Dev Kant Baruah

Dev Kant Barooah (22 February 1914 – 28 January 1996) was an Indian politician from Assam, who served as the 83rd President of the Indian National Congress during the Emergency from 1975 to 1978 and the seventh Governor of Bihar from 1971 to 1973. He also served as union cabinet minister for Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in Second Indira Gandhi ministry from 5 February 1973 to 10 October 1974. He was a member of the 1st Lok Sabha and 6th Lok Sabha. the elder brother of famous Assamese poet, Navakanta Barua and the first Assamese person to become the President of the Indian National Congress.

Early life Baruah was born on 22 February 1914 to Nilkanta Baruah at Dibrugarh, Assam Province (present-day Assam). 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 proclamation regarding Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in 1974 "India is Indira. Indira is India." However, he later parted ways with her and joined Congress (Urs), later renamed as Indian Congress (Socialist). 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.

Baruah was a noted poet as well. His collection of Assamese poems, Sagar Dekhisa (সাগৰ দেখিছা), is still very popular. He was the elder brother of famous Assamese poet Nabakanta Barua.