D. K. Barooah


Dev Kant Barooah was an Indian politician from Assam, who served as the President of the Indian National Congress during the Emergency.

Early life

Baruah was born on 22 February 1914 to Nilkanta Baruah at Dibrugarh, Assam Province. He studied at Nowgong Government High School and graduated from Banaras Hindu University. After joining the Indian freedom struggle, he was imprisoned in 1930, 1941 and 1942.

Career

In 1949–1951, Baruah's political career began as a member of the Constituent Assembly. He is now chiefly remembered for his alleged sycophancy to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, encapsulated by his c. 1974 proclamation that "India is Indira. Indira is India." However, he later parted ways with her and joined Congress, later renamed as Indian Congress. He was the Governor of Bihar from 1 February 1971 to 4 February 1973. He died in New Delhi. He is the first and only Assamese to be elected as a president of Indian National Congress.
Barua was a noted poet as well. His collection of Assamese poems, Sagar Dekhisa, is still very popular. He was the elder brother of famous Assamese poet Nabakanta Barua.