Nanda Kishore Sinha, a towering figure in the political and cultural history of Assam, was born on 15th March 1915 in the serene village of Gandhi Nagar, nestled in the Narsingpur region of Cachar district. He was the son of Gyanendra Sinha and Maya Devi, who instilled in him a deep respect for education, service, and cultural values.
In 1938, Sinha pursued his higher education at the prestigious Murari Chand College in Sylhet. However, the call of public service and the burning issues of his time proved stronger than academic pursuits. Driven by an innate passion to serve his people, he left college before completing his studies, embarking on a lifelong journey dedicated to politics and community development.
In 1945, Nanda Kishore Sinha married Bilasini Devi, the daughter of Behari Sinha of Masimpur village in Sylhet. This union further strengthened his roots in the Barak Valley’s close-knit communities, where he would soon emerge as a key leader and social reformer.
Sinha’s political journey was marked by historic achievements. In India’s first general elections in 1951, he was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Sonai constituency under the banner of the Indian National Congress. His leadership was reaffirmed in 1957 when he was re-elected, and again in 1962, when he successfully contested from the Silchar constituency as an Independent candidate—an extraordinary testament to his personal popularity and integrity.
Throughout his political career, Nanda Kishore Sinha remained a steadfast advocate for linguistic and cultural rights. His principles were so deeply held that he famously resigned from his MLA post in protest when he disagreed with his party’s stance on the Bengali language movement in Assam. He was the only MLA from the Bishnupriya Manipuri community among twelve Bengali-speaking legislators at the time, and his actions resonated far beyond political circles, inspiring many in the Barak Valley and beyond.
Beyond politics, Sinha was a relentless builder of institutions that would serve generations. He played a pivotal role in establishing the Bharat Sevak Samaj in the region, the Janata College at Kabuganj, Narsingpur, and the Sanskriti Bhawan in Silchar—each a symbol of his vision for education, empowerment, and cultural pride. His dedication to literature and cultural preservation culminated in his election as the President of the Bishnupriya Manipuri Sahitya Sabha in 1975, where he championed the cause of his community’s rich literary and linguistic traditions.
Nanda Kishore Sinha passed away on 16th January 1995 at the age of 79. Yet, his life’s work continues to inspire, remembered for his selfless service, principled leadership, and deep love for his people and their heritage. He remains a beacon of hope and pride for the Bishnupriya Manipuri community and for all those who believe in the power of culture, education, and public service to transform lives.
(c) Shankar Sinha for Bishnupriya Manipuri Sahitya Sabha