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Recalling Gopinath Bordoloi on his Death Anniversary...
Lokpriya Bordoloi Gopinath was the first Chief Minister of Assam after Independence. He was the Chief Minister (then called Prime Minister) of Assam from 19 September, 1938 to 17 November, 1939 and again from 11 February, 1946 until India’s independence on 15 August, 1947. He then became the Chief Minister of Assam and remained in office until his death on 5 August, 1950. Today in his 67th Death Anniversary we pay him the homage for being the kind, loved, respectful and charitable persona which made him known as “Lokpriya” means “beloved of the people”.
In this journey let us refresh ourselves with his immense contribution for the freedom of Nation from the British rule. He was an eminent freedom fighter and a supporter of Gandhiji and non-violence. Born on June 6 1860 at Raha Gopinath Bordoloi worked for the country in attaining independence from the British rule. After his schooling from Cotton Collegiate School he attended the Scottish Church College at Calcutta city known as Kolkata in present times.
During his college times, he got associated with India National Congress as a volunteer and soon took a leading role in the establishment of Congress party in North- East especially in Assam during the 1930s era. All the regional parties were asked to merge with the congress Party making Bordoloi its first secretary which later plunged into Non- Cooperation movement led by Gandhiji. He was most instrumental during 1946-47, when he worked day and night to prevent the inclusion of the significantly Hindu dominated Assam into East Pakistan that nurtured a majority of Muslims. This was the most crucial time for Gopinath Bordoloi when the then undivided majority Muslim political leaders from Bengal, with most of them affiliated to the Muslim League, desired the inclusion of significantly Hindu dominated Assam into East Pakistan that nurtured a majority of Muslims. Later the matter was sorted out by holding a number of rallies and demonstrations with high ranking officials in the colonial Government because of this reasons there were apprehensions about the breaking of mass communal riots in the Assam region but Bordoloi and other leaders used sensitivity and political influence to maintain the territorial integrity of Assam with the Union Government of India. Post Independence too he worked with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to secure the sovereignty of Assam from the communist China and East Pakistan from both the sides. He dedicated towards rehabilitating thousands of Hindu refugees from East Pakistan for possibility of any riots keeping in mind to maintain communal peace and harmony which was successful until 1971 war for East Pakistan’s freedom.
He earned the title of “Architect of Modern Assam” for making an effort of all round development in Assam. In his memory Guwahati International Airport is named after Him as “Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport” which is the primary Airport of the North- Eastern States of India.
He was also honoured with Bharat Ratna Posthumously prestigious award in the year 1999 after 50 years of his death anniversary.
