Hemendra Prasad Barooah

On 26 January 2013, the Government of India announced the award of Padma Shri to Hemendra Prasad Barooah, honouring him for his services to the Trade and Industry of India. Six months later, on 31 July 2013, Barooah, aged 86, breathed his last at Bangkok, while on a trip to the Thailand capital for medical treatment. His wife and only son, Amit Barooah, having preceded him, he was survived by his oldest daughter and her family as well as his late son's daughter. It was reported that Barooah had already built his mausoleum earlier, in 2004, decked with a green marble with only the date of death left to be filled.

He was felicitated by the Tea Research Association in 2011 and by the Assam Cultural Trust in 2012. In 2007, Assam Cultural University conferred on him a doctorate (Honoris Causa).

Hemendra Barooah has served in many positions. Besides heading his business concerns such as B&A Ltd and B&A Packings, he has also served as the Chairman of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was also a member of the Tea Board during the period 1963 - 1973. He was also the Chairman of the Eastern chapter of the State Bank of India, the Director of Indian Airlines Corporation, member of the Central Advisory Council for Industrial Development, New Delhi and the Chairman of the Tea Research Association.

Hemendra Prasad Barooah (1926–2013), was an Indian entrepreneur, tea planter and philanthropist known for his contributions to Assam tea and tourism industries. He was honoured by the Government of India, in 2013, that bestowed on him the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for his contributions to the fields of trade and industry.

Hemendra Prasad Barooah was born on the 1st of April at Jalukonibari, near Jorhat, of the Northeast Indian state of Assam, to Shiva Prasad Barooah and Kamal Kumari Barooah, in 1926. He came from Khongiya Barooah family, a rich Assamese family that was already in tea plantation business established by Bisturam Barooah, a rich planter who started his business during a period when the Britishers were controlling the tea industry in Assam. His father died when Hemen was in his youth and after securing an MBA from the Harvard University, reportedly the first person from the Northeast India to secure a Harvard MBA, Hemendra started out in 1949, with the three tea gardens he inherited from his mother. He nurtured his business after releasing it from the control of the Williamson & Magor Group, which controlled tea business during those times. At the time of his death, Hemndra Barooah controlled nine gardens, held under his Kolkata-based business firm, Barooahs and Associates Pvt. Ltd.