Assam: Octogenerian artist Neelpawan still busy with sketches

Ashwini Kumar Boruah from Guwahati

About Thirty thousand empty cigeret packets, every packet has a new sketch, all are kept carefully in sacks. 85 years old artist Neelpawan Barua used to draw abstract arts .He was a chain smoker since his college days and for the last sixty years or so he used to smoked about 4 packets a day. But during last two years when he reduced smoking to one packet a day.He never threw empty packet in waste bin.
Barua is Assam's veteran Octogenerian Artist of repute. He defeated Covid pandemic after being in hospital for about 15 days and got released a few days back.After the death of his wife Dipali Borthakur, who was fondly called by the people as Lata Mangeshkar of Assam during her prime age,Baruah isliving alone for last two years. He lives at Saurabh Nagar area of Guwahati city and runs an Arts school.