Long live AEC.

28
Three Snapshots
1. First Day in College: Reached
Hostel No. 1 with luggage, Satya,
Jogen and myself got a room and
remained roommates till the 4th year,
when we got single seated rooms as
monitors. First day, went to dining
hall, got introduced to the cooks,
Sanjay and Borthakur who served
dinner. After dinner, we faced
ragging for the whole night. First we
have to say on the joining date “We
joined today as Chief Engineer, next
year we will be Superintending
Engineer, 3rd. year SDO, 4th. year
Asst. Engineer. and will pass out
from 5th year from the college as
Overseer”. In spite of ragging, we
enjoyed 2 days in a week in the hostel
when Chicken was served for dinner.
When someone get a leg piece, they
felt happy and enjoyed themselves,
but when they got a neck piece, they
would complain to the cook Sanjay or
Borthakur, where they use to say “
29
Prasanta Kumar Dutta
Babu, dingi nathakile chicken hoi
janu?” It was really a tough job to
distribute good chicken pieces
among the 110 boys when hardly 20-
30 leg pieces were there.
2. Our friends used to regularly enjoy
English hit movies on Sundays in
Meghdoot cinema Hall expecting to
get a seat adjacent to some girls,
particularly from Handique College.
But most of my friends got
disappointed when they found
themselves inside the hall, that gents
were issued tickets in the right side
and the ladies in left, unless someone
goes with their friend.
3. We went to ask for Syllabus to our
Mathematics teacher, “Sir what about
our Course Syllabus”? Sir replied
instantly, “What Course? There is no
Course” Then, he would answer after
realisation hit: “Of Course, there is a
Course”.
স্মৃ দি সৰো ন্থলনলৰ অে
ইদিদনয়োদৰিং কলেজ ৃ িুে কু োৰ ৰুৱো

30
31
 Some Nostalgic
Memories of AEC
In July 1966, as I entered the
Auditorium of AEC, JALUKBARI
with my father, to attend the
Principal’s address to the students of
1966 Batch, I looked eagerly on all
sides of the huge hall. Suddenly, I
heard my father telling me loudly
with a happy tone - "Look Deepa, (
my pet name) you are lucky, you
have four more fellow girl students in
your batch" pointing at the late
Kabita, Labanya, Nayan and Rupali.
That was a pleasant surprise and was
a big pleasure for me! I felt a bit
awkward seeing the entire fellow
male classmates in the hall as I had
come from a Girls school from Jorhat
after completing my HSSLC exam
and never been to any junior college.
l quietly sat next to the girl students
and was thrilled to listen to the
wonderful address by very dynamic
AEC Principal late Dr. S D Gogoi sir.
Our first two years had common
subjects for all branches and gave us
the opportunity to know most of our
classmates; also picnics arranged in
our first and second years were very
enjoyable and we got to know our
classmates through those as well,
though now I will hardly be able to
32
Suraiya Jahan
remember their names let alone
recognise them from their present
look (Sorry), but the photos of our old
college days helped me recognize
many of them.
I am sharing an interesting memory
of our first year at the Chemistry
Laboratory, where we had one
elderly active peon who used to help
us in the Lab, but as the practical
examinations came near, the peon
used to frighten us telling us how
strict is our external examiner was,
and how without his help we could
never get our salt test correct.
In our time, our professors were so
helpful. I have a vivid memory of so
many sirs during our First and
Second years who used to explain our
difficulties at extra time. We were
real a fortunate lot.
Our Girls hostel was a real fun place.
We used to manage the hostel mess
efficiently enjoying good food in
comparison to the Boys Hostels - no
doubt about it!!!
All of you will surely agree with me
that due to no Terminal or monthly
exams I hardly used to study
regularly and finally as the final
Yearly exam approached, I (and
surely you all too) could see fumes
coming out of our eyes. Then there
used to be no time to waste, every
single minute looked to be important
to prepare for the exam. Imagine one
year’s study to complete in one
month!!! Surely, except very few,
most of us must have experienced
this. Did you all ever notice how
deserted the campus used to look
prior to our exams? Rarely any
students were seen outside their
hostels during the day time. If you
have seen anyone, he must have worn
a dark glass to hide the redness of his/
her eyes obtained due to lack of
sleep! This used to be fact, I am not
exaggerating.
Our college excursion was one of the
best experiences I had during AEC
days. Finally Civil Engg Department
agreed to take the four girl students
along with the boy students of Civil
Engg Dept - Prof Aowal sir and his
family, and one more respected sir
(not recollecting his name now) came
with the students. Aowal sir had
33
arranged for girl students to stay at
his brother's house at Madras now
Chennai) with all facility. Hats off to
our Civil Engg classmate A. N.
Nazmul Islam Laskar, who used to
take lots of pain to reach the
destination city earlier than the team
for booking hotel rooms so that all
can directly reach the hotel without
waiting at stations. I remember
Laskar used to stay awake the whole
night in the train keeping a watch on
the luggage of fellow classmates.
I remember fondly and very
respectfully all our respected teachers
on this day, who had shaped us and
guided us to become responsible
citizens of our land and to excel in
our field of Engineering.
I would also like to pay homage to
our departed classmates and friends
who left us very untimely.
So, friends enjoy this Golden Jubilee
Celebration of 1966 Entry Batch
AEC students - conveying my Best
Wishes and Affections to all of you.
Aghatan
During my AEC life I was in hostel
no. 3 for my entire duration. During
pre winter season night, for a small
period of time, Caterpillar fly, which
we call “uichiringa” would shoot
towards electric lights, just as a
bullet. In our hostel menu there was
mutton curry on Thursday & chicken
curry on Sunday dinner.
One Sunday night, when I was in 4th
year class, as per the norms I came to
the dining hall in the 3rd batch to
dine. Here, l would like to mention
that as per our hostel rule the 1st
batch is mainly for new comers i.e.
for 1st year boys, 2nd one for 2nd/3rd
years and 3rd batch is for final year
students called seniors. Laxmi Zha,
the head cook for the month was
serving the meals with a chicken
curry bowl. When I dipped my
fingers in the bowl, I found one
“uichiringa” was also there along
with the chicken pieces. I calmly got
34
Rajat Kumar Paul
up and proceeded towards the wash
basin.
Laxmi noticed that & understood that
something was wrong, and enquired
about it. Ultimately he came to know
the fact & requested me to wait for a
while, went to kitchen, and asked
Ananta Sarma, one of the 3 cooks, to
fry something for me. Anant Sarma
fried some Ladies finger but again, I
found “uichiringa” were also fried
with the ladies finger. Then came
Gorgyo Sarma, to replace Ananta but
alas, Gorgyo also failed to fry
without “uichiringa.” Lastly Laxmi
tried to fry some potato by covering
kadai (wok) with a lid (dala), but
failed to fry without the presence of
the “uichiringa”. At last I dinned
with lemon & salt.
The next morning I left the cmapus &
stayed at Maligaon as long as the
“uichiringa”- the ‘invaders’ were out
of AEC campus.
 Some Wonderful
Memories
Truss calculation, Extraordinary
S.D.Gogoi Sir and Library!
1. Many would recall that there used
to be a big homework of calculating
some trust problem of bridge-like
structures with moving loads, etc.
The teacher was Principal
S.D.Gogoi. He knew very well about
the copying business that prevailed in
the dead of nights, in the hostel, and
that the bakras used their Kaviraj
friends (who were kind indeed to
share their hard work. So, Gogoi Sir
was super smart about this. The
assignment used to be given where
instead of using the standard number
for variables, we were asked to use
our roll numbers instead. There was
this no chance of copying and
everyone had to slog on by
themselves with the long, unending
equations. For the result, if a member
size finally came out as 0.00002 cm
or 3000000 cm, it did not matter as
only the procedure was important!
But after review, only God and Gogoi
Sir knew how he used catch the
gadbad in the answer books, and
used to call the "culprits" in his
chamber to show the wrong answer
sheets. Only after many years of
35
Ashish Hom
being a practising designer, could one
understand the art wherein to catch
the key areas.
2. We used to have a lecturer on
chemistry (forgot her name) and
many used to try bhagoing by the
back side door from her class, as
nothing used to go inside our heads,
and chit chatting in canteen used to
be more interesting. Once, in a
venture like this, as few of us fled
with our eyes peeled, to see if anyone
was looking, we were startled to find
Gogoi Sir looking sharply at us from
the ground floor, standing in front of
his office, probably wondering what
we were up to. We were done for! We
couldn’t escape down the ground
floor then, and ended up stuck in
another jail – the Library.
3.There was one good friend who
was the Librarian (and younger
brother of the HoD of Civil
Engineering (can't recall his name)
some Choudhury, I think. My
interests used to be generally limited
to miscellaneous books in the library,
and the only time I took a look
seriously was when I heard that
“open books” would be allowed
during the exam. For that moment,
the Machine design handbook was
very important for me, as it came in
handy.
Once as I was coming out of library,
he simply me how I spend my time,
and I made a very casual (and rather
36
irresponsible) remark, saying that no
good books were available in the
library. His reply was immediate,
“Hom…Then you should write some
books yourself and read them.”
I had a lesson of a life time, and I still
recall his words even after some 53-
54 years later!
AEC Memories
Once… it may be 1967-68, during
the Strength of Materials (SM) class
Dr. S D Gogoi asked a student, Nair,
who could speak fluent Assamese,
why he was laughing. Nair, due to
suddenness of the comment replied "
37
Jyotirindra Kr.Dey
moi lafa nai sir" (মই লাফা নাই ছাৰ). - The
whole class burst into laughter
including Dr. GOGOI who generally
maintained a stern face but was an
excellent teacher.
 Recollections
I was born at Rehabari, Guwahati
on11th October,1947. My father was
Late Pandit Mahamahim Opadhyaya
Bipin Chandra Goswami, a renowned
Sanskrit scholar of Assam (1909-
1987). I lost my mother, Late Gayatri
Devi at an age of one and a half years,
so I was brought up by my father. I
had my primary education at
Panbazar Balak Balika Vidyalaya
situated on the bank of the river
Brahmaputra at Sukreshwar ghat,
Guwahati. I had my secondary
education at Cotton Collegiate school
and one year Pre-University course at
Cotton college. During my PU
course, Shri Prashanta Dutta was my
classmate. We both were in the
Biology section group. Most of my
classmates went for medical
education. I preferred Engineering
education and got admitted in Assam
Engineering College (AEC) after
passing the Engineering entrance
examination. Prashanta also
preferred Engineering and got
admitted in AEC.
As hostel stay was compulsory
during the five years study of the
engineering course in AEC, I had to
stay at hostel no. 2 of AEC. There I
38
Sunil Goswami
met Shri Kabin Sarma from
Sowalkuchi and Shri Chandra Das
from Pathsalaas my room mates. We
stayed together for the entire period
of five years as roommates with
warm friendship. We also selected
Mechanical engineering branch as
our engineering branch in our 3rd
year course.
During our first day of hostel, we had
to face ragging in an introduction
ceremony by senior boarders of the
hostel. I was a bit nervous for the
ragging ceremony but it went smooth
for me that day. During my 1st year
study, I suffered from chicken pox
and had to stay at my Guwahati
residence for some time and missed
some classes of 1st year course. Later
on, I could go through the missed
course materials from both of my
room mates, Kabin Sarma and
Chandra Das, who helped me a lot in
this. During our AEC study period, I
noticed that most of the hostel
boarders used to travel daily to
Guwahati city in the evening by the
ASTC buses operated between
Guwahati city and AEC Jalukbari.
The final bus stoppage at Guwahati
city was at Panbazar near Cotton
college, Physics dept building and
famous college studio. Most of my
classmates came to know about my
original Guwahati residence while
travelling by ASTC Engg. Bus plying
on the then strand road (Now
M.G.Road), which was situated on
the Sukreshwar ghat (temple) hill
step and visible from the road.
Though we three roommates (me,
Kabin and Chandra) were of serious
nature in our studies, we used to play
volleyball with other residents of
Hostel no. 2 at the volleyball court
attached with our hostel. I was also
interested for the game of cricket and
associated myself in the game. Some
of our classmates were very popular
amongst hostel residents for their
skills in different subjects. Though
most them were skilled in their
preferred subjects I want to mention
some of them - Amal Sarma, Pramod
Pathak, Pramath Sarma, Swarn Behl,
Prashanta Dutta in cricket ; Prabir
Bora, late Sisir Goswami, Late
Himadri Dutta and Late Parimal
Karmakar as popular singers and
guitarists ; Beda Das was a very good
singer , Abul Hassan was a gymnast
and champion body builder .Chida
Medhi was a very jolly person and
very popular amongst us. Baneswar
Khound and Lakhya Saikia had good
literary hands and were good writers
and organizers. There were other
very talented persons also in different
subjects whom I am unable to
remember now.
39
I would like to mention here about
the ladies who also studied
engineering with us ( AEC 1971 pass
out batch ) and passed out with very
good results. They were Bandita
Phukan, Suraiya Begum, Nayan
Bhandari, Labanya Padmapati,
Rupali Naug and late Kavita Devi.
We are proud of all the talented lady
engineers for their immense technical
and social contribution to the people
of Assam and our whole country.
I enjoyed my AEC study period and
hostel life as the best part of my life.
The professors were very
knowledgeable, kind and
cooperative. I, along with my
classmates enjoyed attending most of
the classes (theoretical & practical).
I will never forget the tastes of the
lunches provided with khar, pakoras
and papad and dinner with chicken
curry on every Sunday in my hostel.
The taste of the fish tenga in other
scheduled days is also unforgettable.
The forceful muddy bath in holy
celebration and drinking of Ghota
prepared with mild Bhang on
Shivratri celebration amongst hostel
friends were very enjoyable.
There was a very good environment
of studies in the college under the
successful leadership of our then
respected Principal Late Dr.Saila
Dhar Gogoi ( 01/02/66 to 31/01/74 ).
I would like to name some of the
respected professors who taught us,
Late Debabrata Goswami , Late A.K.
Padmapati, Dr.Nirmal Choudhury,
S.N. Goswami, Dr.H.K.Das, Late
Uma Sarma, Prafulla Mahanta, Pulin
Mahanta, Late Girindra Nath
Borpujari sir , Late Hobibur Rahman
Boruah sir, Late Surendra Nath
Medhi (Physics). Late Surendra Nath
Medhi( 1930-2012 )was also a
famous Assamese short story writer
who wrote around 15 books and got
prestigious Sahitya Academy Award
in 1974 for his short story collection
“ Gulam “.All his books were written
in his pen name Saurabh Kumar
Chaliha.This was not known to us
during our study period with him.
I most humbly would like to mention
that after my graduation in 1971 in
Mechanical Engineering with a 1st
class 3rd position in G.U., I joined
Prince of Wales Institute (POW) at
Jorhat as a lecturer which was a
temporary post. Late Billal Haque
also joined at the same time
.Thereafter ,I was fortunate to join
Oil India Ltd, Duliajan as Graduate
Engineer Trainee and undergone
training for 2 years (1972-1974).We
were nine engineers joined together
in OIL that time as GET. Then I
40
joined Hindustan Fertilizer
Corporation Ltd.(HFCL) , Namrup in
sept 1974 as Asstt.Materials officer
and worked for 10 years (1974-
1984}.Finally I joined Indian Oil
Corporation Ltd. (Assam Oil
Division ) , Digboi as Dy Manager in
Aug1984 and worked in the Digboi
refinery , Digboi refinery
Modernisation project (DRMP) and
different marketing projectsand got
the responsibility of Chief
Manager.Itook early retirement in
November 2007. I alongwith my wife
Parul, are blessed with three
daughters, a grandson and a
granddaughter. All the above
achievements were possible for me
for the excellent education and
trainings that we received from our
respected teachers and staff of our
dear alma mater Assam Engineering
College.
I offer my tribute with fond memories
to our departed friends who left us
and pray God for their noble soul to
rest in eternal peace. Wishing all the
best to my dear AECian friends (1971
pass out) to make the Golden Jubilee
Celebration on 1st December 2021 a
grand success.
 এহু েিংেোৰ (খু হুটীয়ো ৰচনো)

দ নয় শৰ্ম্িো

এগৰাকী নাৰীবয় ভিে িিৰ লাভগ লাভগ ভনজৰ “আপু ভন ভলো এই ভকতাপেনবত এটা অট’গ্ৰাফ
ল’ৰাবটাক মানুহ কবৰ ৷ ভকন্তু প্ৰতবন এগৰাকী ভদ্য়কবচান ৷ এইেন মই প্ৰমাৰ পত্নীক জন্মভদ্নৰ
নাৰীবয়ই আবকৌ ভিে ভমভনটবত প্ৰসই জনক িু িিক উপহাৰ ভদ্ম ৷
িনাই প্ৰপলায় ৷ প্ৰকভতয়া হয় ? প্ৰসইবটা হয় মানুহ
প্ৰলেকঃ ( উল্লাভসত হহ )‌“ভক এইেন ভকতাপ
জবন ভিয়া কবৰাৱাৰ ভপিত ৷ অথিাৎ প্ৰযভতয়া
ভদ্ি ৷ প্ৰমাৰ প্ৰলো আবপানাৰ পত্নীবয় িৰ িাল
প্ৰতওোঁ মাতৃৰ তত্ত্বাৱধ্ানৰ পৰা পত্নীৰ তত্ত্বাৱধ্ানলল
পাই প্ৰনভক ?“
আবহ ৷ ভিয়া মানুহৰ জীৱনৰ এক অপভৰহাযিয
পভতঃ “‌নহয় মই প্ৰতওোঁক ’চাৰপ্ৰাইজ’‌ভদ্ম িু ভল
কমি ৷ প্ৰলাবক কয় ভিয়া এবন এটা কাম ভযবটা
িাভিবিা ৷ প্ৰতওোঁ ওৱাভচং প্ৰমভচন এটা পাম িু ভল
নকভৰবল এজন মানুহ অসিূ ণি হহ থাবক আৰু
আো কভৰ আবি ৷“
ভিয়াৰ ভপচত মানুহজন হয় সিূ ণি ---- প্ৰেষ !
প্ৰকভতয়ািা আবকৌ পত্নীবয়ও পভতক আচভৰত
এটা োঙৰ িযিসাভয়ক প্ৰভতস্থানৰ মুৰৰ্ব্ীক প্ৰসাধ্া
কভৰ ভদ্বয় ৷ প্ৰযবন ধ্ৰক ৰািনী ৰত থকা
হহভিল প্ৰয প্ৰতওোঁ ভকয় ভিিাভহত পু ৰুষক চাকভৰত
ৰোবটা ভিচাবৰ ৷ প্ৰতওোঁ উত্তৰ ভদ্ভিল পত্নীক ভলভগৰীবয় উধ্াতু োইি আভহ হকবিভহ--
-
“প্ৰতওোঁবলাকৰ সকবলাতলক প্ৰিভি আবদ্ে পালন
কৰাৰ অিযাস আবি “ ।“িাইবদ্উ িাইবদ্উ দ্াদ্াৰ ভক হ’ল জাবনা ?
হাতবত প্ৰপবকট এটা ধ্ভৰ ড্ৰইংৰুমবত অজ্ঞান হহ
সংসাৰ কভৰবল পত্নীক মাবজ মাবজ উপহাৰ ভদ্ি
পভৰ আবি ৷“
লাবগ ৷ প্ৰতবহ মৰম প্ৰচবনহ প্ৰিাৰ থাবক৷
পত্নী -- (আনন্দত হাত চাপভৰ িজাই ) িভিয়া !
ভকিু মাবন আবকৌ উপহাৰ ভদ্ পত্নীক আচভৰত
তাৰমাবন মই অেিাৰ ভদ্য়া োৰী দ্হেন পাবলভহ
কভৰ ভদ্ি প্ৰোবজ ৷
৷
এজন পভতবয় এিাৰ অল্পেযাত গল্পভলেক
এজনৰ ওচৰলল হগ হকবি--

41
সংসাৰ কভৰবল সু ে দ্ু ে ৰক্তিীজৰ দ্বৰ ওলাই পত্নী ( গািৰু ভলভগৰীক ) প্ৰহৰ দ্াদ্াৰৰ
থাভকিই ৷এটা ভিপদ্ যাি এটা আভহি ৷ কথাবিাৰ চাবচান ৷ ভলং ভলংলক প্ৰমািবিাৰ
এভতয়া ধ্ৰক- ৰাভেবি ৷ প্ৰদ্ভেবলই হাোঁভহ উিা হহবি ৷

ভক ভিপদ্ৰ কথা কম িাৰু ৷ অ’‌ৰ’ি৷ আভজকাভল ভলভগৰী :- হয় িাইবদ্উ ৷ আপু ভন ভিবকই হকবি
মানুহৰ ৰত ভলভগভৰ ( ইংৰাজীত যাক ৷ প্ৰমাবকাবয এবন ভপৰভপৰাই !
েবমভটটক প্ৰহল্প িু ভল প্ৰকাৱা হয় ) থাবকই ৷
গািৰু ভলভগভৰ হ’প্ৰল প্ৰকভতয়ািা ভিপবদ্া আবি ৷
আবিভল ৰাোত ফুভৰিলল যাওোঁ িু ভল কাৰ লগত
পকা ভপৰীভতত মভজ গিিি ভিিাহ কভৰ
আবপানাক ভিপদ্ত প্ৰপলাি কিবতা প্ৰনাৱাভৰ ৷
ধ্ভৰ লওক

প্ৰসইবিাৰৰ পৰা হাত সাভৰিলল

পত্নীবয় প্ৰেনদ্ৃ ভে ৰাভেবি ৷ ভকন্তু হায় ! ঈিপৰ

সাধ্ু ৰ প্ৰসই এটা চকু কণা হভৰণা পহুবটাৰ দ্বৰ
আবপানাৰ সংসাৰলল প্ৰকবনলক ভিপদ্ নাভম
আভহি আপু ভন ধ্ভৰিই প্ৰনাৱাভৰি ৷

প্ৰযবনলক

পত্নী:-- প্ৰহৰা ৷ তুভমবনা অভফচৰ পৰা প্ৰফানবত

পদ্ু মীক ইমান গাভল পাভৰি লাবগবন ? তাই
কাভন্দকাভট শুই আবি ৷ ইফাবল ৰেনৰ এটা
কাবমা প্ৰহাৱা নাই ৷

পভত : প্ৰহ িগৱান ! হয় প্ৰনভক ? মই আবকৌ

তুভম িু ভলবহ িাভিভিবলা ৷

প্ৰকভতৱািা তাতলকবয়া োঙৰ ভিপদ্ হ’ি পাবৰ ৷

প্ৰযবন--

42
 Then and Now

Abul Hassan

Amal Ch. Sarma

Amarendra Choudhury

Amar Krishna Biswas

Anil Bora

43
 Anjunath Saikia

Anup Kumar Laskar

Ashish Hom

Atul Ch. Bora

Bandan Datta

Baneswar Khound

44
 Bedananda Das

Benoy Sarmah

Bhuban Ch. Sarma

Bijay Agarwala

Bipul Bora

45
 Chandra Das

Chidananda Medhi

Damodar Upadhyaya

Dwigendra N Roy

Himendu Bhattacharjee

Hrishikesh Choudhury

46
 Indreswar Sharma

Janaradan Jalan

Jiten Bordoloi

Joseph G Fernandez

Jyotirindra Kr. Dey

47
 Jyoti Chetia

Kamal Choudhury

Kollol Acharjee

Krishna Das

Krishna Dewra

Krishna Sarma

48
 Kushal Kalita

Labanya Padmapati Barua

Lakhya Kumar Saikia

Manojit Ch. Dey

Mridul Kr. Barua

Mukti Nath

49
 Mumtaz Uddin Ahmed

Munindra Kr. Das

Naba Kumar Barah

Nayan Bhandary Sharma

Nayan Sarma

Nilendu Ranjan Dhar

50
 Niranjan Saha

Paban Kakoty

Paresh Khound

Prabin Mohan Das

Prabir Bora

51
 Pralay Dutta

Pramath Ch. Sarma

Prasanta Kr. Dutta

Praveen Kumar

Promod Pathak

Rajat Kumar Paul

52
 Rajkumar Jain

Ranjit Paul Choudhury

Rupali Naug

Samsul Hussain Khan

Sankar Agarwala

Sankar Chakraborty

53
 Shanti Kumar Jain

Shyam Sundar Agarwal

Sidheswar Gogoi

Subhash Choudhury

Sunil Goswami

Suraiya Begum Jahan

54
 Swaran Behl

Vinod Hansaria

55
 Photo Gallery

College Emblem

College Building

56
 Hostel No. 1

Hostel No. 2

57
 Hostel No. 3

Hostel No. 4

58
 Hostel No. 5

Hostel No. 7

59
 Girls’ Hostel

Sports

60
 Excursion

61
62
63
 Civil Engineering AECians conducting Traffic Survey

Picnic

64
65
 Contact Numbers

Abul Hassan (CE) 94350 82742

Altaf Husain Chaudhury (CE) 94351 78602

Amal Sarma (Ch E) 98640 97555

Amarendra Nath Choudhury(CE) 94350 81160

Amar Krishna Biswas (E) 094328 00481/89102 73197

Anil Bora (CE) 94351 90357

Anup Laskar (CE) 94351 10758/78383 40589

Anju Saikia (ME) 96780 06808/86380 35821

Ashish Hom (ME) 94400 52608

Ashok kr. Dam 8138001982 (Kolkata)

Atul Bora 9435045111

Bandan Dutta 9435080657

Baneswar Khound 99540 90362

Bedananda Das 94355 96755

66
Bhagawati Agarwala 70023 47036

Bharat Kakati (Ch E) 98599 12571

Bhuban Sarma 97620 78754

Bibhuti Sarma 88822 30436

Bijay Agarwala 98640 67455/94355 23222

Binod Hansaria 94353 68375

Benoy Sarma 94350 05864

Bipul Bora 91017 14822

Chandra Das (ME) 7896582081

Chida Medhi 94498 28750

Damudar Upadhyaya 94355 21783

Deben Talukder 97065 71425

Dwigen Roy 94350 13710

Dipankar Roy Choudhury 99800 65557

67
Haren Basumatari (CE) 94351 27000

Himadree Das 84200 10468

Himendu Bhattacharjee 94354 03175/60012 77384 (W)

Hrishikesh Chaudhury (CE) 98540 25717/ 88110 78155

Indreswar Sharma 94351 10953

Janardan Jalan 70023 11835

Joseph Fernandez (M) 95909 48029

Jyotirindra Kr. Dey (E) 98111 20605

Jiten Bordoloi 94350 90861

Jyoti Chetia 94350 30831

Kabin Sarma (ME) 97063 28332

Kallol Acharjee 94330 02465

Kamal Chaudhury 98642 06398

Krishna Das 60025 88496

Krishna Dewra (Kolkata) 98315 43609

68
Krishna Sarma 98640 42607

Kushal Kalita (CE) 98640 27605

Labanya Padmapati Barua (ME 98640 38757

Lakhya Kumar Saikia 94355 15604

Manas De (C) 94357 30363

Manik Chakroborty 79800 63130

Manojit Ch. Dey 98318 38568/62906 49659

Mridul Kr. Barua 94350 46509

Mukti Nath (ME) 99581 88466

Mumtaz Uddin Ahmed 94351 15189

Munindra Kr. Das 99100 77424

Naba Kr. Borah 86388 26764

Nayan Bhandari Sharma (CE) 98640 38370

Nayan Sarma (Roorkee) (CE) 98970 40762

69
Nazrul Islam Laskar 94350 62116

Nilendu Rn. Dhar (Electrical) 94357 09153/97401 35578

Niranjan Saha (Ch) 98745 36012

Paban Kakoti 94351 03577

Paresh Khound 98182 78833

Prabin Das (CE) 98641 10526

Prabir Bora 94350 17060

Pradip Kr. Deka 98640 97483

Praloy Dutta (EE) 87775 79793/98309 22343(W)

Pramath Sarma 99541 54541

Prasanta Dutta 94355 45852

Praveen Kumar (Banglore) 98452 70920

Promod Pathak 70026 86313

Prosenjit Roy (Mech) 94350 27314

Rajat Kumar Paul (ME) 83998 97242/96781 12394

70
Rajkumar Jain(Ch E) 91017 14984

Ranjan Das 94015 26243

Ranjit Paul Choudhury 98300 50338

Rupali Naug (Ch E) 94350 40952/98640 21823

Sailen Deka 98640 93272

Sajjan Goenka 98630 47005/94361 05487

Samsul Hussain Khan 94351 94703

Sankar Agarwala 86191 90576

Sankar Chakraborty +1 516851 3085

Shantilal Jain 94350 48014

Sheikh Rahman Ali 94357 31598

Shyam Sundar Agarwal 93285 96399/79843 58781

Sidheswar Gogoi 94353 92543

Samir Bhawal 94351 73599

71
Saradindu Das (Civil) 60015 50726/98867 72377

Sopun Handique 98640 74133

Subhash Chodhury (EE) 94350 70631/86381 96354

Sunil Goswami 94351 33452

Suraiya Begum(Ch E) 93268 53960

Sukumar Ganguli 94753 78335

Swapan Banarjee (EE) 98748 42436/94326 74008

Swaran Behl (Mumbai) 98922 56023

Swasti Munchi (Ch E) 94324 12686

Tapan Chakrabarty 98368 62638/80010 12533

Ujjalendu Paul 94011 71966

Umesh Kakati 99100 35994

72
 Messages

Dear Lakhya,
I'm very happy to hear about the Golden Jubilee Reunion Celebration of 1966-
1971 batch of students of Assam Engineering College, Guwahati-our Alma
mater.
As you mentioned in your message, it is indeed an occasion of glorious 50 years
for all of our batch mates since we left the college in 1971.
Please accept my sincere thanks for your tremendous efforts to organize this
enormous task, even in this digital age.
As much as I wish to join my batch mates in this celebration, which one gets to
enjoy once in a life time, my present circumstances do not permit me to attend
the celebration and meet my class mates. Per your request, I am providing two
photos-one from my college days and one recent.
If possible and when published, please send me a copy of the Souvenir you are
planning to publish on the occasion with names of our batch mates and their
WhataApp phone numbers at my email: sankaruska@gmail.com

Regards
Sankar Chakraborty
(1966-1971Batch Civil Engineering AEC)
New York, USA.

Bora Saab,
Thanks for the great effort you people put into organizing such an event. I
remember your face which has not changed much.
I am now working out things to join this gathering but even if I fail I thank you
all and wish you the best for the event in our sun set years. Will send photos as
advised.
J. K. Dey
1966-1971 Mech Engg. Hostel 5

73
Dear Prabir,
Thank you & the team for the invite. I regret I wouldn't be able to attend the meet,
due to a prior personal engagement, but glad to know all have been in touch
throughout these 50 long years.
Best wishes for successful celebrations.
Thanks,
Prosenjit Roy

Thank you Prabir for the invitation.

But I am sorry to inform that I will not be able to join this program.
Wish you all great Success and Enjoyment for this Reunion.
Suraiya Jahan (Mumbai)

Dear Prabir Bora,

I have some personal work at Guwahati. Will try to adjust and inform later.
Anup Laskar (Guru Gram)

74
Thanks for remembering and inviting. But I am sorry to inform that it would not
be possible for me to join you due to various constraints.
Altaf Hussain.

Thanks for remembering. Sorry I will not be in a position to join.

Wishing all the best
Manik Chakravarty

Thank you so much for organizing an event and an avenue where we can share
our feelings post-graduation and enjoy all the golden days of our college life. But
unfortunately, I am one of the unlucky persons to skip the celebration due to
unavoidable social obligation. Sorry.
Have a nice day.
Monojit Chandra Day

Wishing a happy re-union & golden jubilee celebration of AEC 1966 entry batch.
Swasti Munshi (Kolkata)

75
 Someone asked an engineer, “Why do you
feel proud of being an engineer?”
He smiled and replied, “The income of a
lawyer increases with the increase in crime and
a doctor’s income increases with the increase in
diseases but an engineer’s income increases with
the increase in the prosperity of people or even
the whole nation. That’s why we engineers feel
so proud.”
A file in the hand is the identity of a Lawyer,
stethoscope in hand a doctor, a chalk in hand of
a teacher but nothing in hand and everything in
mind is the identity of an engineer.

76
 Compiled by : Lakhya Kumar Saikia
Edited by : Lakhya Kumar Saikia
Snigdha Chaya Saikia
Formatting by : Mridu Pawan Saikia
Cover Deign by : Snigdha Chaya Saikia

77