Meet Himanta Biswa Sarma, The "Chanakya" Of Assam

Updated: May 12, 2026 12:10 pm IST Published On May 12, 2026 11:53 am IST Last Updated On May 12, 2026 12:10 pm IST

Published On May 12, 2026 11:53 am IST

Last Updated On May 12, 2026 12:10 pm IST

Having known Himanta Biswa Sarma for more than a decade, I've witnessed not just the politician but the man - ambitious, sharp-witted, deeply rooted in Assamese ethos, yet pragmatic in navigating India's complex political landscape. 

Our paths crossed during his ministerial years in Congress government in 2011 and evolved through his transformative journey. 

To me, he remains "Dada", but for Assam, he is "Mama".

He is a strategist whose intellect often leaves observers in awe. 

This profile weaves his life story with that personal lens, from humble beginnings to steering Assam as its next Chief Minister.

Early Life and College Days: The Making of a Leader

Born on February 1, 1969, in Jorhat, Assam, to poet and novelist Kailash Nath Sarma and literary activist Mrinalini Devi, Himanta grew up in a culturally rich environment that instilled a love for language, identity, and public discourse. He completed his schooling from Kamrup Academy Higher Secondary School in Guwahati in 1985 before joining the prestigious Cotton College (now Cotton University) for his undergraduate studies in Political Science. 

His college days at Cotton College in the late 1980s and early 1990s were formative. Elected General Secretary of the Cotton College Students' Union three times (1988-89, 1989-90, and 1991-92), Himanta was already a magnetic orator and organiser. 

I've heard him reminisce about those hostel debates and campus elections with a sparkle in his eyes - the same fire that defined his later career. 

Read | Trusted Congress Face To Key BJP Strategist: Himanta Sarma's Political Journey

He completed his BA in 1990 and MA in 1992 from Gauhati University, later earning an LLB from Government Law College, Guwahati (around 1995), and a PhD in Political Science from Gauhati University in 2006. 

During this period, he was active with the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), riding the wave of the Assam Movement's legacy. His student leadership showcased organisational skills and youth mobilisation that would become his hallmark. 

As someone who has discussed these years with him, I can attest how........

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