Did you know these unknown facts about our Assam’s covid crisis hero??

Biography

Himanta Biswa Sarma (1 feb, 1969) was born in Guwahati Assam, was the 3^rd child among 5 brothers including him. His father, Late Kailash Nath Sarma was a renowned poet and novelist of Assam and mother Mrinalini Devi is a literary personality actively associated with Assam Sahitya Sabha.

Education

Sarma passed his schooling from Kamrup Academy School, Guwahati in 1985 and joined Cotton College, Guwahati and completed his Graduation in 1990 and Post-Graduation in 1992 on Political Science. He was the General Secretary (GS) of Cotton College Union from 1991-1992. Sarma completed his LLB from BRM Government Law College, Guwahati and obtained his PhD degree from Gauhati University. From 1996 to 2001 he was practicing Law at Gauhati High Court.

Married Life

On 7^th June 2001, Sarma got married to Rinki Bhuyan Sarma who is a graduate from Cotton College and a lawyer by profession. She is a member of Bar Council of India and also owns the company, Pride East Entertaiment Private Limited and eventually launched two news channels, News live followed by North-East live. They have two children, a son, Nandil Biswa Sarma and a daughter, Sukanya Sarma.

Special Interest

On 23^rd April 2017, Sarma was elected as President of Badminton Association of India unanimously and he was also the President of the Assam Badminton Association. In July 2016, he was appointed as the president of the Assam Cricket Association. From 2002-2016, he was also the longest serving Vice-Preasident of the Association.

Political Career

In 2001, for the first time Sarma defeated Asom Gana Parishad leader Bhrigu Kumar Phukan and was elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly from Jalukbari for Indian National Congress and was re- elected in 2006 and 2011 for the three consecutive years. In his third year he won with a record margin of more than 78000 votes. He was made Cabinet Minister for Health in 2006 and additional charge of Education was given in 2011. From 2002-2004, Sarma held important sectors (both State and Cabinet) as Ministers of Health, Education, Agriculture, Finance, Planning and development and Assam Accord implementation. During his tenure, three medical colleges were started and initiated work for five more medical colleges. Even in Education, he stopped interview system and started TET system and for the first time 50,000 teachers were appointed.

                                                         But in 21^st July, 2014, because of some political differences he decided to resign from all the portfolios of the congress party. Though, after a year, on 23^rd August 2015, Sarma joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and was appointed as the Convener of the election management Committee for the upcoming Assembly elections of the state. On 2016, for the first time BJP government won the Assembly elections in North -East India and Sarma won Jalukbari for the fourth consecutive year. On 24^th May, he was appointed as the Cabinet Minister and was allotted sectors like Health, Finance, Education, Family & Welfare, Tourism, Planning & Development and Pension & Public Grievances.

Assam’s Saviour

In 2020, Sarma did a remarkable job in the covid crisis situation and emerged himself as a ‘Hero’ in Assam’s coronavirus Pandemic. Assam’s first covid case was reported in 31^st March but even before that he managed to have four testing centers and later arranged 15 more diagnostic center in the state. He even made it compulsory for every passenger to take 14 days quarantine which saved Assam from a big damage. Even in that pandemic situation he managed to keep public updated about the situation with that same heartwarming smile.