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Home ≫ The Constitution Framers ≫ Kuladhar Chaliha

Kuladhar Chaliha

Constituent Assembly Members

Kuladhar Chaliha

1887 - 1963

Key Information

Party: Indian National Congress

Constituency: Assam

Religion: Hindu

Caste: Non SC/ST

Gender: Male

Mother Tongue: Assamese

Education: Postgraduate

Committee Memberships

None

Biography

Early Life

Kuladhar Chaliha was born on 20 September 1887 in Lakhimpur district of Assam. He studied at Cotton College, Guwahati as well as Presidency College, Calcutta.

Role in Indian Independence Movement

Chaliha occupied key posts in the Indian National Congress and State and Central legislatures. He was the first President of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (1920) and a member of the All-India Congress Committee (1921 – 44). His legislative career included memberships of the Assam Council and the Central Legislative Assembly (1936-46). Like many of his Congress Party colleagues, Chaliha was imprisoned for his involvement in the Indian freedom movement.

Contribution to Constitution Making

Chaliha was elected to the Constituent Assembly from Assam on a Congress Party ticket. His interventions in the Assembly mostly revolved around the administration of tribal areas.

Later Contributions

Soon after the independence, Chaliha became the Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly (1952-1957).

He passed away on 19 January 1963.

The Government of India issued a postage stamp in 1988 on the occasion of his birth centenary.

Key Speeches

Chaliha believed that the Sixth Schedule would create more rift between tribal communities and the rest of India.
He felt that tribal people of Assam were not capable of framing rules for self-government and local administration.
When the Constitution-making process was winding up, he specifically singled out the Constitution’s Directive Principles of State Policy for praise and appreciation.