The Nixon of Assam: From Hiteswar Saikia wit to HBS will
In 1973, then Home Minister of Assam, Hiteswar Saikia was termed as Nixon of Assam by a popular weekly Saptahik Nilachal in its Yearbook Assam 73 not for his international diplomacy, but for his relentless verbosity, sharp wit and unpredictable statements.
Like U.S. President Nixon famous words remains of one of the most quoted political one liners in the U.S. history. Eccentric yet effective.
"I will resign from my post, but I will resign-- as I am the President of USA".
Saikia had a flair for bold declearations that amused some alamred others. As the Home Minister, Saikia often faced strong opposition from the students communities of Guwahati University, but he turned critism into performance.
Asked once about the rising unrest, he cooly said ----
" Yes, there will be curfew tomorrow"
"Why"?
" Because I will visit there they will opposed me. Law and Order will follow".
His approval was less about controlling the verbosit and more about owing it. In the peak years of ULFA he simply quiped,
"Without soldiers, how you can be a
commander."
To burocrats Saikias one liner--
"You may have the pen, but the power mine"
These are just lines, they were power statements---cold, clear, strategic.
HBS evolution from Disciple to Decider...
HBS who began his political journey under Hiteswar Saikia had not just inherited style, he is upgraded it. If Saikia used irony and provocation HBS combines that with field intelligence and tactical precision.
Whatever HBS says, its political implications may vary but one thing consistent, he dared to say exactly what he wants. Behind that boldness lies his biggest strength in a ringside views of each and every major minor issues with grassroots network that few can rival, he absorbs whispersfrom the ground, collects fact, converts them into knowledge and applied them as tactical wisdom.
The firey lines--- if they threw beef in front of Mandir, we will threw pork in front of their Masjid"----- that shook drawing and newsrooms.
Creed? Perhaps. But also calculated. Like his mentor Saikia, HBS uses language as apolitical scalpel-- blunt but precise, proactive yet grounded in strategic communication.
When HBS visited the eviction hit HasilaBeel his presence did not sparked protest--- it drew villagers towards him. In contrast , opposition leaders particularly from the minority community were chased away from the same area. It was not just politics--- it's positioning.
Even today morning, HBS counter attacks the journelist by reflecting the poor salary they got,for medical ground they approached him and he happily rewarded them.
This was not about two leaders who spoke their mind. It's about how words become weapon, wit becomes power and grassroot knowledge turns into command.From Saikias cynical poise to HBS unapologetic grips , Assam's political theatre continue to produce character who didn't just govern,---the perform.
That's a powerful anecdotes --it reinforced the idea that HBS not only observes and reacts but often turns the spotlight back to on his critiques, disarming them with unexpected counter. This moment can be seamlessly added to the narrative to show how his political performance extends into media interactions with sharp undertones of powerplay.
It's not longer politics--- it's performance by information, instinct and inherited style.
