A tribute by Biren Bhattacharya
Prafulla Narayan Dev Goswami was a man of uncommon grace, profound sincerity, untiring and selfless devotion to the cause of profession and honesty. Born on December 17, 1921, Goswami originally hailed from Tihu, Assam. He completed his schooling from Cotton Collegiate High School. He got his BA degree from Cotton College, Guwahati and passed MA in Philosophy from Calcutta University. He then completed his ICWA in the year 1973 from the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India, Kolkata. After his studies, Goswami joined TISCO (Tata Inn and Steel Company). As he was invited by the management of Ashok Paper Mills Ltd, Jogighopa, he resigned from the previous company and joined Ashok Paper Mills as the Finance Controller. He was asked to resign from that post from its head office at Darbhanga because he participated in the Assam Movement. He later joined as Cost Consultant to Jagiroad Spun Mills; Assam Syntax Ltd. Baitamari; Assam Syntax Ltd. Paschim Nagaon; Apollo, Tulshibari; ASCON, Bamunimlidam; Assam As-bestos & Fertichem Ltd. Bon-da.
In the meantime, he joined the Business Administration Department of Gauhati University as guest faculty on Cost and Management Ac-countancy. He was also the member secretary of the Price Fixation Committee of the Assam Small Industrial Development Corporation Ltd., Bamonioviidam. He even worked as Cost Consultant to the Department of Director of Industries.
While he was working as the Cost Consultant, Goswami started the Guwahati Chapter of Cost Accountancy and soon became its course director. Later, with the sponsorship of the Public Enterprises Department, Government of Assam and the North Eastern Council, he started the Oral Coaching Centre at Guwahati for Cost Accountancy, and was appointed as the chairman of the same by the Assam Government. This was done to develop the cost accountancy profession in Assam. He had to his credit a host of cost accountants passing out from this coaching center. He was extremely dedicated and his only ambition was to make the students torch bearers of the profession. His contribution in this regards is immense. From 1993 onwards, he started full professional practice as a cost accountant till his death.
He was a dedicated teacher. His devotion to the cause of teaching was unparalleled. His aptitude and analytical skill in solving costing problems was really praiseworthy. History will remember him not only as the first cost accountant of the North-East India but also as a sincere, dedicated and selfless professional who did a yeoman's job for the cause of his own profession and also for the entire state.
(Previously published in The Assam Tribune)
