YvetteSawtell2: adding a entry

2026-04-16T17:32:57Z

adding a entry

New page

{{Short description|5th Chief Minister of Assam, India}}
{{Other uses|Sarat Chandra (disambiguation){{!}}Sarat Chandra}}
{{Cleanup rewrite|date=January 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Sarat Chandra Sinha
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Sarat-Chandra-Singha-Dhubri-Circuit-House.jpg
| caption = A statue of Sarat Chandra Sinha near the Dhubri Circuit House
| office = 5th [[Chief Minister of Assam]]
| term_start = 31 January 1972
| term_end = 12 March 1978
| predecessor = [[Mahendra Mohan Choudhry]]
| successor = [[Golap Borbora]]
| office2 = President, [[Indian Congress (Socialist) – Sarat Chandra Sinha]]
| term_start2 = 1984
| term_end2 = 1999
| leader2 =
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| office3 = Member of [[Assam Legislative Assembly]]
| constituency3 = [[Bilasipara East Assembly constituency|Bilasipara East]]
| term_start3 = 1985
| predecessor3 = Rookmini Kanta Roye
| successor4 = Rookmini Kanta Roye
| constituency4 = [[Bilasipara East Assembly constituency|Bilasipara East]]
| term_end3 = 1991
| term_end4 = 1983
| term_start4 = 1972
| successor3 = Anowar Hussain
| term5 = 1962–67
| term6 = 1946-52
| constituency5 = [[Bilasipara East Assembly constituency|Bilasipara East]]
| constituency6 = [[Bilasipara East Assembly constituency|Bilasipara East]]
| constituency7 = [[Bilasipara East Assembly constituency|Bilasipara East]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1914|01|01}}
| birth_place = [[Chapar, Dhubri|Chapar]], [[Assam Province]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2005|12|25|1914|1|1}}
| death_place = [[Guwahati]], [[Assam]], [[India]]
| party = [[Nationalist Congress Party]] (1999-2005)
| other_party = [[Indian National Congress]] (1946-1978) [[Indian National Congress (Socialist)]] (1978-1984) [[Indian Congress (Socialist) – Sarat Chandra Sinha]] (1984-1999)
| spouse = Labanya Sinha
| children = 6
| parents =
| relations =
| alma_mater = [[Cotton University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BSc]]) [[Banaras Hindu University]] ([[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])
| occupation = Teacher Activist
| profession =
| signature =
| website = {{URL|https://www.jananetasaratchandrasinha.com/}}
| footnotes =
| governor = [[Braj Kumar Nehru]] [[Lallan Prasad Singh]]
}}

'''Sarat Chandra Sinha''' (1 January 1914 – 25 December 2005) was an Indian politician and [[Chief Minister]] of [[Assam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assamassembly.gov.in/cm-list.html|title=Assam Legislative Assembly - Chief Ministers since 1937|website=Assamassembly.gov.in|accessdate=25 June 2017}}</ref> He was a leader of [[Indian National Congress]], [[Indian National Congress (Socialist)]] and [[Nationalist Congress Party]].

==Early life and education==
Sinha was born in a [[Rajbanshi people|Rajbanshi]] family in ''Bhakatpara'' village of [[Chapar, Dhubri|Chapar]] under [[Dhubri district]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Das |first1=Samir Kumar |title=Migrations, Identities and Democratic Practices in India |date=2018 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9781351175241 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mchHDwAAQBAJ&q=sarat+chandra+sinha+rajbanshi&pg=PT201 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/KochRajbanshiAndKamatapurTheTruth.Unveiled2007/page/n110|title=Koch Rajbanshi And Kamatapur The Truth. Unveiled ( 2007)|last=Capt. Nalini Ranjan Ray |page=110 }}</ref> He belonged to a farmer family.<ref name="Sarat Chandra reference1" /> Sinha started schooling from his village school.<ref name="Sarat Chandra reference1" /> For secondary education, he attended a High school in [[Bilasipara]] known as Indra Narayan Academy Higher Secondary School, about 25 km from his home, a distance what he covered daily on foot or by bicycle.<ref name="Sarat Chandra reference1" /><ref name="out">{{cite magazine |title=Sarat Chandra Sinha dead |url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=344241 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614062052/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=344241 |archive-date=14 June 2012 |magazine=Outlook |agency=PTI |date=25 December 2005 |access-date=18 November 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/polls-ahead-why-an-assam-cm-from-40-years-ago-is-relevant-again/ |title=Polls ahead, why an Assam CM from 40 years ago is relevant again |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |date=26 February 2016 |accessdate=26 June 2017}}</ref>

Sinha received his bachelor's degree from the [[Cotton College, Guwahati]] and subsequently moved to [[Banaras Hindu University]] for law education.<ref name="Sarat Chandra reference1" /> After getting a law degree, Sinha came back to [[Guwahati]] 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 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]].<ref name="Sarat Chandra reference1" /><ref name="out" />

==Political career==
Sinha was elected to the Dhubri local board in 1945 and was later taken to Guwahati by veteran Congress leader [[Mahendra Mohan Choudhry|Mahendra Mohan Choudhury]], 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 returned Rs 250 that remained unspent. He was elected to [[Assam Legislative Assembly|Assam Legislative assembly]] four times from [[Bilasipara East Assembly constituency|Bilasipara east constituency]] in 1946–52, 1962–67, 1972–78 and 1985–90.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 December 2017 |title=Sarat Chandra Singha remembered |url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/news/sarat-chandra-singha-remembered/ |access-date=16 March 2022 |work=The Sentinel |language=en}}</ref><ref name="SCR">{{cite news|url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=dec2608/edit3 |title=Archived copy |work=Assam Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015095642/http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=dec2608%2Fedit3 |archive-date=15 October 2009 |access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref>

=== Chief Ministership ===
{{See also|Sarat Chandra Sinha Ministry}}

==== Tenure ====
Sinha was first made an [[Chief Ministers of Assam|interim Chief Minister]] in 1972 by [[Indira Gandhi]] and subsequently became an elected [[chief minister]] and served till 1978.<ref name="Sarat Chandra reference1" /> He also served the [[Indian National Congress|Congress Party]] in various positions and capacities like the general secretary, vice-president, and president. He later joined [[Indian National Congress (Socialist)]] after the emergency era which was imposed by [[Indira Gandhi]] and became its national president in 1987.

As chief minister, Sinha shifted the state capital from [[Shillong]] to [[Dispur]]. He was also chief minister for the carve out of [[Meghalaya]] from Assam along with [[Shillong]] and the language agitation in 1972, a demand for the introduction of [[Assamese language|Assamese]] as the sole medium of instruction in Assam.<ref name="Sarat Chandra reference1" /> He engaged unemployed local youth in the construction work of temporary Capital at Dispur. He made the decision to strengthen the Public Distribution System, and as a result 13,615 Nos. of Fair Price shop were established in Assam to distribute essential commodities. He also assisted in providing land and bank loans for landless people. 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sinha ministry |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/50847/10/10_chapter%201.pdf |publisher=shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/ |accessdate=5 November 2018}}</ref>

Sinha was involved in setting up the [[Gauhati Medical College and Hospital]] and [[Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=https://gmcaa.com/VFdjOVBRPT0=/about--gmc.ghtml |website=gmcaa.com |access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Assam: Golden jubilee celebrations of Bongaigaon refinery begins |url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam/assam-golden-jubilee-bongaigaon-refinery.html |access-date=16 March 2022 |work=NORTHEAST NOW |date=19 January 2022}}</ref> He believed in decentralisation of power and introduced [[Panchayati Raj]] in the State for the welfare of the backward communities.

==== 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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Malhotra |first=G. C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DFqbAAAAMAAJ |title=Cabinet Responsibility to Legislature: Motions of Confidence and No-confidence in Lok Sabha and State Legislatures |date=2004 |publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat |isbn=978-81-200-0400-9 |language=en}}</ref>

Initiating the debate on 4 December 1973, Shri Gaurisankar Bhattacharyya said the people had voted the Ministry to power with an overwhelming majority, but that their hopes and aspirations proved to be short-lived. He cited examples of the Government's policies and its failure to eliminate 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.<ref name=":1" />

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 said that agricultural income had not increased in the same proportion as industrial income and 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.<ref name=":1" />

The motion failed by voice vote.<ref name=":1" />

==== 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 famine 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.<ref name=":1" />

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 and failed 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.<ref name=":1" />

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.<ref name=":1" />

The motion failed 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]], he joined him and led the party in [[Assam]] till his death.<ref name="Sarat Chandra reference1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99jun11/spotlite.htm |title=tribuneindia...Spotlight |website=Tribuneindia.com |date=11 June 1999 |accessdate=25 June 2017}}</ref>

He attended literary discussion at the age of 90, [[drama]] workshop, [[dharna]], hunger strike or trade union meeting.<ref name="Sarat Chandra reference1" />

==Personal life ==
Sinha was married to his wife, Labanya, and they had three sons and three daughters. His eldest son died before him.<ref name="Sarat Chandra reference1">{{cite news |title=Sarat Chandra Sinha dead |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/sarat-chandra-sinha-dead/344241 |access-date=21 February 2021 |publisher=Outlook |date=25 December 2005}}</ref> 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]] paid tribute to her.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 September 2017 |title=Sarat Sinha's wife passes away |url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/guwahati-today/sarat-sinhas-wife-passes-away/ |access-date=25 May 2022 |work=[[The Sentinel (Guwahati)|The Sentinel]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=9 February 2021 |title=Know your DAY |url=https://assamtribune.com/know-your-day-12/ |access-date=25 May 2022 |work=[[The Assam Tribune]]}}</ref>

=== Death and funeral ===
On 24 December 2005, Sinha was admitted to [[Gauhati Medical College and Hospital|Gauhati Medical College]], after he had a fever and was being treated for [[Renal Failure|renal failure]]. After his condition deteriorated in the night, he was shifted to the [[Intensive care unit|ICU]]. On 25 December, at 1.30 AM, Sinha died due to old-age ailments, a week before his 92nd birthday.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 December 2005 |title=Ex- Assam CM Sarat Chandra Sinha dead {{!}} States News |url=https://zeenews.india.com/home/ex-assam-cm-sarat-chandra-sinha-dead_264811.html |access-date=22 May 2022 |website=Zee News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Barefoot CM walks out on life - Gogoi leads Assam in mourning Sarat Sinha |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/barefoot-cm-walks-out-on-life-gogoi-leads-assam-in-mourning-sarat-sinha/cid/836201 |access-date=22 May 2022 |website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref><ref name="out" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Obituary - Press Release, Prime Minister's Office |url=http://pmindia.nic.in/prelease/pcontent.asp?id=372/ |website=Pmindia.nic.in |accessdate=25 June 2017}}{{dead link|date=May 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The government declared three days of official mourning for Sinha. He was cremated with full state honours at the [[Navagraha Mandir, Guwahati|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]] 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."<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 September 2020 |title=Sonowal unveils statue, renovated house of former Assam CM Sarat Chandra Sinha |url=https://thenewsmill.com/sonowal-unveils-statue-renovated-house-of-former-assam-cm-sarat-chandra-sinha/ |access-date=22 May 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=Ne Now |date=28 September 2020 |title=Sarat Chandra Sinha was an embodiment of truth, honesty and simplicity: Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal |url=http://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam/sarat-chandra-sinha-was-an-embodiment-of-truth-honesty-and-simplicity-assam-cm-sarbananda-sonowal.html |access-date=22 May 2022 |website=NORTHEAST NOW |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Picture Gallery==
<gallery>
Sarat_Chandra_Singha.jpg|Portrait of Sarat Chandra Sinha

</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Chief Ministers of Assam}}

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

Sarat Chandra Sinha - Revision history

YvetteSawtell2: adding a entry