Dr. Jury Sharma Bordoloi
(jurybordoloi@gmail.com)
Assam, a state in Northeast India, has been in the spotlight in recent years due to the relentless efforts of its Chief Minister, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. Under his regime, Assam and Assamese have become nationally and internationally known for their culture, tourism, and development, among many others. One thing is very clear, and the people of the state will definitely acknowledge that Assam and Assamese have become more prominent under the leadership of Dr. Sarma at national and international levels.
The other day, there was a common allegation that a large section of the masses in so-called mainstream India didn’t have a proper idea about the Northeast, including Assam. Probably because of this, the Assamese and their brothers and sisters from the region were often referred to as the populace of countries like China, Mongolia, and many more.
But the situation has changed over the years. Due to various reasons and continuous efforts on the part of the civil society members and respective governments at the centre, such a section of the so-called mainstream people have started recognising Assamese and the rest of the people of the region at the national level as their fellow countrymen. However, the situation has completely changed during almost the last two years, thanks to the strong and visionary leadership of Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Known for his consistency in his unique style of working and stern authority from his days as a minister, Dr. Sarma has emerged as the unbeatable leader who has won the hearts of the people of Assam and became an example for the entire nation. Day by day, his popularity is increasing, and the Chief Minister is growing stronger in his true identity as one of the most esteemed leaders of the nation at present. This has led the Northeast, including Assam, to a new and ultimate level of popularity both at the national and international level. Of late, apart from other issues, the entire Northeast, including Assam, has been recognised in the name of Dr. Sarma, both among mainstream Indians and abroad.
For the die-hard, unjustified Himanta Biswa Sarma critics: how many of you can remember any Assam Chief Minister in recent history being recognised as a star campaigner during any election of national importance by any national party in India? Going back to history, we can’t remember any Assam Chief Minister who is so vocal in the national and international media like Dr. Sarma. Except during disasters or natural calamities, that too only for some seconds, we can’t remember any Assam or, for that matter, Northeast CMs to take on the volleys of questions in national and international media platforms. That reflects his level of farsightedness, visionary leadership, and capability to make Assam and India as a whole a strong power to reckon with in the days to come.
Right from day one as the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Sarma has been giving importance to the development of the state and various people-centric programmes for solving problems like poverty, illiteracy, inequality, unemployment, reforms in education, administration, economic relief, safeguarding the cultural heritage and ethnicity of the state, contributing to the global campaign against carbon emissions, etc. Assam has improved a lot under his leadership in the sports arena too.
In the social sector, Dr. Sarma’s ambitious scheme, “Orunodoi,” has ushered in a new revolution. The scheme is an initiative by the Assam government to aid and support vulnerable families by providing women from the respective families with financial aid. Dr. Sarma’s various initiatives for overall development in the tourism sector have been praised across the country.
Under Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma’s leadership, Assam has become a hub for sports events in India. The state hosted the Khelo India Youth Games in 2020 and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2022. The successful organisation of these events has put Assam on the map and boosted its profile nationally and internationally.
The Chief Minister’s regime has also been instrumental in promoting the state’s traditional industries, such as tea and silk. He launched the “Assam Chah Bagichar Dhan Puraskar Mela” to honour tea garden workers who have excelled in their work. The scheme aims to motivate workers to improve their productivity and contribute to the growth of the tea industry. He also launched the “Silk Mark” scheme to promote the state’s silk industry and ensure that consumers get authentic silk products.
Under the Himanta Biswa Sarma regime, Assam has also made significant strides in infrastructure development. The government launched the “Assam Mala” project to connect all the major towns and cities in the state through a network of four-lane highways. The project is expected to boost trade and commerce in the state, create employment opportunities, and promote economic growth. The government has also taken steps to improve the state’s railway connectivity by initiating new projects and upgrading existing ones.
Another significant achievement of the Himanta Biswa Sarma regime has been the state’s successful management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state government took several measures to control the spread of the virus, including setting up dedicated COVID care centres, ramping up testing and vaccination, and enforcing strict lockdowns when necessary. The state’s COVID management strategy has been hailed as one of the best in the country, and other states have sought to emulate Assam’s approach.
Apart from these, the Chief Minister has been actively promoting Assam on the global stage. He participated in the World Economic Forum’s India Economic Summit in November 2021 and highlighted the state’s potential in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and renewable energy. He also attended the “Destination Northeast” event in New Delhi, where he showcased the state’s tourism potential to investors and entrepreneurs from across the country.
On April 13, 2023, Assam’s name was included in the Guinness Book of Records by recording the “largest Bihu dance performed in a single venue”. A total of 11,304 artists, including Bihu dancers (Nasoni) and Dhol players (Dhuliya), performed at the event that took place at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium in Guwahati.
Under the leadership of Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam and Assamese have become more prominent nationally and internationally. The promotion of tourism, traditional industries, and infrastructure development, along with successful management of the COVID-19 pandemic, etc., have all contributed to raising the profile of the state. The Chief Minister’s efforts to showcase the state’s potential on the global stage have also helped to attract investment and attention from across the country and beyond. As a result, Assam and Assamese have become synonymous with progress, development, and innovation, making the people of the state proud.