Golap Borbora

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Golap Borbora was chief minister of Indian state of Assam from 1977 to 1989. He was the first non congress chief minister of Assam. He was a member of Rajya Sabha between 1968 and 1974

He was born in Golaghat and had his early schooling in Tinsukia and then studied at Calcutta University.

He was a follower of Ram Manohar Lohia and Jai Prakash Narayan and was imprisoned several times during the freedom movement

In free India he was arrested in 1975 for opposing Indira regime in the emergency in 1975 and spent 18 months in Tihar Jail. Golap Borbora became the State unit president of the Janata Party in 1977 and led the party to victory . He was elected the first non-Congress Chief Minister of Assam in 1978.

The Janata Party Government led by Borbora lasted for 18 months only. However many think that the government did not last long as as he had tried to stop influx of illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries and also to demonopolise the liquor trade in tea garden belts. His government exempted land revenue for farmers up to 10 bighas and ordered fee exemptions to school students up to HSLC level and all girls up to high school level. The government also introduced free medical treatment in all the government hospitals and allowed free movement of foodsgrains within the State.

He died in 2006.