Assam: Veteran Politician and Former Governor Debananda Konwar Passes Away at 77

Guwahati, April 25, 2020:

Debananda Konwar, veteran politician from Assam and a former Governor of Bihar, Tripura and West Bengal, passed away on Saturday at his own residence in Guwahati. He was 77.

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Konwar's demise was condoled by the current Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, who wrote on Twitter, "Saddened to learn about the demise of former Governor of Bihar, WB & Tripura and former Assam Minister Devananda Konwar. My sincere condolences to bereaved family members and well-wishers."

Ripun Bora, the President of Assam Congress also took to Twitter to condole the demise of the veteran. "Deeply mourned by the demise of Debanand Konwar, Veteran Congress Leader, Ex-Minister & Former Governor of Bihar & Tripura. May his departed soul rest in peace. My deepest condolence to the bereaved families in this hour of grief", Bora wrote.

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Joining the Indian National Congress (INC) as a student leader in 1955, Konwar was appointed Cabinet minister in the state government of Assam in 1991 Hiteswar Saikia Government. He was also appointed as a Minister in the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government in 2001.

Konwar began his career as a lecturer in the English Department in Cotton College, Guwahati. Later he worked at the American Standard Vacuum Oil Company in Mumbai in 1961 as a Marketing Manager for 7 years.

In 1968-69 he established a Degree College in Guwahati City known as Guwahati College as its founder Principal. In November 1969, he joined the Gauhati High Court Bar and practiced there 1991. He also practiced at the Supreme Court as an advocate.

He also professionally served as Government Advocate for the States of Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram in the Gauhati High Court.

He held various Party posts at District and State Levels at different times including General Secretaryship and Vice-Presidency of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee from 1983–1991. He had been chosen to lead a composite 28-member Friends of Soviet Union Delegation composed of participants from Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu to Moscow, Tashkent, Alma-Ata, Kiev, Sochi, Leningrad, etc. in 1988.

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