Radha Govinda Baruah
- Radha Govinda Baruah was a prominent Assamese nationalist, educationist, entrepreneur, and sports promoter.
- Born: 17 October 1900
- Died: 15 July 1977
- Known as: “Architect of Modern Assam” & “Singhapurush” (Lion Man)
Contributions to Education
- Played a key role in realizing Assam’s educational needs.
- G. Baruah College in Guwahati is named after him.
- Worked towards the expansion of higher education in Assam.
Role in Journalism
- Founder of The Assam Tribune (1939), a leading newspaper group in Assam.
- Launched an English weekly newspaper on 4 August 1939, later turning it into a daily.
Political & Social Contributions
- A strong advocate for Assamese culture, literature, and identity.
- Served as the Mayor of Guwahati.
- Instrumental in various development projects for Assam.
- First City Master Plan: Advocated for Guwahati’s urban planning as the Mayor of GMC.
- Tea Auction Centre in Guwahati: Fulfilled a long-standing need for the Assam tea industry
Cultural Contributions
- Bihu Sanmilan: Helped organize the first Bihu Sanmilan at Latasil playground.
- Along with Tarinimohab Barua established “Assam Sangeet Sanmilani” in 1954.
- Music Conferences: Instrumental in organizing classical music events in Guwahati, Jorhat, and Dibrugarh during the 1960s.
Contributions to Sports
- President of the Assam Cricket Association for over a decade.
- Transforming Morakhali: Converted a garbage dump into Nehru Stadium, the first sports complex in Northeast India (1962).
- Overcame Challenges: Secured 35 bighas of land and raised ₹50 lakhs for the project.
- Fundraising Innovations:
- Football Matches: Organized a match between teams led by the Chief Minister and Chief Justice (1955).
- Wrestling Matches: Brought in Dara Singh for exhibition matches, raising significant funds.
- Personal Sacrifice: Loaned ₹78,000 interest-free to prevent project delays.
Contributions to Banking & Economy
- Established the first bank in Assam, the Imperial Bank of India (now SBI) in 1923.
Honours & Recognition
- Honoured with an Indian postage stamp (2000) in the “Great Leaders: Social and Political” series.
Legacy
- A visionary who contributed to Assam’s development in media, sports, banking, and education.
- Remembered for his bravery, leadership, and dedication to Assam’s progress.
His contributions to sports, media, culture, and urban development remain timeless inspirations. Assam, and especially Guwahati, continues to benefit from his unmatched legacy.
