Guwahati, Nov 1: Long before sporting success from the Northeast began attracting national attention, Pulin Das was among those laying the foundations of a sporting culture in Assam. A cricketer, administrator and pioneering sports journalist, Das’s contribution to the region’s sporting journey was remembered on his 108th birth anniversary at India Club here on Sunday.
The memorial programme, organised by the Pulin Das Memorial Committee, brought together members of the sporting fraternity to reflect on his legacy and discuss how Indian sport has evolved over the years.
Former badminton player Mallika Barua Sarma, the chief guest and speaker, led a discussion on ‘Changing Face of Indian Sports’, highlighting the growing confidence and ambition of Indian athletes across disciplines.
She observed that Indian sport was no longer confined to cricket, with athletes increasingly making their presence felt on the international stage. The emergence of champions such as Neeraj Chopra, whose Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021 inspired a generation, had helped change the aspirations of young sportspersons.
Today’s athletes, she said, were more fearless and increasingly willing to challenge established names.
The discussion also offered an opportunity to remember the pioneers who helped create sporting institutions and opportunities in Assam at a time when infrastructure, exposure and organised sports were still developing.
Former badminton player Pradip Chaliha recalled his childhood association with Das and spoke about the latter’s influence on Assam’s sporting community.
Born in Guwahati on November 1, 1918, Das was part of Assam’s first Ranji Trophy team in 1949, a landmark moment in the state’s cricketing history. He was the only surviving member of that team.
His contribution to Assam cricket, however, began even before his playing days. He played a key role in establishing the Assam Cricket Association in 1947, serving as its secretary alongside the then Premier of Assam, Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi.
Das’s sporting interests extended beyond cricket to table tennis, hockey and tennis. He also took up football refereeing and cricket umpiring and was among the founders of the Lokapriya Bordoloi Trophy in 1952, a tournament that became an important part of Assam’s football calendar.
Equally significant was his contribution to sports journalism. At a time when coverage of sport in the Northeast had limited space in the mainstream media, Das emerged as Assam’s first full-fledged sports journalist, reporting for The Assam Tribune and The Statesman, besides contributing to other publications.
He also served as a sports reviewer for All India Radio and was among the first Assamese commentators associated with the broadcaster.
His life reflected an era when building sport in the Northeast demanded commitment across multiple fronts — as an athlete, administrator, official and journalist.
Pulin Das Memorial Committee secretary Kalyan Kumar Das, his son, said the initiative was aimed at keeping his father’s contribution alive and inspiring younger generations to understand the role of pioneers in shaping Assam’s sporting identity.
Committee president Nayan Prasad proposed the vote of thanks.
