Union Home Minister Amit Shah commended Golap Borbora, Assam’s first non-Congress Chief Minister, for his significant contributions during his short time in office during the celebration of Borbora’s birth centenary on August 29. Shah remarked that Borbora’s ascent to the Chief Ministership in 1978 marked a transformative moment in Assam’s political landscape, stating, “When Golap Borbora became the first non-Congress Chief Minister of Assam in 1978, it was the beginning of a very big change in the political history of Assam. Despite mistakes in the post-independence era, no non-Congress chief minister was elected here until 1978. And for the first time, Golap Borbora left an indelible mark.”
Shah also acknowledged Borbora’s personal sacrifices during the Emergency period, highlighting that he was the first political leader to be imprisoned and remained incarcerated for 19 months. “He was the first leader to go to jail and the last to come out,” Shah noted.
In addition to acknowledging Borbora’s political impact, Shah highlighted his educational reforms, which included making education up to the 10th standard free for the first time in Assam, ensuring access for even the poorest residents. He also played a pivotal role in establishing over 200 educational institutions within just one year.
The Home Minister praised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP-led government for recognizing the contributions of leaders beyond the Indira Gandhi family. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging the diverse cultural contributions that have shaped India’s progress, asserting, “In such a large country, many people from diverse cultures have contributed to the country’s progress, but they were neither respected nor did they receive a platform. Today, that legacy is being acknowledged.”
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/video/amit-shah-recalls-golap-borboras-19-month-imprisonment-during-emergency-1269434-2025-08-29?utm_source=rssfeed
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-08-29 19:14:00
