Hiteswar Saikia (3 October 1934 – 22 April 1996) was an Indian politician who served as the 10th chief minister of Assam from 1983 to 1985 and again from 1991 to 1996. He became the 1st Governor of Mizoram from 1987 to 1989, and was previously the 6th Lieutenant Governor of Mizoram from 1986 to 1987. In 1980 he was appointed as the Minister of Education for the Government of Assam, a post he held until 1981 although he assumed the role again in 1982. Earlier he had been the Minister of State for Home, Education and Public Relations between 1972 and 1974. He also held the post of Minister for Home-Affairs from 1974 to 1978. He represented the Nazira constituency in the Assam Legislative Assembly from 1972 to 1988 and again from 1991 to 1996.
Early life, family and education Saikia was born on 3 October 1934 at Bogabagh Tea Estate to Haladhar Saikia (1896–1988) in a Chutia family. His sister Aimoni married Membor Gogoi who served as Member of Assam Legislative Assembly for Teok.
From his childhood, Saikia was drawn to the non-cooperative movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi. To join the movement he gave up going to school. At that time he was just a boy studying in Class IX (9). His father influenced his career at almost all the turning points of his early life. It was his father who made him go to Lucknow for postgraduate studies where he earned his Master's Degree in History from Lucknow University in 1959.
As a result of his father's matchmaking, Saikia married Dr. Hemoprova, who later succeeded Saikia as MLA of Nazira and became a minister in the First Tarun Gogoi cabinet. Saikia's eldest son Debabrata Saikia entered politics in 2011 and became the leader of the opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, where he served from 2016 until 2026.
Early political career
Early Congress activities (1958–1974) Although Hiteswar Saikia wasn't in the front rank of the leadership as Assam became swept away by the tide of two big political movements, namely The Oil Refinery movement of 1958 and The State Language movement, he managed by dint of his organizing capacity to catch the attention of discerning eyes. Saikia joined the All India Congress Committee on 15 August 1964.
At that time Saikia was given responsibility for leading Congress's youth-wing. He became very popular and contested the Assembly election from his home constituency at Nazira, a small township situated near the ancient capital of the Ahom kings at Gargaon in the district of Sivasagar, Assam.
Home Minister (1974–1978) Following his election Saikia was brought into the newly formed Sarat Chandra Sinha Ministry. He was given a junior rank as a minister of state and in 1972 assumed responsibility for the three portfolios of Home, Education and Public relations.
In 1974 the Chief Minister, Mr. Sarat Chandra Sinha, rewarded him as a minister of Cabinet rank with the all-important Home portfolio entrusted to his person. This was a decisive turning point in his career. During his time as the Vice-Principal of the college where he had taught history he was destined to hold the education portfolio for three terms of office. He first assumed responsibility under the chief minister of Sarat Chandra Sinha between May 1972 and March 1974.
Saikia made far-reaching changes towards raising the status of police officers and of ordinary constables. He revamped the department so as to be rid of many former colonial hangovers dating back to British rule. In this way his changes allowed for a battalion of uniformed persons to be true sentinels of the law. He established the Forensic Laboratory at Guwahati, the capital of Assam and set up the 'single digit fingerprint bureau'. He turned his attention toward bifurcating the Criminal Intelligence Department through creating a Special Branch that was to be run independently. Thereafter he improved the functioning of the 'Assam Police Radio Organization' by modernising its equipment. Finally, he established a separate training centre for the armed police. But soon some cracks developed in the alliance.
Later activities and Education Minister (1978–1982) Just a few months before the withdrawal of the President's rule in Assam Saikia parted ways with Sarat Chandra Sinha. He joined Congress (I) in 1980 and was sounded out as to his possible taking-over of the leadership of the party. On several occasions he was approached, but he declined the honour. Saikia's political maturity and organizing ability eventually caught the eye of Indira Gandhi. When the expiry date of the President's rule was approaching it seemed that a constitutional crisis was about to appear on Assam's political horizon. However, Indira Gandhi came to Assam to evaluate the whole situation and was able to resolve the debacle.The Swooping Sparrow by Dr. Mahendra Bora
Under a stop-gap measure the Chief Minister, Syeda Anwara Taimur re-appointed him in December 1980 whereupon he was to remain in his post until June 1981. There then occurred another stop-gap measure between January and March 1982 when he served under Chief Minister, Keshab Gogoi.
During the Ministry of Keshab Chandra Gogoi Saikia was placed in charge of the Education portfolio. He introduced far reaching changes in Assam's field of education. First he created a separate 'Directorate for Elementary Education'. Secondly, he introduced the idea of what is termed 'provincialization of high schools'. In the wake of provincialization about 2,500 privately run government-aided high schools came under the direct administration of the government; a measure benefitting both students and teachers financially. He also made available liberal grants to help advance teachers in their careers, especially in language-based subjects.
First term as Chief Minister (1983–1985)
1983 election and appointment In 1983 Saikia became Chief Minister for the first time as opposition boycotted the polls. The Congress Legislature Party elected Hiteswar Saikia as the leader of the party. The Governor of Assam asked him to form his government. After the swearing-in ceremony Saikia refrained from performing the normally seen activity of allotting the chambers to his ministers. He made them meet together and apportioned duties to all the ministers to various troubled areas as well as personally supervising relief operations to assess the situations under threat.
Assam movement
Assam was experiencing a political climate which appeared to be very different from that of the heart of India. Then Indira Gandhi observed that only hope lay in bringing the AASU leadership to the negotiating table. She felt that Saikia was the man who could fulfill this task at any cost. He drew up a blue print of his own guidance and for his ministerial colleagues so as to take the necessary steps.
The meaning of such a blue print required control of the law and order situation which had been on the fringe of anarchy. It also necessitated urgent means to contain communal and ethnic violence and to provide immediate relief and succour to the victims of senseless violence. In addition, there were plans to manoeuvre the AASU leaders back to the negotiating table, and also to inspire confidence among sections of the people who wanted to keep distant from the agitators.
The measure of Saikia's success in the matter may be obtained from the spontaneous words of appreciation in the speech of the Prime Minister herself. Then, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi came forward to fulfill the half-finished work of his mother. Turning his attention to the problems relating to the Assam movement, he tried bringing the AASU leaders to the negotiating table. To make everything fruitful, Saikia tried at his best. Hence, his steps and attitudes enabled Rajiv Gandhi to get the Assam Accord signed by the AASU at midnight on the eve of 15 August 1985. It drew the final curtain over the last scene of the long six years of the Assam movement.
In terms of guaranteeing law and order Saikia allegedly orchestrated a number of "surrenders" of ULFA operatives; the success of which emboldened the trust of the public in his policies.Surrenders seen as body blow to ULFA Indian Express – 15 August 1998
Health issues Earlier there had been signs of Saikia's health being placed into question. It was detected in a medical check-up how both his kidneys were damaged. He was advised to obtain a kidney transplantation. Finally, in the Brigham Women Hospital in the US, he underwent a successful operation carried out by the best expert in the field at that time on 25 June 1981.
It was his youngest brother who donated one of his kidneys for the purpose. He returned home in October, 1981. After that he joined the ministry under Keshab Chandra Gogoi in the early part of 1982. As the Keshab Chandra Gogoi ministry collapsed no sooner than had it been formed he had to convince his supporters and critics how all his promises could still be fulfilled.
Mizoram governor (1986–1989)
Appointment Attaining success in Assam by getting the Assam Accord signed, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi turned his attention to Mizoram. There he had similar problems to that of Assam both in dimension and in nature. The Government of India had been tired of facing violence in that Union Territory as unleashed by Laldenga, the leader of the Mizo National Front (MNF) for quite a number of years.
Encouraged by the signing of the Assam Accord, Rajiv Gandhi aimed to sign a similar Mizo Accord. Saikia was appointed the Lt. Governor of Mizoram. In such an Indian setting to ask an ex-Chief Minister to become a Governor usually signifies retirement. But little did his critics know how he took to the post as a means of regeneration.
Tenure Saikia worked in unison with two definite targets fixed by the Mizo Accord. Firstly, he had to bring peace to the troubled region. Secondly, he had to fulfill the dream of the Mizo people to gain for their territory the status of a full-scale statehood. He did achieve both in time, and renewed confidence and trust in the people. Mizoram experienced a shift away from its earlier characterization as an “exotic land of mountains and militants.” Saikia identified and engaged with the grievances of the Mizo people.
Once the proper wavelength was found communication became easier with a number of solutions. When the Prime Minister himself came to Aizawl on 19 February and declared Statehood for Mizoram, Saikia was praised as the Lt. Governor and was elevated to the higher rank of the Governor. The whole of the Mizoram rejoiced in great merriment.
When a popular government was installed in Mizoram, Governor Saikia found sometime to move in both inside and outside of the state. At the same time he received an invitation from the Principal of St. Edmund's College at Shillong on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee celebration. During the visit to the Don Bosco School at Shillong on 5 July 1987 Saikia took keen interest in vocational training classes.
After the long stay at Mizoram, Saikia acquired a new virtue of his character. When his resigning letter was accepted, people of Mizoram bid him a hearty farewell.The Swooping Sparrow by Dr. Mahendra Bora
Second term as Chief Minister (1991–1996)
1991 election and appointment The Assam movement demanded the expulsion of all foreigners whose number had been estimated to be several lakhs. This gained momentum and the AASU was on the forefront of the movement. When Saikia came back from Mizoram to play his role in Assam politics he was appointed by the President of the APCC (I) by Rajiv Gandhi. He intended to send the opposite team of Asom Gana Parishad which entered into the tail-phase of electoral procedures. The 1991 general election was witness to great turmoil and constituted a grave danger to Saikia's life.