During the Ahom rule in Asaam, our ancestors settled in a place called Gossainali of Jhaji region in Sibasagar District. Under the patronage of the Royal family, they performed Yogna & other religious activities. As part of the Diaspora, my great- grandfather settled in a place called Majgaon in Dhakuakhana (North Lakimpur).
Roxeshwar Sharma, our Grandfather was a religious man and led a modest life. His eldest son was Gangeshwar Sharma, my father, a well- built handsome man. By profession he was a teacher in a local Borbam Lower Primary School. My mother’s name was Gunada Devi.
I was born on 23rd of August, 1931. There were no hospitals or doctors available nearby hence under the supervision of a village mid-wife my umbilical cord was separated using a bamboo stick and a knife. My mum later said that I was named “PHANI” as she felt I was the healthy & handsome one. But everyone at home called me “KONMOINA”.
On a fine day with Slate & book in hand & accompanied by my elder brother Dharani Sharma, I stepped in Borbam L.P. School, the same school where my father worked as a teacher. In this way, like my elder brother, my educational career started off under the guidance of my father. It’s worth mentioning here that during my days in this primary school, I developed a strong attraction for sports activities.
After completing my primary education, I took admission in Dhakuakhana High school. It was a terrible and long journey from home to school every day. Realizing this, my father, after consulting with the school authorities made a special arrangement for us to stay within the school complex. I fondly remember to have Mr. Homen Borgohain, now an eminent laureate, as my school-mate then in Dhakuakhana.
After studying till class Seven in Dhakuakhana High School, I joined Lakhimpur Govt. High School and was fortunate enough to come under the influence of various noble & learned teachers. Amongst them, Bronson Rongpi Sir was specially remembered. The fact which encouraged me most about Rongpi Sir was that he played football with us during the breaks and after school hours.
My brother, Dharani Sharma used to be two years my senior. Once he passed out of school, I being on my own lost all interest in studies. My father realized this and shifted me to Dibrugarh Govt. High School where I completed my 10th boards. I stayed with my Uncle in Chiring Chapori.
During my stay in Dibrugarh, I met Rudra Barua, with whom I shared a strong bondage till his last breath. Once we travelled from Dibrugarh to Dhemajee across the river along with our cycles. While returning back from our home; we took a wrong turn as Rudra insisted we follow the directions of a local tribe & cycled for 30 odd kilometres to complete a distance of just ten. We finally managed to board the boat. If that was not enough, the boat got stuck in the sand and we had to spend the night in the boat. Next day after a lot of manoeuvre, persistence and some local help we finally reached Dibrugarh. I still cherish my nostalgia about these incidents with Rudra Barua during our school days.
In Dibrugarh, I was got the opportunity to learn various sports particularly, swimming. Once while swimming, I almost got drowned but was fortunately rescued by friends. Another favourite game for me was to roll the Cycle ring and run along with it.
One day, my aunt with whom I stayed died after a brief illness and the responsibility of cooking was given to me. I learned cooking this way. I remember I injured my eyes from the flares of the clay oven.
At that time I was also shocked by another incident which stirred my soul. That Unfortunate incident occurred on 30th of January,1948.. the day father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. I still can feel the moment with ghostly silence prevailing then in every nuke & corner of Dibrugarh.
In 1949 our Matriculation exam result was out. I was a mediocre in studies. As deserved, I passed the exam in Second division and wished to go to Guwahati to pursue my college education. My father gave his consent. My brother was then a School teacher of Bezbaruah School. I boarded the bus to Guwahati with few paisa’s given by my father & Rupees Ten from my elder brother. On way at Dergaon, Janardan Bezbaruah also boarded the same bus. He was going to Guwahati with the same desire. In the evening, after arriving at Guwahati, we went to Bezbaruah’s uncles’ house who was also a very good friend of my elder brother and sent him a letter request him to shelter me. Once, I joined Commerce College, I shifted to Don Bosco Hostel. In this context, I extend my heartiest gratitude to the Bezbarua Family for their hospitality.
Through excellent impartation of our teachers, especially Sabarwal, Sengupta, Sarangpani and Padmeshwar Gogoi, my college education started with a promising note and continued for a while. Slowly financial problem aroused. My monthly expenses for hostel, food, lodging & education were SIXTY rupees (just above a $1).
It was quite impossible for my father, being a sole earner to run our large family from a mere income as a primary school teacher and also to bear my expenses on a regular basis. At that critical point, one of our distant relative, Rudra Sharma, helped me and bored the entire expenses of my education for which I shall always remain grateful to him eternally.
We played football in Don Bosco school field. At that time something happened. Famous table tennis players of international repute came to Guwahati & played few exhibition matches. Among them were Jayanta Dey, Anu Ghosh Romesh Bhandari (National Champion) & Richard Bergman (Player from London). I was amazed to witness for the first time that two players are playing with a little bat & ping pong ball on a small board. And I fell in love with Table Tennis… instantly…unknowingly.
Playing table tennis made me well-liked in Guwahati. I was blessed & loved by many seniors. In the mean time I paased Pre-university and enrolled myself for B.Com (Commerce Degree). Table Tennis was full on. With that my expenditure also raised hence I was forced to look for some income. I joined Oriental Insurance Company to pay my bills. My first job with them took me to Kanpur. I landed on my office doors on a Sunday and unable to get to a hotel nearby I made arrangement with the chowkidar (security guy) and slept the night on a table at office. Next day they made arrangements for my stay.
I couldn’t possibly stay in Kanpur for long. I loved table tennis and Guwahati and with that came the end of my employed life.
After returning to Guwahati, I came to know that due to long absence from classes I was not allowed to sit for my B.Com final exam. After lots of requests to my teachers, I was finally allowed to appear for the exam. Even tough-hearted teachers like Mr. Padmeshwar Gogoi, also got convinced by me. I successfully passed the B.com Exam. It’s true that I didn’t get any distinction but my scores were good enough. Although I joined M.Com, but deep inside, I strongly believed that I was ready to immerge into independent business.
I took a small house in Happy Villa area and for the first time in my life I was awarded with my biggest work….fencing and painting the borders of Dighalipukhuri Lake. I completed the job with perfection and got some money. With that I purchased an old El Salvador vehicle and started a Shillong-Guwahati carriage business. In 1959 I purchased the plot of land where my family still lives and built a small house with a makeshift kitchen. Slowly, I was finally merging into the Social life of Guwahati. At that point of time, I had Mr. Ramani Baruah as my close friend. He was a science student but the common factor in our friendship was Table Tennis.
One day I was called home hurriedly. After reaching there, I gathered that my father was all set to tie my knot and even went ahead and chose a suitable girl for me. Rina Barkataki, the daughter of a well to do lawyer, Pushpa Barkataki of Dibrugarh. Everybody insisted that I meet my bride before I married her. We met at one of my Uncle’s home. 26 days later, we got married.
We travelled from Majgaon to Dibrugarh three days before the wedding. The villagers of Majgaon blessed us, played Khol-Taal and bode Good-bye. My mother shred tears of joy. My cousin Mr. Dhiren Sharma (Later Justice) accompanied us. Next day, with my new bride I came home to Majgaon. There was arrangement for a Public community feast. I still remember the joy my parents had in their eyes that day. A few days later I returned to Guwahati alone. After tidying up my Guwahati house and renovating it, I finally ushered my wife to Guwahati. We started our married life.
Monot Pore Din Kaita Loi
Late Phani Sharma was my intimate friend for last 55 years. Our friendship was solid till yesterday. I met Phani Sharma in 1951 when I joined Cotton College and was staying in Assam Tribune with Late R. G. Baruah, Sharma was then a student of B. Com in Gauhati University and was staying in University undergraduate hostel at Chandmari (presently the Alankar Hotel). Our friendship grew stronger when both of us started playing table tennis. 
We know, but fail to believe that death is the ultimate truth of this world. We come across sad news of death almost daily in our routine life, but when somebody very close and dear to us leave us, the ubiquitous presence of death see eye to eye with us.
My association with Dr. Phani Sharma is for the last 30 years and more particularly for the last 5 years.
At the dot of 9 am the 25th of June, Eleye baidew rang me up to inform me that Phanida was no more, I knew that he had been ailing for quite sometime and had visited him at the International Hospital but nevertheless the news came as a shock– the creator of the golden era of Assam Table Tennis was no more.
