MANGALDAI: A large number of mourners, admirers and representatives of various social organizations, besides family members and relatives, on September 18 bade a tearful adieu to seniormost lawyer and former legislator Lakhsmi Kanta Saikia passed away on September 17. He was suffering from prolonged illness for the last six years and breathed his last at his residence at Rajapam of Mangaldai town. He was 86. Lakhsmi Kanta Saikia, former president of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) from 1966 to 1968 also represented the Kalaigaon Legislative Assembly constituency as the Congress candidate in 1972.
After completion of his secondary education from Mangaldai Government HS School, he completed his graduation in Arts from St. Edmund’s College, Shillong. As a student of Gauhati University, he completed his MA in Political Science and also became the first student of the Darrang district to obtain a Diploma in Journalism. He also completed his LLB from the University Law College, Guwahati. During his student life, he led the students of Gauhati University as the general secretary of PGSU, Guwahati University and also as the general secretary of University Law College Students’ Union. Because of the exceptional leadership quality in his personality, he was entrusted with the responsibility of the president of the AASU.
Later, Saikia joined the Mangaldai Bar Association and the leaders of the Congress, highly attracted with his unique qualities, projected him as the candidate in the Assam Assembly Election of 1972 only to pave his landslide victory. Being highly influenced by the ideology of the then Chief Minister Sarat Chandra Singha, Saikia got actively involved with the Cooperation Movement and within a short period, he proved his ability as a leader in the Cooperation Movement.
His strong passion for providing higher education in rural areas finally helped him shoulder the responsibility of the founder Principal of Dahi College and Burhinagar College. As a successful lawyer of the district, he was elected as the secretary and president of the Mangaldai Bar Association for quite a long period. He was also actively associated with the erstwhile Darrang District Journalist Association as its president. His significant contribution to the society has been reflected in Mangaldai Nagar Samabay Bank- the first bank in the cooperative sector in Mangaldai and in recognition of his yeoman service, he was nominated as the chairman of the governing body of the Bank for 25 years.
On September 18, despite the scorching sun, a large number of mourners, well wishers and relatives took his mortal remains to various organizations and institutions he was involved in a mourning procession and also to his paternal village at Kabikara in Dahi Mouza. His mortal remains were consigned in to flame as per Vedic rituals at the public crematorium at Bhebarghat of Mangaldai town on Monday. He leaves behind his three sons and a host of relatives.
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