By NJ Thakuria
Guwahati, June 17,
Eminent educationist and translator Professor Abul Lais passed away on Saturday (16 June 2018) at his ancestral home at Machkhowa locality in the city. Prof Lais, 85, died just before the Eid Namaaz at 9.30 am leaving behind his wife, two daughters and a host of relative &well wishers. His last rites were performed at Athgaon in the evening hours.
Soon after completing his master in English literature from Gauhati University, Prof Lais joined the prestigious university in 1959. Later, he pursued his master in linguistics and English language teaching from the University of Leeds. After retiring from Gauhati University in 1994, Prof Lais also served Tezpur University for two years.
Widely regarded for his brilliant translation of How Green Was My Valley (by Richard Llewellyn) into Assamese, the soft spoken gentleman also tried his hands in translating some other classics like Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, Erich Maria Remarque’s Three Comrades, James Hilton’s Good Bye Mr. Chips, RK Narayan’s Swami and Friends etc.