Veteran journalist and writer Biman Dhar and his grandson Rahul Pal were cremated amid an outpouring of grief at Battala Mahashmashan in Agartala on October 23, a day after a fatal head-on collision with a passenger bus at Bagma under the Gomati District in Tripura. Their final journey drew journalists, political leaders, writers, artists and members of the public, who paid their respects.
Key Takeaways
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Veteran journalist and writer Biman Dhar and his grandson Rahul Pal died in a head-on collision with a passenger bus at Bagma on Thursday.
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Journalists, political leaders, writers, artists and cultural organisations paid their final respects at Agartala Press Club, Rabindra Bhavan and the Tripura Darpan office.
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Rahul, who recently got a job, died alongside his grandfather, leaving his parents and relatives inconsolable.
| Earlier Report: Veteran Tripura Journalist Biman Bihari Dhar, Grandson Die in Road Accident |
The grandfather and grandson died in a tragic road accident at Bagma on Thursday morning. They were travelling towards Udaipur when their vehicle collided head-on with a passenger bus. The accident claimed both lives and plunged the State into mourning.
A Journey to Matabari Ends in Tragedy
Rahul had recently secured a job, bringing happiness to his family. He was taking his beloved grandfather to Matabari to offer prayers. However, the journey ended before they could reach their destination.
News of the accident spread across the state on Thursday, triggering widespread sorrow. Many found it difficult to accept the death of Rahul, a young man whose life held so much promise. The loss of Biman Dhar, a veteran journalist and writer, added to the grief felt by colleagues and members of the literary fraternity.
Journalists Pay Tribute at Agartala Press Club
The funeral procession began on Friday afternoon. The cortege first reached Agartala Press Club, where the club secretary and journalists from print and electronic media laid floral tributes on the bodies of Biman Dhar and Rahul Pal.
Several prominent personalities also paid their respects. They included Samiran Roy, editor of Tripura Darpan; Subal Dey, editor of Syandan; academic Mihir Deb; former Rajya Sabha MP Matilal Sarkar; Phulan Bhattacharya; former Tripura High Court judge S.K. Das; Justice Arindam Lodh, chairperson of the Tripura Human Rights Commission; former MLA Subal Bhowmik; and Bimbisar Bhattacharya, director of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department.
The gathering reflected the deep connections Biman Dhar had built through his years in journalism and public life.
Tributes at Rabindra Bhavan
From the press club, the cortege proceeded to Rabindra Bhavan. The organisers placed Biman Dhar’s body at the base of the statue of Rabindranath Tagore. Rahul’s body lay beside his grandfather.
Artists, writers, intellectuals and educationists gathered at the venue to pay their final respects. Several cultural organisations, including Tripura Sanskriti Samanway Kendra, Tripura Rabindra Parishad and Parisar, also offered tributes.
Among those who paid their respects were artist Swapan Nandi, former vice-chancellor Dr Arunoday Saha, former ministers Gopal Das and Jayagobinda Debroy, and poet Dilip Das.
Emotional Farewell at Tripura Darpan Office
The procession next reached the Tripura Darpan office at Colonel Chowmuhani. Biman Dhar’s wife broke down in tears as she bid her husband a final farewell.
On Wednesday morning, Biman Dhar had left home with Rahul for Matabari after saying goodbye to his wife. The family had expected their return from the religious visit. Instead, the two came home together in death.
Former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar paid his last respects to Biman Dhar at the newspaper’s office. Journalists and non-journalist employees of Tripura Darpan also gathered to honour their colleague.
Biman Dhar’s association with the newspaper made the visit particularly emotional for those who had worked alongside him.
Rahul’s Parents Inconsolable
The funeral procession then reached the Jaynagar residence of late mass leader Biren Datta. Biman Dhar was Datta’s eldest son-in-law.
Rahul’s parents had arrived from Mangaluru shortly before the cortege reached the residence. The death of their only child left them devastated. Their inconsolable cries moved relatives and bystanders, many of whom broke down in tears.
Those present struggled to console the grieving parents as they faced the loss of their son. The scene deepened the sorrow surrounding the final journey.
Last Rites at Battala Mahashmashan
After the family paid its final respects, the cortege proceeded to Battala Mahashmashan. The last rites of Biman Dhar and Rahul Pal took place on two adjacent funeral pyres.
The cremation marked the end of a day of tributes and mourning across Agartala. From the press club to Rabindra Bhavan, the newspaper office and the family residence, people gathered to honour the grandfather and grandson whose lives ended in the same tragic accident.
The deaths left Biman Dhar’s colleagues, the state’s literary and cultural community, and Rahul’s family confronting an immense loss. What began as a journey to offer prayers at Matabari ended in a tragedy that brought two generations to their final farewell together. (Edited by Enewstime Desk)
