Veteran politician and former Governors of Bihar, Tripura, and West Bengal Devanand Konwar passed away on Saturday morning at his Guwahati residence. He was 77.
Konwar joined the Indian National Congress in 1955 as a student leader and he was also a member of the state cabinet in 1991 in the Hiteshwar Saikia government.
He was also the cabinet minister in 2001 Tarun Gogoi government.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has condoled Konwar’s death and said his death has left a void in the world of Assam politics.
“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,” Sonowal tweeted.
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. pic.twitter.com/PGqMmNcJ0U
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) April 25, 2020
He began his career as a lecturer in the English Department in Cotton College and later Konwar has given his services to American Standard Vacuum Oil Company in Mumbai in 1961 as Marketing Manager.
He worked there for seven years, coordinating Petroleum Products distribution Networks in Northern and Eastern India from Trombay, Vizag, Barauni, Noonmati, Digboi Refineries and Budge-Budge sea Terminal and other Company Inland Product Terminals.
In 1968-69 he established a Degree College in Guwahati City known as Guwahati College as its founder Principal.
In November 1969 he joined Gauhati High Court Bar and practised there as well as in the Supreme Court of India as an Advocate till 1991
Professionally, Konwar served as Government Advocate for the States of Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram in the Gauhati High Court.
He joined the Indian National Congress Party as a Student Leader in 1955 and had never been out of it till today.
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, Kyiv, Sochi, Leningrad, etc. in 1988.