Bhumidhar Barman
Birth date12 October 1931
Birth placeBelsor, Assam, British India
Death date18 April 2021 (aged 89)[1]
Death placeDispur, Assam, India
Order12th
OfficeChief Minister of Assam
Term start22 April 1996
Term end14 May 1996
PredecessorHiteswar Saikia
SuccessorPrafulla Kumar Mahanta
PartyIndian National Congress
SpouseMalati Barman
Office 6Minister of State for Revenue and Education
Term 61973 - 1978
1namedata 6Sarat Chandra Singha
1blankname 6Chief Minister
Office 7Member of Assam Legislative Assembly
Constituency 7Barkhetry
Term 81991 - 1996
Term 72001 - 2016
Constituency 8Barkhetry
1namedata 5Hiteswar Saikia
Term 91983 - 1985
Constituency 9Dharmapur
Constituency 10Nalbari West
Term 101967 - 1978
1blankname 5Chief Minister
1blankname 2Chief Minister
Office 5Minister for Education, Health & Panchayat
Term 51991 - 22 April 1996
1blankname 4Chief Minister
1namedata 4Tarun Gogoi
Term 42001 - 2006
Office 4Minister for Health & FW
1namedata 3Tarun Gogoi
1blankname 3Chief Minister
Office 3Minister for Revenue & DM
Term 32006 - 2011
1namedata 2Tarun Gogoi
Term start 222 January 2015
Term end 224 May 2016
Office 2Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, Administrative Reforms and Training
ParentsBhakat Ram Barman (Father) Mathupriya Barman (Mother)

Bhumidhar Barman (12 October 1931 – 18 April 2021) was an Indian politician belonging to the Indian National Congress. He was the shortest-serving Chief Minister of Assam, his tenure lasting only 22 days, from 22 April 1996 to 14 May 1996.[2] First elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly in 1967, he became a member of that assembly a total of seven times.[3][4][5] In 2015, he was made a Cabinet Minister of Assam.

Early life and education

Bhumidhar Barman was born on 12 October 1931 to the late Bhakat Ram Barman and the late Mathupriya Barman in Belsor.[6] He passed his matriculation from Tihu High School in 1951.[7] His Father, late Bhakat Ram Barman was a well-established businessman of his area. He completed his schooling at Tihu High school, thereafter at Cotton College and finally his MBBS degree from Assam Medical College. He was among the last batch of students to have passed out from Calcutta University.[7] Initially he started practising nearby his village people who were deprived of the medical facility and soon became famous as Bhumi Doctor.

Political career

He joined Indian National Congress in 1967 and got elected from then west Nalbari constituency and again in 1972.[6][8] He again was elected in 1983 but for Dharmapur.[9] After Hiteshwar Saikia's death, he was made Chief Minister for a serving of twenty two days before being succeeded by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. He was again elected to the Assembly in 1991 for Barkherty and again in 2001 until 2016. Barman was made a minister many times throughout his career.[10][11] Barman was the oldest member in the council of ministers of Assam in 2010.[7] He was made acting Chief Minister when Tarun Gogoi was hospitalised in Mumbai for heart surgery.[7]

Electoral history

YearConstituencyPartyVotes%OpponentResultMargin
1967Nalbari West10,77634.04%Tarun Sen Deka
197222,59658.33%
1978Dharmapur11,83230.1%Ramani Barman
1983266100%Jogen Barman
198511,55618.8%Chandra Mohan Patowary
1991Barkhetry30,24340.3%Pulakesh Barua
199640,16644.8%
200164,74866.9%
200655,21045.9%
201153,95845.5%

Personal life

Barman married Malati Barman and they had 1 son and 3 daughters. His daughters are Dipali Barman, Reena Barman Kalita and Rita Barman Hazarika. His son Diganta Barman contested for the Barkherty seat in 2016 but lost. However he won in 2021.[12]

Death

Barman had been admitted to Dispur Hospital on March 13. He had been suffering for chronic kidney disease and other heart issues.[13] He was put into the ICU under ventilation. Senior congress leaders such as Rispun Bora visited him.[14][15]

Barman died at 6:23 pm 18 April 2021. Many politicians such as Narendra Modi, Venkaiah Naidu,[16] Sarbananda Sonowal, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Ripun Bora, Keshab Mahanta, Debabrata Saikia, Lurinjyoti Gogoi, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Jitendra Singh,[17] Abdul Khalque,[18] Pradyut Bordoloi,[19] Bhupen Kumar Borah,[20] Badruddin Ajmal,[21] Raijor Dal all paid tribute.

The State Government declared a three-day state mourning period where the national flag was flown half-mast in all offices where it was flown regularly and no official entertainment was held.

Assam police gave a 21-gun salute to the Congress stalwart at the funeral which was attended by Sarbananda Sonowal, Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Ripun Bora, Barman's son Diganta and other politicians. Diganta performed his last rites with all family members present. The body of Barman was brought to his village in a vehicle decorated with flowers. Before bringing the body to his native village, Barman's body was taken to Assam Legislative Assembly where Cabinet minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua and DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta paid tributes to Barman.[22] His body was next taken to the congress headquarters, Nalbari deputy commissioner's office and Rajiv Bhawan where people paid tribute to the Chief minister.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Veteran Cong Leader Bhumidhar Barman Passes Away". Pratidintime. 18 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  2. ^ Assam Legislative Assembly - Chief Minister of Assam since 1937
  3. ^ NUMBER OF TERMS ELECTED Assam Legislative Assembly Website
  4. ^ Bhumidhar Barman turns 80...the oldest minister in the cabinet. Archived 14 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Pranab Gogoi elected speaker of Assam". Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Who's Who". assamassembly.gov.in. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  7. ^ Alex, Todd (13 October 2010). "Bhumidhar Barman turns 80...the oldest minister in the cabinet.". Assam Times. Assam times. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Assam Legislative Assembly - MLA 1972-78". assamassembly.gov.in. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  9. ^ "Assam Legislative Assembly - MLA 1983-85". assamassembly.gov.in. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  10. ^ "Portfolios allocated to new Assam Ministers" (in en-IN). The Hindu. 2015-01-27. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  11. ^ Desk, Sentinel Digital (2021-04-19). "Former Assam Chief Minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman no more - Sentinelassam". www.sentinelassam.com. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  12. ^ Desk, Sentinel Digital (2021-04-03). "Diganta Barman from Barkhetry: Early Life, Controversy & Political Career - Sentinelassam". www.sentinelassam.com. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  13. ^ Mukut Das (21 April 2021). "Ex-CM Bhumidhar Barman cremated with full state honours | Guwahati News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  14. ^ EastMojo, Team (2021-04-07). "Ex-Assam CM Dr Bhumidhar Barman in ICU: Congress". EastMojo. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  15. ^ Hemanta Kumar Nath (18 April 2021). "Former Assam CM Bhumidhar Barman passes away". India Today. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  16. ^ Vice President of India (18 April 2021). "Pained by the demise of former Chief Minister of Assam Shri Bhumidhar Barman. My sincere condolences to his family and supporters.". No. 1383963712109760522. Archived 22 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  17. ^ Jitendra Singh Alwar (18 April 2021). "Heartfelt condolences to the family of Ex-CM Dr. Bhumidhar Barman ji. May his soul rest in peace. https://t.co/B9MKa6iVhk". No. 1383794404968697859. Archived 18 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Very saddened to know about demise of Dr Bhumidhar Barman, former Chief Minister. Seven time MLA, He represented Barkhetri, Pashchim Nalbari, and Dharmapur in Assam Legislative Assembly. He was a Minister in Sarat Chandra Sinha, Hiteswar Saikia and Tarun Gogoi Ministry.". No. 1383789062100635649. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  19. ^ Pradyut Bordoloi (18 April 2021). "Deeply saddened to hear the demise of our Former Chief Minister of #Assam Dr Bhumidhar Barman. He was a true statesman. My deepest condolences to his family. https://t.co/2ZG6EBlZNe". No. 1383806058745851912. Archived 29 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  20. ^ Bhupen kumar Borah (25 April 2021). "Today, visited late Dr.Bhumidhar Barman house at Belsar in Nalbari district; offered floral tribute to him and extended my condolences to his son Sri Diganta Barman and his family. https://t.co/UONjT53cJK". No. 1386296810763735051. Archived 22 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  21. ^ Maulana Badruddin Ajmal (18 April 2021). "Extremely saddened to hear about the demise of former Assam Chief Minister of Dr Bhumidhar Barman this evening. Seven time MLA, a successful Cabinet Minister, seasoned politician, Dr Barman has filled many caps. My sincere condolences to Diganta and his family.". No. 1383811229408391168. Archived 18 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  22. ^ Desk, Sentinel Digital (2021-04-20). "Rich tributes paid to former Assam CM Dr Bhumidhar Barman - Sentinelassam". www.sentinelassam.com. Retrieved 2021-08-18.