Guwahati Flyover to Honor Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's Legacy
On May 22, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the inauguration of a flyover in Guwahati named after Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. This decision pays homage to Mukherjee's pivotal role in maintaining Assam's status as part of India during the 1947 partition. Sarma highlighted Mukherjee's contributions to Assam's cultural and linguistic identity, emphasizing the significance of this naming in recognizing historical efforts to resist the merger with East Pakistan. The flyover stands as a symbol of Mukherjee's enduring legacy in the region.
| May 23, 2026, 12:49 IST
Inauguration of the Flyover in Guwahati
The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, announced on Friday, May 22, that the newly constructed flyover in Guwahati will be named after Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. He described this naming as a tribute to Mukherjee's significant role in keeping Assam a part of India during the partition. In a post on X prior to the inauguration, the Chief Minister noted that many might question why the flyover is named after Mukherjee, a query rooted in a lesser-known chapter of Assam's history.
Sarma explained that during the partition in 1947, the Muslim League aimed to incorporate Kolkata and the entire Bengal region into East Pakistan. He asserted that Mukherjee, alongside Gopinath Bordoloi and others, spearheaded political and intellectual resistance against this move, working to ensure Assam remained within India. He emphasized that had they succeeded, Assam might not exist in India today.
The Chief Minister remarked that this flyover is not merely an infrastructure project but also a symbolic tribute to Mukherjee's contributions to preserving Assam's geographical and cultural identity. He further stated that Mukherjee's impact on Assam transcended politics and geography, highlighting his promotion of the Assamese language as a medium of instruction in schools during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor. Sarma also acknowledged the role of Birinchi Kumar Barua in strengthening the study of the Assamese language and higher education during that period.
Many might wonder why a significant infrastructure project in Assam is named after a Bengali lawyer, educator, and nationalist politician from Kolkata. Mukherjee, a lawyer by profession, served as a minister in both provincial and national governments and was a staunch advocate for national unity. He is recognized for his role in founding the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which is linked to today's BJP, and for his strong opposition to the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.
Returning to the question of why the flyover in Assam bears Mukherjee's name, Himanta Biswa Sarma provided a clear answer. Mukherjee played a crucial role in safeguarding Assam as an integral part of India, preventing its merger with East Pakistan, and was a strong proponent of the Assamese language and culture.
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