Sarat Chandra Sinha
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Sarat Chandra Sinha (1 January 1914 – 25 December 2005) was an Indian politician and
Chief Minister A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union ter ...
of
Assam Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...
. He was a leader of
Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...
, Indian National Congress (Socialist) and
Nationalist Congress Party The Nationalist Congress Party is one of the List of political parties in India#State parties, state parties in India and is one of the major political parties in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Maharashtra with a recognised state party statu ...
. He was 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

Sinha was born in a Rajbanshi family in ''Bhakatpara'' village of Chapar under Dhubri district. He belongs to a farmer family. Sinha started schooling from his village school. For secondary education, he attended a High school in Bilasipara known as indra narayan academy higher secondary school, some 25 km from his home, a distance what he covered daily on foot or by bicycle. Sinha's father, Lalsingh Sinha ensured that his son always carried his slate and pencil while accompanying him to the paddy fields. Sinha learnt his arithmetic tables by counting his and his father's footsteps to the weekly village market. “Sometimes he would ask me to multiply the footsteps, sometimes divide,” Sinha had said, recalling his childhood in a lengthy interview with All India Radio, Guwahati. He received his bachelor's degree from the Cotton College, Guwahati and subsequently moved to
Banaras Hindu University Banaras Hindu University (BHU), formerly Benares Hindu University, is a collegiate, central, and research university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, and founded in 1916. The university incorporated the Central Hindu College, ...
for law education. After getting a law degree, Sinha came back to
Guwahati Guwahati () the largest city of the Indian state of Assam, and also the largest metropolis in northeastern India. Dispur, the capital of Assam, is in the circuit city region located within Guwahati and is the seat of the Government of Assam. Th ...
and practised law for a short period and then switched to school teachings. Sinha began his career as a science teacher in a rural school after quitting his MSc in Kolkata in 1940. He was a true Gandhian who wore khadi, and taught his students the art of making paper from straw, and was later in different positions from assistant teacher to headmaster in Dhubri district.


Political career

Sinha entered politics rather by accident. He was elected to the Dhubri local board in 1945 and was later taken to Guwahati by veteran Congress leader Mahendra Mohan Choudhury (who later served as Chief Minister of Assam), who then got him a Congress ticket to contest the state Assembly election of 1946. The party had given him Rs 750 as election campaign expenses, but on completion of the campaign, he duly went and returned Rs 250 that remained unspent. He was elected to
Assam Legislative assembly The Assam Legislative Assembly is the unicameral Assam Legislature, legislature of the List of states and union territories of India, Indian state of Assam. It is housed in Dispur, the capital city of Assam, geographically situated in present L ...
four times from Bilasipara east constituency in 1946–52, 1962–67, 1972–78 and 1985–90.


Chief Ministership


Tenure

He was first made an interim Chief Minister in 1972 by
Indira Gandhi Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (Given name, ''née'' Nehru; 19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984) was an Indian politician and stateswoman who served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 un ...
and subsequently became an elected
chief minister A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union ter ...
and served till 1978. He also served the Congress Party in various positions and capacities like the general secretary, vice-president, and president. However, he later joined Indian National Congress (Socialist) after the emergency era which was imposed by
Indira Gandhi Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (Given name, ''née'' Nehru; 19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984) was an Indian politician and stateswoman who served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 un ...
and became the national president of it in 1987. Sinha faced some challenging task in his tenure of chief minister-ship like shifting the state capital from Shillong to Dispur, when
Meghalaya Meghalaya (; "the abode of clouds") is a states and union territories of India, state in northeast India. Its capital is Shillong. Meghalaya was formed on 21 January 1972 by carving out two districts from the Assam: the United Khasi Hills an ...
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 engaged unemployed local youth in the construction work of temporary Capital at Dispur. He took the decision to strengthen the Public Distribution System as a result 13,615 Nos. of Fair Price shop were established in Assam. Through these Shops, essential commodities were distributed among the weaker section of the people. He also distributed land to the landless people and help a lot to get bank loan for cultivation. He also started medium irrigation system like Kaldiya, Dekadang, Bardikariya, Jojloi Gaon, Kolong river irrigation scheme etc. In his regime power project in Assam increased up to 43 per cent due to establishment of Boanigaon, Kapili, Lakuwa, Longpi, Bongaigaon thermal project. He was instrumental in setting up the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital and Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals 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 the cooperative movement in Assam to boost State's economy.


First Motion of No-Confidence

The main grounds on which Gaurisankar Bhattacharyya tabled a No-confidence Motion against the Government of Sinha were: 1. profession and practice of the Government had proved to be diametrically opposite; 2. the basic necessities of life had not been assured to the masses; 3. the problem of unemployment had become more acute; 4. prices of essential commodities had risen to unprecedented and spiralling heights; (v) abuse of official positions for securing pecuniary and other benefits; 5. misappropriation of funds of the State; and (vi) maladministration in matters of public services. Leave to move the motion was granted on 29 November 1973. Seven members took part in the discussion held on 4 and 5 December 1973. Initiating the debate on 4 December 1973, Shri Gaurisankar Bhattacharyya said the people had voted the Ministry to power with an overwhelming majority But their hopes and aspirations proved to be short-lived. He cited examples of the Government's wrong policies and failure to remove poverty. Bhattacharyya also gave examples of how Calcutta had gained from the oil company and tea industry situated in Assam, thereby resulting in heavy losses to the State exchequer. He further alleged that the Government had cut down expenditure in the important fields of social welfare and had lost its credibility. The education policy of the Government had not helped the people at all and several anomalies were found in the education system. Healso referred to the growing unemployment problem and demanded 80 per cent reservation in the Government and semi-Government jobs for the local people. He further alleged that the Government's policy for the eradication of corruption was far from satisfactory. Replying to the debate, Sinha explained in detail about the cooperative movement and said that the entire State had been uniformly divided into 663 societies and about 30 lakh families were represented in the cooperatives. He further said that power would be decentralised at the sub divisional level and the cropping pattern would also be changed. Referring to tea estates, he said that in pursuance of the resolution passed by the House that the ownership of the tea gardens in the State should be taken over, a Committee had been constituted to examine the feasibility of the proposal. He conceded that agricultural income had not increased in the same proportion as industrial income. It was easy to develop industries faster than agriculture, because within the limited resources, agricultural income could be increased to a certain extent. He refuted the allegation that the Government had not taken any action on the PWD corruption case and said that departmental proceedings against three officers were in progress. The motion was negatived by voice vote.


Second Motion of No-Confidence

On 18 September 1974, Shri Gaurisankar Bhattacharyya (CPI) moved the second Motion of No-confidence against Shri Sarat Chandra Sinha's Cabinet on the grounds of the general failure of the administration on different fronts, particularly in the food front which had led to farnine and near famine conditions causing starvation deaths in different parts of the State. Leave of the House was granted on 16 September 1974. The debate on the motion lasted 2 hours and 30 minutes spanning two days in which 28 members participated. Moving the motion, Gaurisankar Bhattacharyya charged that the administration of the Government was an offensive one; the Government machinery was corrupt and antipathic to the people. Referring to the sufferings of the people during floods, he said that although newspapers were giving vivid and graphic descriptions of starvation deaths, the Government denied this and attributed the death to malnutrition or some disease. He said that all development programmes were directed for the benefit of the elite class. Quoting statistics from the Government documents, he criticised the Government for destroying the financial resources and bringing not only financial ruin but bankruptcy. He also levelled charges of misuse of raw materials procured for pipes and fittings in North Cachar. In his reply, Sinha read out the letter requesting the Government of India to allot raw material to the Government of Assam for meeting the demand of pipes and fittings for North Cachar Hills District Council, Haflong and said precautionary measures had been taken to prevent any misuse of raw materials. If there was any such misuse of raw material, the Government would definitely make an inquiry and necessary action would be taken against the concerned party. The motion put to vote on 19 September 1974 was negatived with 13 members voting in favour and 78 members voting against it.


Third Motion of No-Confidence

The third Motion of No confidence against the Ministry of Sinha was moved on 1 November 1977. Leave to move the motion was granted on 31 October 1977. The debate on the motion was held for 3 days. Moving the motion, Gaurisankar Bhattacharyya alleged that Sinha had joined the procession on 9 October in the streets of Guwahati demanding curbing of price rise, resignation of the Union Home Minister, Shri Charan Singh, stopping of atrocities on Harijans and undemocratic activities of the Janata Government. He wondered if Sinha, who was also the Home Minister of the State, behaved in this manner whether that amounted to inciting lawlessness or rebellion. He accused that the Goverrument had not utilised 13 cores of rupees given for fighting floods and extending relief to the people and was misusing it for political and party purposes. Replying to the debate on 3 November 1977, Sinha thanked the centre for conceding to the State's point of view on the matter of grants and said that there was a financial relation between a State and the centre and under that relationship, the centre was certainly under obligation to help the State. If any help comes, that should not be construed as favour from the centre. Whatever was due must be paid to the State. He denied the charge that the financial position of the State was weak and said that because of economic discipline introduced in 1972, there was no overdraft problem and the ways and means position had improved considerably. The motion was negatived with 22 members voting in favour and 68 members voting against and 4 members abstaining.


Post-Chief Ministership

When Sharad Pawar left the Congress to form the
Nationalist Congress Party The Nationalist Congress Party is one of the List of political parties in India#State parties, state parties in India and is one of the major political parties in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Maharashtra with a recognised state party statu ...
, he joined him and led the party in
Assam Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...
till his death. He attended literary discussion at the age of 90,
drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...
workshop, dharna, hunger strike or trade union meeting.


Personal life

Sinha was married to his wife, Labanya, and they had three sons and three daughters. His eldest son died before him. His wife, Labanya Sinha, died on 21 September 2017, aged 89, Beltola, after being unwell for several days. Several political leaders including Chief Minister
Sarbananda Sonowal Sarbananda Sonowal (; born 31 October 1962) is an Indian politician who has served as Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways since 2021. He also has been the Government of India, Member of the Rajy ...
paid tribute to her.


Death and funeral

On 24 December 2005, Sinha was admitted to Gauhati Medical College, after he had a fever and was being treated for
renal failure Kidney failure, also known as renal failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), is a medical condition in which the kidneys can no longer adequately filter waste products from the blood, functioning at less than 15% of normal levels. Kidney fa ...
. After his condition deteriorated in the night, he was shifted to the ICU. On 25 December, at 1.30 AM, Sinha died due to old-age ailments, a week before his 92nd birthday. The government declared three days of official mourning for Sinha. He was cremated with full state honours at the Nabagraha crematorium in the city. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi was among the first to reach Sinha's residence at Beltola to pay tribute. He described the Sinha's death as "the end of a political era." Leader of the Opposition Brindaban Goswami described Sinha as "an idealist and an exemplary leader who led his life with moral conviction and simplicity."


Legacy

On 28 September 2020, Chief Minister
Sarbananda Sonowal Sarbananda Sonowal (; born 31 October 1962) is an Indian politician who has served as Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways since 2021. He also has been the Government of India, Member of the Rajy ...
on Monday unveiled a life-size statue of Sinha at Ratnapith College at Chapar in Dhubri district. Sonowal also inaugurated a complex consisting of a memorial garden in the name of Sarat Chandra Sinha, an auditorium, stage and a renovated house of Sinha. Sonowal said that Sinha was "an embodiment of truth, honesty, simplicity and dedication."


Picture Gallery

Sarat_Chandra_Singha.jpg, Portrait of Sarat Chandra Sinha


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sinha, Sarat Chandra 1914 births 2005 deaths Chief ministers of Assam People from Dhubri district Indian Congress (Socialist) politicians Nationalist Congress Party politicians from Assam Indian National Congress politicians from Assam Assam MLAs 1962–1967 Cotton College, Guwahati alumni Chief ministers from Indian National Congress Rajbongshi people Assam MLAs 1946–1952 Assam MLAs 1972–1978 Assam MLAs 1978–1983 Assam MLAs 1985–1991