Sarat Chandra Sinha
Encyclopedia
Sarat Chandra Sinha was a Chief Minister
of Assam
and a leader of Indian National Congress
, Indian National Congress (Socialist) and Nationalist Congress Party
. Known for his value-based politics, Sinha belonged to a rare breed of politicians who sacrificed his life for the welfare of the downtrodden people of Indian society. A true Gandhian, he never compromised with his principle what he preached and practised. His illustrious political life was a rare combination of honesty, simplicity and integrity. He was also a writer.
, Sinha
started schooling from his village school. For secondary education, he attended a High School
in Bilasipara
, some 25 km from his home, a distance what he covered daily on foot or by bicycle. He received his bachelor degree from the Cotton College, Guwahati
and subsequently moved to Banaras Hindu University
for law education. After getting a law degree, Sinha came back to Guwahati
and practised law for a short period and then switched to school teachings in different positions from assistant teacher to headmaster in Dhubri district
. During the reorganisation of States on the basis of languages in early 50s, a section of people in lower Assam tried to merge the undivided Goalpara
district with West Bengal
. But Sinha fought the move alone, and kept Goalpara district
well embedded within the geographical boundary of Assam.
state assembly four times from Bilasipara
east constituency in 1946-52, 1962–67, 1972–78 and 1985-90. He was first made an interim chief minister in 1972 by Indira Gandhi
and subsequently became an elected chief minister
and served till 1978. He also served the Congress party in various positions and capacities like general secretary, vice-president and president. However, he later joined Congress (S) after the emergency era which was imposed by Indira Gandhi
and became the national president of it in 1987. Sinha faced some challenging task in his tenure of chief ministership like shifting the state capital from Shillong
to Dispur, when Meghalaya
was carved out of Assam along with Shillong and the language agitation in 1972, which rocked the state, a demand for the introduction of Assamese
as the sole medium of instruction in Assam. He was instrumental in setting up the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital and Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemical Limited. He believed in decentralisation of power and introduced Panchayati Raj
in the State for the welfare of the backward communities. He also sowed the seeds of cooperative movement in Assam to boost State’s economy. When Sharad Pawar
left the Congress to form the Nationalist Congress Party
, he joined him and led the party in Assam till his death. A man of the masses, Sinha became a living legend during his lifetime. He was the most common man in an uncommon society. Like a young man at the age of 90, he attended literary discussion, drama
workshop, dharna
, hunger strike or trade union meeting. He died on 25 December 2005 at his Guwahati residence due to old age ailments.,
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
of Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
and a leader of Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
, Indian National Congress (Socialist) and Nationalist Congress Party
Nationalist Congress Party
The Nationalist Congress Party is a centre to centre left political party primarily based in the state of Maharashtra, India.-Background:...
. Known for his value-based politics, Sinha belonged to a rare breed of politicians who sacrificed his life for the welfare of the downtrodden people of Indian society. A true Gandhian, he never compromised with his principle what he preached and practised. His illustrious political life was a rare combination of honesty, simplicity and integrity. He was also a writer.
Early life and education
Born on 1 January 1914 to a poor farmer's family in Bhakatpara village of Chapar under Dhubri districtDhubri District
Dhubri District is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters are located at Dhubri town which is situated at ~290 km from Guwahati, the state capital. This was also the headquarters of erstwhile Goalpara district which was created in 1876 by the...
, Sinha
Sinha
Sinha is a Sanskrit term originates from South Asia, used as a common term mainly in India and Sri Lanka. It comes from the Sanskrit word "Siṃha" , which means lion....
started schooling from his village school. For secondary education, he attended a High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Bilasipara
Bilasipara
Bilasipara is a town and a town area committee in Dhubri district in the state of Assam, India.-Geography:Bilasipara is located at . It has an average elevation of 26 metres .-Demographics:...
, some 25 km from his home, a distance what he covered daily on foot or by bicycle. He received his bachelor degree from the Cotton College, Guwahati
Cotton College, Guwahati
Cotton College is a premier institution for higher education located in the heart of Guwahati, Assam, a northeastern state of India.240px|right|thumb| Cotton College, the premier college of Assam-History:...
and subsequently moved to Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University is a public university located in Varanasi, India and is one of the Central Universities of India. It is the largest residential university in Asia, with over 24,000 students in its campus. BHU was founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya under the Parliamentary...
for law education. After getting a law degree, Sinha came back to Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
and practised law for a short period and then switched to school teachings in different positions from assistant teacher to headmaster in Dhubri district
Dhubri District
Dhubri District is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters are located at Dhubri town which is situated at ~290 km from Guwahati, the state capital. This was also the headquarters of erstwhile Goalpara district which was created in 1876 by the...
. During the reorganisation of States on the basis of languages in early 50s, a section of people in lower Assam tried to merge the undivided Goalpara
Goalpara
Goalpara is the district headquarter of Goalpara district, Assam, India. It is situated west of Guwahati.-Etymology:The name of Goalpara is said to have originally derived from `Gwaltippika` meaning `Guwali village` or the village of the milk men. In the local dialect "para" means...
district with West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
. But Sinha fought the move alone, and kept Goalpara district
Goalpara District
Goalpara district is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters are located in Goalpara town.-History:...
well embedded within the geographical boundary of Assam.
Political career
Sinha entered politics in 1946 through Indian National Congress and elected to AssamAssam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
state assembly four times from Bilasipara
Bilasipara
Bilasipara is a town and a town area committee in Dhubri district in the state of Assam, India.-Geography:Bilasipara is located at . It has an average elevation of 26 metres .-Demographics:...
east constituency in 1946-52, 1962–67, 1972–78 and 1985-90. He was first made an interim chief minister in 1972 by Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
and subsequently became an elected chief minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
and served till 1978. He also served the Congress party in various positions and capacities like general secretary, vice-president and president. However, he later joined Congress (S) after the emergency era which was imposed by Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
and became the national president of it in 1987. Sinha faced some challenging task in his tenure of chief ministership like shifting the state capital from Shillong
Shillong
-Connectivity:Although well connected by road, Shillong has no rail connection and a proper air connection. Umroi Airport exists but has only limited flights.-Roadways:Shillong is well connected by roads with all major north eastern states...
to Dispur, when Meghalaya
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
was carved out of Assam along with Shillong and the language agitation in 1972, which rocked the state, a demand for the introduction of Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
as the sole medium of instruction in Assam. He was instrumental in setting up the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital and Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemical Limited. He believed in decentralisation of power and introduced Panchayati Raj
Panchayati Raj
The panchayat raj is a South Asian political system mainly in India, Pakistan, and Nepal. "Panchayat" literally means assembly of five wise and respected elders chosen and accepted by the local community. Traditionally, these assemblies settled disputes between individuals and villages...
in the State for the welfare of the backward communities. He also sowed the seeds of cooperative movement in Assam to boost State’s economy. When Sharad Pawar
Sharad Pawar
Sharadchandra Govindrao Pawar , popularly known as SAHEB , is the president of the Nationalist Congress Party which he founded in 1999, after separating from the Indian National Congress...
left the Congress to form the Nationalist Congress Party
Nationalist Congress Party
The Nationalist Congress Party is a centre to centre left political party primarily based in the state of Maharashtra, India.-Background:...
, he joined him and led the party in Assam till his death. A man of the masses, Sinha became a living legend during his lifetime. He was the most common man in an uncommon society. Like a young man at the age of 90, he attended literary discussion, drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
workshop, dharna
Dharna
A dharna , is a fast undertaken at the door of an offender, especially a debtor, in India as a means of obtaining compliance with a demand for justice, such as payment of a debt....
, hunger strike or trade union meeting. He died on 25 December 2005 at his Guwahati residence due to old age ailments.,