TEZPUR, May 2 - Veteran politician of Tezpur, ex- Industry minister and a resident of Ketekibari area, Bijit Saikia is no more. He breathed his last around 2:30 pm today. He was 75.
A few months back following a case of accident, the veteran politician fell ill and later his condition worsened following which he was shifted to Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Guwahati and then to Down Town Hospital, wherein he was under treatment for a long period of time.
Bijit Saikia, who after his schooling, began his college life in Darrang College here in 1960 became the sports secretary and later became the general secretary of the union body of the college thereby establishing his identity as a dedicated leader and worker. While he was studying in Darrang College, he brought glory to the college by performing in a play Angoni Pan in the varsity week in Gauhati University.
A man with a versatile personality, Bijit Saikia was a courageous individual who represented Tezpur in the Language Movement of 1960s. Not only this, he also participated in many movements during the 60s, including the movement for establishment of an oil refinery, organising the youth of Tezpur town against the Chinese aggression.
A dedicated social worker, Bijit Saikia later joined the Indian National Congress and was elected from the Tezpur LAC in 1990 and was given the Industry portfolio in the Hiteswar Saikia ministry under Congress rule. During that period, besides the Ghoramari Industrial Development growth centre near here in Sonitpur district, many industries came into existence in the State under his leadership.
Late Saikia, who led the Youth Emergency Organisation in 1962, with the support of Biswadev Sharma, the then Tezpur MP, Dr Purna Narayan Sinha, Communist leader, Ramesh Sharma, Jiban Kalita, among others, brought the youths of the region under one umbrella to stand against the Chinese aggression.
The veteran leader, who was also a culturally-oriented person, acted in the Assamese TV serial Dalangar Situ Par Nai and in the Assamese film Goon goon ganey ganey. He leaves behind his wife, two sons, a host of relatives and admirers.
His death was widely mourned by various individuals and organisations including Uday Sankar Saikia, Bankim Sarma, Brindaban Goswami, Rajen Barthakur, Hiranya Bhuyan, Bhimananda Tanti, Ritubaran Sharma, Tezpur Sahitya Sabha, Sonitpur Press Club, Sonitpur Journalists� Union, Asomiya Bhasa Unnati Sadhini Sabha and Ban Theatre.
