A tribute to Medhi

: Of all the prominent leaders of Asom, Bisnuram Medhi has a pre-eminent position as a leader imbued with burning patriotism, determined and firm, noble and principled, never ever compromising with what he thought was wrong. Embedded with these qualities, he was in the forefront in the freedom struggle and during the formative stage of the country’s independence, he held positions like Revenue Minister and then as a Chief Minister of Asom for a stormy period of seven years where he acquitted himself as a great political leader and an administrator. On many occasions, he incurred displeasure with the power in the centre and even with the Party high command and never ever compromised. He even offered to resign on the issue of Asom Refinery but at the insistence of the then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, he withdrew his resignation and the issue was settled by the setting up of the Refinery at Guwahati, albeit not a large one. It is on record that at that time he said that he could not be a Chief Minister to compromise on the state’s interest and if that ever happens, he will not hesitate to lay down the office.