By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: Mohammad Taher – one of the brightest stars of academics from the region, author of more than 30 books and editor of two volumes of the Asomiya Biswakoch (Assamese encyclopedia) – is no more.
The 84-year-old scholar left for heavenly abode on Tuesday leaving hundreds in a state of sorrow. His janaja was performed on Wednesday in Guwahati in the presence of his family, relatives and well-wishers.
Mohammad Taher (File photo)
Taher, whom his colleagues and students described as a doyen of Indian Geography, was suffering from ailments related to old age for quite some time.
Born in 1931 in a village in Lakhimpur district, Taher’s contribution in the field of Geography was immense. He had penned 33 books and atlas for schools and colleges besides more than 70 research papers. He also edited two volumes of the Asomiya Biswakoch (Assamese encyclopedia) apart from writing short stories.
Taher was honoured by the state government and other universities number of times for his contribution to the field of education. He served as a professor in Gauhati University for several decades before retiring in 1991 as Dean of Science. Even after this, he was associated with the varsity as a guest professor.
Taher had a very bright record as a student. He had obtained his Ph D from Auckland University, New Zealand on ‘Asians in New Zealand: A Geographical Review and Interpretation’. He completed the Masters degree from Calcutta University after his graduation from Cotton College in Guwahati.
Assam chief Tarun Gogoi, among others, has expressed deep grief at the demise of the veteran scholar. In a statement, Gogoi said Taher’s contribution will be remembered in the days to come as it’s an uphill task for anybody to achieve such amount of works.
“He himself was a source of light. All the students who have come across him realised it. Now it’s a sense of emptiness for all of us. He may be one of us but his life itself was a lesson to us. Though I have met several renowned scholars across the globe in some top universities, Taher sir strikingly features among the best teachers whom I have come across in my life,” said Tezpur University’s pro vice chancellor Amarjyoti Choudhury.
People from different walks of Taher’s birth place Lakhimpur also expressed their grief at the loss. Assam unite of CPI (M) also expressed grief at his demise. CPI (M) state secretary Uddhav Barman highlighted the secular ideals of Taher while remembering him.