Why In News?

=> Bordoloi was honoured by the title ‘Lokapriya’ by then Governor of Assam Jairam Das Doulatram.

=> He died on 5 August 1950 aged 60.

=> This day is observed as Lok Kalyan Divas in Assam.

=> He was conferred the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1999.

Gopinath Bordoloi:

=> Gopinath Bordoloi was the Chief Minister of Assam before independence and the first Chief Minister of the state after independence.

=> He was born on 6 June 1890 at Raha in Nagaon district of Assam.

Educational Background:

=> After finishing his matriculation in 1907, he studied at Cotton College and then at the Scottish Church College in Calcutta.

=> After this, he secured an MA degree from the Calcutta University in 1914.

=> Later on, he studied law and started a legal practice in Guwahati.

Political Life:

=> In 1922, he joined the Indian National Congress and entered politics.

=>He was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and took part in the various Satyagraha movements.

=>He was arrested in 1922 itself owing to his participation in the Non-cooperation Movement.

=>1933-he became a member of the Guwahati Municipal Board.

=>He was a persistent advocate for a separate High Court and a university for Assam.

=>This led to establishment of Guwahati University and Guwahati High Court in 1948.

=> After the Government of India Act 1935 proposed provincial elections in the country, elections were held in Assam in 1936.

=> Bordoloi got elected and became the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

=> Md Saadullah of Assam United Party formed the government in 1936 and was first Prime Minister of Assam( Head of the states after 1936 provincial elections were known as PM).

=> But he had to resign in 1938.

=> Gopinath Bordoloi became PM of Assam in 1938.

=> In 1940’s Md Sadaullah a Muslim leader of Assam helped many Muslim workers from Bengal to relocate in Assam, in hope that Assam will become muslim majority province and then become part of Pakistan. Most important contribution of Gopinath Bordoloi as PM of Assam- safeguarded the rights of the indigenous peoples of Assam by stopping land grants to migrant Muslims.

• Bordoloi’s cabinet resigned in 1940 when all INC governments resigned when India was forced into the World War II by the British without consultation.
• He was arrested during the Quit India Movement.
• Meanwhile, Sadulla had formed the government.
• After the Mountbatten Plan of 1947 intended the partition of the country, Bordoloi worked intensely for the inclusion of Assam into India.
• Mountbatten plan-Bengal and Punjab will be partitioned and a referendum in NEFP (North-East Frontier Province) and Sylhet district of Assam would be held.
• Muslim League wanted referendum in entire Assam but people of Assam rejected such demand because of Gopinath Bordoloi’s convincing power.