Photo Courtesy: nenews
Guwahati: ASSOCHAM handed the Legacy and Heritage Excellence Award 2026 to tea veteran Bidyananda Barkakoty. The ceremony took place June 24 at Hotel Vivanta in Kolkata. West Bengal Finance Minister Dr. Swapan Dasgupta gave him the trophy during the Growth Driven Family Business Conclave.
Barkakoty represents the fifth generation of his family in the tea trade. His great-great-grandfather, Sarbananda Borkakoty, started the business back when British firms dominated the industry. The family roots run deep in the Assam soil. It is a long history.
A mechanical engineer by trade, Barkakoty previously led the North Eastern Tea Association and served as Vice Chairman of the Tea Board of India. He stays on with the association as an adviser today. He holds immense respect across the industry.
Accepting the award, Barkakoty shifted the credit to those working the fields. He said, "I dedicate this honour to the generations of my family who helped build the legacy, as well as to the tea growers and workers whose contributions have made Assam tea globally recognised."
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