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Bimala Prasad Chaliha

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Bimala Prasad Chaliha
3rd Chief Minister of Assam
In office
28 December 1957 – 6 November 1970
Preceded byBishnu Ram Medhi
Succeeded byMahendra Mohan Choudhury
Member of Assam Legislative Assembly
In office
1962 - 1972
Preceded byPurnanada Chetia
Succeeded byJanakinath Handique
ConstituencySonari
In office
1958 - 1962
Preceded byMoulana Abdul Jalil Choudhury
Succeeded byMoulana Abdul Jalil Choudhury
ConstituencyBadarpur
Personal details
Born26 March 1912
Sivasagar, Assam, British India
Died25 February 1971(1971-02-25) (aged 58)
Shillong, Assam, India
Political partyIndian National Congress
SpouseAmaya Bora Chaliha
Children7
ResidenceSivasagar
AwardsPadma Vibhushan (1971)

Bimala Prasad Chaliha (26 March 1912 – 25 February 1971) was a Leader of Indian National Congress and a Freedom Fighter who was imprisoned at Jorhat Jail in 1942 for active participation in Mahatma Gandhi's Quit India Movement against the British Government. He was elected to the post of Chief Minister[1] of Assam for Three Consecutive Terms, once from Badarpur Constituency[2] and twice from Sonari Constituency.[3][4] He was in office from 28 December 1957 to 6 November 1970. He was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1971.[5]

Political career

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During his tenure as the Chief Minister, the Assam Official Language Act, of 1960 was enacted, which made the Assamese language the sole official language of the state. During his terms, the Chinese attacked India at Bomdilla then called NEFA now known as Arunachal Pradesh. He strongly opposed the division of Assam State into smaller states like Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya and was a member of various Committees of India's Central Government. Only after his death, the State of Assam was broken down into smaller States.[6] The March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising also happened during his tenure. Earlier he was instrumental in promoting the Plantations Labour Act, 1951 and corresponding Assam Plantations Labour Rules, 1956 to safeguard the interest of the Tea Plantation Workers of Assam. During his second term as Chief Minister, the issue of illegal migration from then East Bengal came up, he claimed there were 300,000 illegal entrants in Assam, and he took active steps to deport them in his third term.

Personal life

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He was married to Mrs. Amaya Bora Chaliha, daughter of a Senior Advocate & Freedom Fighter Mr. K.R. Bora and elder sister of veteran politician & Member of Parliament Mr. Indramoni Bora. They had 5 sons and 2 daughters.

Chaliha died on February 25, 1971. His wife died on March 6, 2010, and her last rites were performed at the Navagraha Crematorium in the presence of a large number of family members and admirers.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Assam Legislative Assembly - Chief Ministers since 1937". assamassembly.gov.in. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Assam Assembly Election Results in 1957". www.elections.in. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Assam Legislative Assembly - MLA 1962-67". assamassembly.gov.in. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Assam Legislative Assembly - MLA 1967-72". assamassembly.gov.in. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Details of Bimala Prasad Chaliha | Knowmore Assam |Information". knowmoreassam.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Here's A List Of Chief Ministers Who Have Been Elected For Three Terms". Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  7. ^ Staff Reporter (15 September 2010). "Amaya Chaliha passes away". assamtribune.com. Retrieved 23 August 2021.


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