The President of India designates the Assam Governor for a term of 5 years. He or she functions as the constitutional head and represents the President of India in the Assam state.
Current Governor of Assam
At present, His Excellency Janaki Ballabh Patnaik is the Governor of Assam. He took charge of the state on November 27, 2009.
Early life of Janaki Ballabh Patnaik
Janaki Ballabh Patnaik was born on January 3, 1927. He hails from Rameshwar in Puri district. His father was the late Gokulananda Patnaik. He did his schooling from Khurda High School. After finishing his school education, Janaki Ballabh Patnaik obtained his bachelor’s degree in Sanskrit language from Utkal University in 1947. In 1949, he did his post graduation (Master of Arts) in Political Science from the Banaras Hindu University. When he was a student in Ravenshaw College, he spearheaded the student’s campaign for the taking away of British Union Jack from college campus.
He has worked as editor of the following dailies:
- 'Eastern Times', an English daily - 1952-66
- 'Prajatantra', an Oriya daily - 1952-67
- Founder-Editor of 'Paurusha' - an Oriya magazine.
Political career of Janaki Ballabh Patnaik
From the very beginning, Janaki Ballabh Patnaik has been associated with the Indian National Congress. A prominent leader of the party, Patnaik served as the Chief Minister of the state from 1980 to 1989. He once more became the Chief Minister of Orissa and served the state from 1995 to 1999. He served the state for a record amount of time. In 1953, he spearheaded an effective farmer’s protest in Madhupur, Cuttack.
In 1950, he was nominated as the President of the Youth Wing of the Congress in Orissa (Yuba Congress). Janaki Ballabh Patnaik was given the portfolio of the Ministry for Tourism, Civil Aviation and Labor in the Union Government in 1980. He also served in the capacity of the Leader of the Opposition in the Orissa Vidhan Parishad (Orissa Legislative Council).
He has been linked with different public, cultural, and literary institutions and campaigns in Orissa. He handled relief activities in the riot inflicted places in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh in the capacity of Chairman, All India Congress Committee Relief Cell.
What are the honors received by Janaki Ballabh Patnaik?
Mr. Patnaik has received the following honors:
- D.Litt, (Honoris Causa) of Tirupati Sanskrit – A deemed University
- D.Litt, Prajnana Bachaspati (Honoris Causa) of Shri Jagannath Viswa Vidyalaya
Books written by Janaki Ballabh Patnaik
He has written the following books:
- 'Swapna O Sankalpa'
- 'Gautama Buddha',
- Sindhu Upatyaka'
- 'Ramayana'
- Mahabharat'
Positions held by Janaki Ballabh Patnik
| Tenure | Positions held |
| 1950 | President, Orissa State Youth Congress. |
| 1954-60 | Member, Working Committee of Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee, |
| 1956-67 | Member, Orissa Sahitya Academy |
| 1956-60 | Member, Executive Committee of All-India Newspaper Editor's Conference |
| 1957-67 | Member, Senate of Utkal University, |
| 1975 onwards | Member, All-India Congress Committee |
| 1978-80 | President, Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee |
| February 1992 - May 1998, December 1999 - October 2001, and January 2004 - June 2004 | Member, All-India Congress Working Committee |
| 1990-92 | Chairman, AICC Relief Committee |
Which countries has Janaki Ballabh Patnaik visit?
He has visited the following countries:
U.S.A., U.K., Japan, Germany, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, U.A.R., Russia, Cambodia, France, Afghanistan, Israel, and Italy.
Last Updated on 9/6/2011
