Assam held a memorial meeting on Thursday to honor the late Premadhar Sarma, a pioneer in sports journalism and a significant figure in sports development in the region. The event, titled “A Tribute to Premadhar Sarma,” took place at the Gauhati Town Club Auditorium and was co-organized by the Guwahati Sports Association (GSA), Gauhati Town Club (GTC), and the Assam Sports Journalists’ Association (ASJA). Sarma’s career was multi-dimensional, involving playing, refereeing, commentary, organization, and journalism. He started as a player in the B Division League in Guwahati and played a pivotal role in the establishment of various sports associations throughout Assam. His distinct voice during notable events, such as the Bharat Ratna Lokaproya Bordoloi Trophy football tournament in the 1960s, was fondly remembered by attendees.
During the memorial, tributes were paid by numerous individuals, including Sarma’s widow, Binapani Devi, and prominent figures like BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, GSA President Paresh Chandra Das, and veteran sports organizers Pradip Kr Hazarika and Eske Alam. A moment of silence was observed to honor Sarma’s memory. Das described Sarma as a “pioneer in many ways,” while Saikia referred to him as “a living encyclopedia” whose passing leaves a significant void in Assam’s sports community. He highlighted Sarma’s longstanding connection with the Guwahati Sports Association and Gauhati Town Club, emphasizing the need to celebrate his life and contributions.
Balendra Mohan Chakravarty, the founder president of ASJA, detailed Sarma’s instrumental role in establishing the association and his later position as Treasurer of the Sports Journalists’ Federation of India. Eske Alam, a former classmate and commentator, reminisced about their early days in sports commentary and Sarma’s analytical strengths that stemmed from his refereeing background. Former cricketer Shankar Datta Lahkar and international athlete Tayabun Nisha shared poignant reflections on Sarma’s dedication to covering sports events and his nurturing presence in their sporting journeys. The gathering, which included sports personnel, journalists, and Sarma’s family, paid heartfelt tributes and prayers for his eternal peace. Additionally, the ASJA presented an audio-visual documentary that celebrated the life and achievements of Premadhar Sarma during the tribute ceremony.