Rupnath Brahma Biography: Rupnath Brahma was the first law graduate, the first MLA, first Minister and the longest-term serving Tribal Minister in the Assam Cabinet from Bodo Community. He was also a Bodo writer, poet religious scholar and one of the greatest social reformer. He is credited with helping established Brahma Dharma. He is also known as Boroni Monthri. He dedicated his services to the upliftment of the Bodos.
Rupnath Brahma Biography: Key Facts
Full Name | Rupnath Brahma |
Profession | Poet, Politician and Religious Scholar |
Date of Birth | 15 June 1902 |
Place of Birth | Owabari, Kokrajhar |
Parents | Dwajendra Brahma (Father) Khwdwmsri Brahma (Mother) |
Wife/Spouse | N/A |
Education | Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Law (BL) |
Famous For | 1. First Bodo MLA 2. First Bodo Minister in Assam Assembly 3. The Longest Term Serving Tribal Minister in Assam Assembly. |
Date of Death | 23 January 1968 |
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Quick Facts
- Rupnath Brahma was born on 15 June 1902 at Owabari in Kokrajhar.
- He organized Boro Students Association in 1918.
- He served as the General Secretary of the Goalpara Boro Chatra Sonmilon from 1918-1928
- He completed his Law Degree in 1928 and became the first Bachelor of Law (BL) among Bodos.
- Became a member of the Assam Legislative Assembly in 1937.
- He served as Health Minister of Assam from 1938 to 1967
- In 1967 He was elected a Member of Parliament (MP) but he could attend only one session of Parliament before his death.
- He died on 23 January 1968.
- He made a record of being the longest-term serving Minister for a long period of 29 Years from 1938 to 1967 Continuously.
- The Kokrajhar Sub Division was created in 1957 at his initiative.
Rupnath Brahma Biography: Early Life, Education, Family & Marriage
Personal Life
Date of Birth | 15 June 1902 |
Place of Birth | Owabari, Kokrajhar |
Date of Death | 23 January 1968 |
Cause of Death | Heart Attack |
Place of Death | Kokrajhar RNB Hospital |
Age | 66 Years (at the time of death) |
Nationality | Indian |
Rupnath Brahma Early Life: Rupnath Brahma was born on 15 June 1902 in Owabari village of Kokrajhar district to a well-to-do family. He was the son of Dwajendra Brahma and Khwdwmsri Brahma.
Rupnath Brahma Education: Rupnath Brahma started his primary education at Kokrajhar Higher Primary School. Then he passed the matric exam in 1st division in 1921. He was a brilliant student of Arts. He used to write articles, and poems on sensitive issues of the people and societies that he had overcome during his early life. In 1925 he passed B.A. Examination from Cotton College.
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He went to Calcutta to study M.A. and Law. He was very unfortunate during that year because he severely suffered from disease due to which he could not appear for the M.A. Examination. But somehow he appeared Law Examination and successfully cleared the examination and he became the first B.A. B.L. among the Bodos of Assam.
School | Kokrajhar Higher Primary School |
College | 1. Cotton College, Guwahati 2. Calcutta University |
Education Qualification | Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Law (BL) |
Rupnath Brahma was closely associated with various student organisations. He was very enthusiastic about the various needs and problems of the Student Organizations. He organized Boro Students’s Association in 1918. He served as the general secretary of the Goalpara Boro Chatra Sonmiloni from 1918 to 1928 continuously.
Brahma obtained a Law degree in 1928, then he started his legal practice in the lower court at Dhubri. He continued his profession till he was elected member of the Assam Legislative Assembly in 1937 in the British period. He came a member of the Local Board, Dhubri. He did many development work for the uplift of the rural people.
Political Life
Rupnath Brahma as a Leader:
- In 1937 he joined politics and in the same year, he became a Member of Assam Legislative Assembly.
- In 1938, he became the Minister in Assam Cabinet. He was an active leader and politician that impressed everyone in the Cabinet. He continued his bold position as Minister till 1967.
- In 1967 He was elected a Member of Parliament (MP) but he could attend only one session of Parliament before his death.
Rupnath Brahma is the first MLA and Minister of Assam Cabinet from the Bodo community. He was elected as one of the representatives in the 1937 General Election. Later, he won the Sidli Constituency on the ticket of The Tribal League. This election was a historic moment for the Tribal League because as many as five representatives from the Tribal League had been elected to the Provincial Legislature and they could float their concerns and put up the demands of the Tribal people on the floor of the Assembly.
He was a Member of the Minority Sub-Committee and the Tribal Sub-Committee of the Constituent Assembly, a member of the Assam Legislative Assembly from 1937 to 1967 and a Minister of the Assam Government from 1938 to 1967. He won Sidli Assam Assembly Election in 1962. The Kokrajhar Sub Division was created in 1957 at his initiative.
Writer career
Rupnath Brahma Writer Career: Rupnath Brahma was a great writer. He mainly wrote essays and poems in the Bodo language. Most of his poems were dialectic and metaphysical in nature. He published his Bodo poems in an anthology called Khanthai Methai (Poems Songs) in collaboration with Padmashri Late Mada Ram Brahma.
Rupnath Brahma Literary Work
- Khanthai Methai
- Boro Jatir Parichay
Rupnath Brahma Death
The 23 January 1968, was a very dark day for the Bodo Community because Boroni Monthri Brahma took his last breath at the age of 66 years. During this day he was delivering a lecture in a meeting held at Gambari Bil at Kokrajhar. As soon as he finished his lecture he abruptly fell down and became senseless. He was rushed to the Hospital located at Kokrajhar, which was actually established by him during his tenure as a Minister. The doctor declared him dead due to a heart attack.
Rupnath Brahma Birth Anniversary Observation 2023
The birth anniversary of the first Bodo MLA and Minister of Assam Cabinet Rupnath Brahma is celebrated every year to recall the contribution and dedication of the Late Brahma. He was born on 15 June 1902. He was the longest-serving Tribal minister in Assam Assembly.
Like every year, this year also on 15 June 2023, the 122nd birth anniversary of Rupnath Brahma was observed at Bodofa Cultural Complex, Chandamari in Kokrajhar. The event was organised by Rup Nath Brahma Memorial Observance Committee (RNBMOC) to mark the occasion by recalling the contributions and dedications of Rup Nath Brahma. Chief Executive Member of BTR, Pramod Boro graced as chief guest on the occasion.
Brahma dedicated his life to the progress and upliftment of modern Assam, with a special focus on empowering the Bodo and other tribal communities in the region. His unwavering commitment to their well-being and development will be celebrated on this auspicious occasion. Brahma’s visionary efforts have played a significant role in fostering social harmony and driving overall growth in the area.
Schools, Hospital, Park and Bus Terminal in the Name of Rupnath Brahma
1. Schools in the Name of Rupnath Brahma
In the name of Mahari Sibisula Rupnath Brahma, there are many schools established under the Assam State.
2. Rupnath Brahma Civil Hospital Kokrajhar
Late Tribal Minister of Assam Assembly Rupnath Brahma laid the foundation stone of the Kokrajhar Civil Hospital During his ministership and the Hospital was named Rupnath Brahma Civil Hospital after his death.
3. Rupnath Brahma Inter State Bus Terminal, Guwahati
Rupnath Brahma, ISBT Terminal has been established as a tribute to his contribution to society. The Inter-State Bus Terminal is named after him to commemorate him as Rupnath Brahma Inter-State Bus Terminal.
Some Lesser Known Facts About Rupnath Brahma
Recently some controversies have been seen in Late Brahma’s legacy. The matter of why these controversies have occurred are:
- Statue of Rupnath Brahma in Pragati Bhawan: The statue of the Late Rupnath Brahma was removed temporarily 4 years back from the compound of Pragati Bhawan so as to be demolished and new vehicle parking is built over it. It can be seen that the statue was never re-installed in that place.
- Rupnath Brahma Civil Hospital Kokrajhar: The shifting and amalgamation of the Rupnath Brahma Civil Hospital Kokrajhar with Kokrajhar Medical College and Hospital at Besargaon
- Rupnath Barhma Children Park Kokrajhar: A few years back Rupnath Barhma Children Park Kokrajhar has been renamed Gandhi Park, Kokrajhar.
- Rupnath Brahma ISBT Guwahati: The ISBT Guwahati Assam was named as Rupnath BrahmInter State Bus Terminal but the name of Rupnath Brahma was merely mentioned.
- Statue of Rupnath Brahma was unveiled at Rupnath Brahma Civil Hospital, Kokrahar: The statue of former Assam Minister and social reformer Rupnath Brahma was unveiled at RNB Civil Hospital premises in Kokrajhar on 16 July 2023. BTR executive member Arup Kumar Dey attended the function and unveiled the statue.
Most of the people respect the honour of the deeds he had done for the common people. Therefore bringing down the name with such sentiment of the common will bring disturbance in their minds. So, various local Common People’s Organizations like AASAA, and AASTSU submitted a memorandum to then Governor Jagdish Mukhi and Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma through the Deputy Commissioner of Kokrajhar in the matter of honour and virtue of Late Tribal Minister of Bodo Community of Assam, Lt Rupnath Brahma.
Rupnath Brahma Photo Gallery
Statue of Boroni Monthri Rupnath Brahma
FAQ
1. Who was the first Bodo MLA in Assam Assembly?
Rupnath Brahma was the first MLA in Assam Assembly from Bodo Community.
2. Who was the longest serving Bodo Minister in Assam?
The first Bodo MLA and Minister of the Assam cabinet Rupnath Brahma was the longest-serving tribal minister.
3. Who was the first Bodo Bachelor of Law (BL)?
Late Rupnath Brahma was the first person to hold a Bachelor of Law degree.
4. When Rupnath Brahma was born?
Rupnath Brahma was born on 15 June 1902 at Owabari in Kokrajhar District.