The political landscape of Assam mourned on Wednesday as veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union minister Kabindra Purkayastha passed away. He was 95 years old. The end came at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) following a prolonged battle with age-related health issues.
A Prolonged Illness and Final Moments
Kabindra Purkayastha had been suffering from multiple health complications, including hypertension. His condition took a serious turn on December 23, leading to his admission to the ICU at SMCH. As his health continued to deteriorate, doctors placed him on ventilator support. The hospital authorities officially declared his death at 5:06 pm on Wednesday evening.
His son, Rajya Sabha MP Kanad Purkayastha, had rushed from New Delhi and arrived at the hospital shortly before his father's passing. The mortal remains of the leader were kept in a special room at the hospital. The body was scheduled to be taken to the district BJP office in Silchar on Thursday morning, followed by a stop at the District Sports Association (DSA) ground before the final rites.
The Patriarch of BJP in Barak Valley
Purkayastha was widely regarded as a towering figure and one of the principal architects of the BJP's organisational growth in Assam's Barak Valley. His political journey began as a grassroots worker in Silchar. He earned a reputation as a disciplined organiser, a sharp intellectual, and a dedicated karyakarta (worker).
Party colleagues remember him as a mentor who nurtured generations of workers, helping the BJP establish a strong base in a region once considered difficult terrain for the party. He represented Assam in the Lok Sabha three times and served as the Union Minister of State for Communications in Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government from 1998 to 1999.
Leaders Mourn an Irreplaceable Loss
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed profound grief, describing Purkayastha as an inspiration and a prolific intellectual who laid the foundation of the BJP in the region. "From the lanes of Silchar to the Parliament of India, his journey and legacy of service and values will endure," Sarma stated in his condolence message.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal termed the death a personal loss and a major void in Assam's political life. "A true stalwart of the BJP, he dedicated his entire life to building the organisation from the grassroots, setting a benchmark for selfless service," Sonowal said. Several senior BJP leaders, including Minister Kaushik Rai, visited SMCH to pay their respects.
A Life Dedicated to Ideology and Service
Born in 1931 in Kamarkhal village of Sylhet district (now in Bangladesh), Purkayastha pursued higher education at Gauhati University, earning a master's degree. His ideological commitment was evident early on; he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1951. He later left his job as the principal of Ramkrishna Vidyapeeth in Sribhumi to work full-time for the organisation.
In 1980, he became a founder member of the BJP and played a crucial role in spreading the party's ideology across northeastern India. His electoral record was formidable:
- First elected to Lok Sabha from Silchar in 1991.
- Re-elected in 1998.
- Returned to Parliament in 2009 after defeating heavyweight rivals Santosh Mohan Dev (Congress) and Badruddin Ajmal (AUDF).
He lost the 2014 election to Sushmita Dev of the Congress. In recognition of his immense contributions to public and social life, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in September 2024. His passing marks the end of an era in Assam politics, leaving behind a powerful legacy of organisational discipline, unwavering ideological commitment, and dedicated public service.
