Mahendra Mohan Choudhury (12 April 1908 – 27 December 1982) was a freedom fighter and politician from Nagaon,
Undivided Kamrup district (now
Barpeta district) of
Western Assam
Lower Assam division is one of the 5 administrative divisions of Assam. It was formed in 1874, comprising Undivided Kamrup district of Western Assam, undivided Darrang and Nagoan districts of Central Assam and Khasi & Jaintia hills of Meghalay ...
. He was Chief Minister of
Assam
Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...
from 1970 to 1972. He also served as governor of
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising a ...
.
Early life
Mahendra Mohan Choudhury was born on 12 April 1908 in
Nagaon
Nagaon (previously Nowgong; Assamese নগাঁও), is a town and a municipal board in Nagaon district in the Indian state of Assam. It is situated east of Guwahati.
History
This division was organised on the both banks of Kalang river ...
,
Undivided Kamrup district in an Assamese family. He did his graduation in Arts and subsequently completed his
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Ch ...
.
Politics
A great persona and a true
Gandhian, he fought for the
independence of India during
freedom movement and went to jail thrice in 1932, 1941 and in 1945 respectively. He was a member of Assam Vidhan Sabha (1946–1952), Parliamentary Secretary (1947), State Minister (1951, 1955), President of Assam Congress Committee, President of Assam Vidhan Sabha (1967), Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly (1959-1967), Cabinet Minister (1967–1970),
Chief Minister of Assam
The chief minister of Assam, an Indian state, is the head of the Government of Assam. As per the Constitution of India, the governor is the state's ''de jure'' head, but ''de facto'' executive authority rests with the chief minister. Following ...
(1970–1972) and Governor of Punjab.
Works
He wrote books, viz. ''Mahatma Gandhi'' and ''The Philosophy of Binova Bhabe''. He was associated with many socio-religious institutions like Sankardev-Kristi Vikash Samiti, Gita Samaj, Madhupur Satra etc.
Mahendra Mohan Choudhury was also instrumental in founding the Saint Sankaradeva Chair at Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, which had contributed immensely in acquainting the pan-Indian community of scholars with the Life and Works of the Saint.
Personal life and death
Choudhury had a son, Sourindra Mohan Choudhury.
Mahendra Mohan Choudhury died in
Gauhati Medical College and Hospital following a heart attack on 27 December 1982.
[''Data India'', Press Institute of India, 1983 - India, p. 60 Former Governor of Punjab and former Chief Minister of Assam Mahendra Mohan Choudhury (74) died in Gauhati's medical college hospital Dec. 27 following a heart attack.] Mahendra Mohan Choudhury had six children, 2 sons and four daughters.
See also
*
Chhatbir Zoo, named after Mahendra Mohan Choudhry
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Choudhry, Mahendra Mohan
People from Barpeta district
Kamrupi people
1982 deaths
Indian independence activists from Assam
Governors of Punjab, India
Chief Ministers of Assam
1908 births
Speakers of the Assam Legislative Assembly
Chief ministers from Indian National Congress
Assamese people