Background
Barooah was born in Golaghat to the family of Tara Prasad Barooah. His father Tara Prasad Barooah was also an eminent lawyer of Assam, University Prize-man, Gold-medalist in English from Calcutta University.
Barooah was born in Golaghat to the family of Tara Prasad Barooah. His father Tara Prasad Barooah was also an eminent lawyer of Assam, University Prize-man, Gold-medalist in English from Calcutta University.
Doctor Barooah passed his matriculation from Golaghat - Government Boys Bezbarooah Higher Secondary School and graduated with first class in 1954 and got masters from Gauhati University in 1956 where he topped his class.
Doctor Barooah, highly regarded for his knowledge of political science and history of the region had a brilliant academic record beginning with his graduation in 1954. He did his Doctor of Philosophy on the thesis. Doctor I II As an academician he mentored many students and researchers and acted as guide to 23 scholars.
He was involved in several post-retirement assignments, including his association with the University Grants Commission.
As a writer his write-ups had been published in various English National Dailies. He was a Guest Column Writer for The Telegraph newspaper published from Kolkata.
Barooah was a Professor and Head of Political Science from 1978 till his appointment as Gauhati University Vice-Chancellor in 1986. Barooah was also a nationalist blended with regionalism and had contributions in different assignments including a case relating to May 17, 1996, murder of noted journalist Parag Kumar Das.
A Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court, comprising Chief Justice J Chalemeswar and Justice Hrishikesh Roy, admitted a revision petition as regards investigation into the case.
The court had then registered the plea on the basis of a letter written by Doctor Debo Prasad Barooah to the Chief Justice of the High Court where, in his letter, Doctor Barooah alleged "slackness on part of the China, Burma, India Theatre of Operations in investigating the case." Barooah played a role in organising the first political convention of the AGP in Golaghat in October 1985. Doctor Barooah died on 28 January 2013 due to cardiac arrest. His death was widely condoned by various people including Assam"s Governor JB Patnaik and Minister for Information & Public Relations - Basanta Das.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also expressed his deep condolence at the demise of Doctor Barooah.
In their condolence messages, they said that "Assam has lost a great educationist, academician, litterateur and a social worker".
But he stayed away from direct involvement with any political party.