'People’s Love is My Strength': Assam CM Himanta Biswa Turns 53 Today, Wishes Pours in

When the nation was listening to the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman presenting the General Budget on Tuesday, people from Pandu and Maligaon regions of Assam’s Guwahati were busy preparing for a special celebration for their former finance minister of the State and the present chief minister. It was Himanta Biswa Sarma’s 53rd birthday.

Even though the chief minister’s office had last evening asked enthusiasts to abstain from visiting him at his official residence in the early hours of February 1, owing to Covid-19 restrictions, Jalukbari, the constituency Himanta Sarma has successfully represented for five consecutive terms in altered political shades and hues, had been engaged in mega birthday preparations.

“The blessings of the Almighty and love of people are my strength. On the occasion of my birthday, visited Shri Doul Govinda Temple to seek blessings. I also prayed for the State’s progress and everyone’s health & well-being,” Sarma said in a tweet.

From footbridge to parks, the entire Maligaon area along with adjoining Pandu (the port township) wore a festive look with life size cut-outs of Sarma adorning every nook and corner.

The whole area was decorated with festive lights and the chief minister cut a massive birthday cake and took party in a yagya arranged for his good health and prosperity.

Form being the authoritative dada (big brother) to the ‘adorable mama’ (uncle) on his 53rd birthday, the chief minister received heart-warming birthday wishes from his followers and well-wishers from across the country.

Birthday With VAISHNAV ‘NEPHEWS’

Sarma also invited 47 young Vaisnav nephews to celebrate his birthday. The chief minister invited the little Vaishnavas from two sattras in Majuli, who embarked on a journey for Guwahati on the occasion.

In the morning, the young monks of Bhakats, who dubbed themselves as CM’s nephews, left for Guwahati with various gifts to meet Sarma. The young monks were also given a special tour of Guwahati on behalf of the CM and later in the night, they were treated to a meal hosted by Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.

“It was a delightful experience to host 47 young bhakats of Auniati Satra and Dakhin Pat Satra of Majuli at my Guwahati residence this evening. Had a lovely time watching their Satriya cultural performances & interacting with them over dinner,” Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on twitter.

The young bhagins were served Ari fish tenga, a traditional sour preparation, Bhokua Fish with cauliflower and Pabha fish wrapped in banana leaves and baked with mashed potato. The young bhakats enjoyed the meal with Himanta Biswa Sarma who squatted on the floor in a traditional manner while having his food.

Sarma was an MLA from the Jalukbari constituency in Assam from 2001 till 2015 from the Indian National Congress ticket. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in August 2015 and took oath as Cabinet Minister on May 24, 2016 after winning the 2016 Assembly elections.

He was appointed as the convener of the newly constituted North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) by the BJP leadership, whose primary task was to bring disparate regional parties on board to fight the common enemy: the Congress.

He was unanimously elected as President of the Badminton Association of India in 2017 and also became the president of the Assam Cricket Association in June 2016. His father late Kailash Nath Sarma was a well-known poet and novelist of Assam.

His mother, Smti. Mrinalini Devi, is a literary personality actively associated with the Assam Sahitya Sabha. Sarma is married to Riniki Bhuyan Sarma and the couple has a son, Nandil, and daughter, Sukanya.

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