Guwahati: Seventy-five years after its original publication, the Assamese edition of a rare tribute to Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi the first Chief Minister of Assam has been released. The book, originally titled Bordoloi Smriti Granth, was first published in Hindi in 1952 by Akela Publications, Tinsukia, under the initiative of noted Hindi journalist Bishwanath Prasad Gupta. It featured heartfelt tributes from some of the most prominent leaders of independent India, including Dr Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Govind Ballabh Pant, Jagjivan Ram, and others.
Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, described Bordoloi as a rare personality who endured hardship for the cause of India’s freedom and served the nation with deep humility and devotion. The souvenir was published shortly after Bordoloi’s death and compiled reflections highlighting his vital role in securing Assam’s place in India post-Partition, protecting it from being annexed into East Bengal (now Bangladesh).
The Assamese edition has been brought out by Jeevan Ram Mungi Devi Goenka Public Charitable Trust in collaboration with Anwesha Publication. The 228-page volume includes rare photographs of Gopinath Bordoloi and several personal accounts. Among them is a moving anecdote from his youngest son, Bolin Bordoloi, who recalled the family’s financial struggles during his father’s tenure highlighting the simplicity and integrity of Bordoloi’s life.
The book will be formally released on Tuesday, August 5 on Bordoloi’s death anniversary at the Srimanta Madhabdeva International Auditorium in Guwahati by Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu. Former Chief Ministers Bishnuram Medhi and Bimala Prasad Chaliha’s reflections also find place in the volume, further enriching the historical and emotional value of the publication.