Devajit Saikia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Education | Masters in Economics and LLB |
| Alma mater | Cotton College, Gauhati University |
| Known for | Cricket, Law and Sports Administration |
Devajit Saikia is an Indian advocate, a former first class cricketer and a cricket administrator. Saikia is the joint secretary of Board of Control for Cricket in India. [1]
Born and raised in Guwahati, Saikia studied in Cotton College and went on to play in the Ranji Trophy for Assam cricket team. He was a wicket-keeper and a middle order batter. [2]
He also served as the secretary of Assam Cricket Association. He is also the general secretary of Guwahati Sports Association, one of the oldest sports bodies in eastern India. [3] Apart from that, Saikia is also the incumbent advocate general of Assam. [4]
Saikia was born on April 19, 1969, to Tunga Bhadra Saikia and Dipika Saikia at Happy Villa, Uzan Bazar, Guwahati. Popularly called by his nick name ‘Lon’, he completed his schooling at Don Bosco School, Guwahati, where he passed his HSLC examination in 1984. His academic pursuits then took him to Cotton College under Gauhati University, where he graduated in 1990 in Economics, and Master’s Degree in Economics in 1994. Later on, he pursued law and obtained LLB degree from Old Earle Law College (now BRM Govt. Law College) in 1996, also under Gauhati University.
Saikia enrolled as a lawyer under Bar Council of Assam and started legal practice at the Gauhati High Court in December 1997, marking the beginning of a distinguished legal career. Before embarking on this journey, he worked in NF Railway from 1989 to 1991 and then at the Reserve Bank of India (Guwahati) from 1991 to 1996. Both positions were secured through sports quota employment, reflecting his notable cricketing achievements. [4]
In the initial years, Saikia had an extensive law practice in private matters from 1997 to 2004 with a variety of cases in writ jurisdiction, criminal law and insurance law.
From 2005 onwards, he represented the Assam Government in cases involving departments like Finance, Taxation, Health and Education. In 2009, he was appointed Additional Advocate General of Meghalaya, a position he held until 2011 (September). From 2011 to 2014, Saikia served as Additional Advocate General of Assam before having an unceremonious exit due to differences with the then Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. [5] [6]
From 2005 onwards, he represented the Assam Government in cases involving departments like Finance, Taxation, Health and Education. In 2009, he was appointed Additional Advocate General of Meghalaya, a position he held until 2011 (September). From 2011 to 2014, Saikia served as Additional Advocate General of Assam before having an unceremonious exit due to differences with the then Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
During 2014–2016, he resumed private practice and handled several important public interest litigations, often causing discomfort to the ruling state government along with other constitutional, criminal and service matters for private litigants. [7] [8]
Devajit Saikia once again took the brief of the state government in July 2016 when he was appointed as Senior Additional Advocate General of Assam. In 2017, he had brief stint of two months as Advocate General of Assam (acting). Later on, he continued to hold the post of Senior Additional Advocate General Assam till December 2018 when he resigned from said post to make himself eligible to contest for the post of Secretary of Assam Cricket Association as under the eligibility norms of the association’s constitution, there existed, at the relevant point of time, a bar for anyone holding public office from contesting for any post of office bearers of the cricket association. [9]
On May 21, 2021, he was appointed Advocate General of Assam, becoming the youngest to hold the position at 52 years and one month. And till date, he is holding the post of AG, Assam. [10] [11]
Saikia’s passion for cricket is well-documented and forms a significant part of his identity. His cricketing career began in earnest in 1984 when he represented Assam in the CK Nayudu Trophy for school cricket in Lucknow. A year later, he played in the Vijay Merchant Trophy for the Assam Under-15 team in Keenan Stadium Jamshedpur in which he scored an unbeaten 55 on debut. From 1986 to 1989, he represented Assam (Under-19) in the prestigious Cooch Behar Trophy. In 1987, Saikia had a memorable moment during the Vijay Hazare Trophy (Under-17), where he scored a century for Assam against Orissa in Kolkata, which earned him a slot in the East Zone team to participate in the national Vijay Hazare Trophy. In the said tournament, he played all three matches for the zone and helped the team win the championship in Kanpur in 1987-88. It’s significant to mention that players like Sourav Ganguly and Ranjib Biswal were his teammates in the zonal team.
In 1988, he also played for the Wills XI under the captainship of Maninder Singh in the now-defunct Wills Trophy.
By 1989, Saikia had been called up for Assam’s Ranji Trophy team and he was a part of it for four matches for the season 1989-90. In the next season, 1991, he made his Ranji debut and played four matches as a wicketkeeper and middle-order batter. [2]
At 21, he gave up professional cricket in order to pursue his career in academics.
During his cricket career, he was a regular in the Rohinton Baria Trophy, where he represented Gauhati University for several seasons.
His career extended beyond the traditional formats of cricket. In 2003, Saikia represented various teams in six-a-side cricket tournaments across Asia and the UK. In 2004, he played for the Indian Lawyers Team in Colombo and Galle in Sri Lanka and also played in a lawyers' cricket tournament in London in 2005. His cricketing travels took him to the West Indies (Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago) in 2006, followed by a second tour of the UK. He participated in the Lawyers’ World Cup held in Cambridge and London in 2009, where the Indian team finished as runners-up to Australia. In 2015-16, he captained one of two Indian Lawyers Team in the Lawyers’ World Cup in Brisbane, Australia and continued representing the lawyers’ team in the 2017-18 Lawyers’ World Cup in Sri Lanka. [12]
Devajit Saikia’s foray into sports administration began in 2003 when he was elected Vice President of Gauhati Town Club (GTC), a century-year-old prestigious sports club in Eastern India, which is also considered a social institute of repute. In 2008, he was elected as General Secretary of GTC, with Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma as President. Together, they led the transformation of the club from a dilapidated state into a vibrant, modern sports institution. Under their leadership, several academies were established, including those for chess, boxing, football, and cricket, making GTC a hub of athletic development and revitalizing its stature in the sports community. [13] [14] [15]
During this time, Saikia, along with four others, filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Gauhati High Court to restore the Judges' Field, which had become dominated by commercial and allied activities except sports. Their legal battle aimed to return the field to its original purpose as a sports venue. After a hard-fought legal battle, they succeeded in restoring the Judges' Field to its pristine condition, equipped with proper sports infrastructure including flood light system, earthen galleries and designated exclusively for sports-related activities. [15] [14]
His tenure at GTC has been marked by numerous milestones. In 2010, the club inaugurated its new building and launched several sporting initiatives, including the Residential Football Academy and Cricket Centre of Excellence. That year also saw the establishment of the Swimming Centre and GTC Chess Academy. Further expansions included a Badminton Coaching Centre in 2014 and a Boxing Academy in 2021, inaugurated by Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain. [16] [17]
Saikia’s contributions to cricket administration were just as significant. In 2014, he successfully conducted a Public Interest Litigation to combat financial corruption and irregularities in team selection within the Assam Cricket Association (ACA). His efforts resulted in sweeping reforms, and by May 2016, the court barred one of the incumbent office bearer from contesting elections. It can be mentioned that the association during that time was marred by large-scale allegations of mismanagement and corruption. [18] [19]
In June 2016, a new ACA committee was formed, with Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma as President and Saikia was elected as one of the six Vice Presidents. [20]
Saikia briefly resigned from the post of Vice President of ACA in 2018 due to his indifferences with the then incumbent General Secretary of the association but later withdrew his resignation upon request from the Governing Body.
Between 2016 and 2018, one of Saikia's major contributions to the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) was his role in securing funds for the completion of the ACA Stadium in Barsapara and ensuring continuation of cricket activities of the association, which was facing acute financial crisis due to halted funding from the BCCI amid ongoing litigation in the Supreme Court. That apart, he was also a part of the association’s legal team for drafting and enforcement of the new constitution. [21]
He was also part of the core team of ACA which was responsible for successfully hosting the first-ever T20 international match between India and Australia at the new ACA Stadium, Barsapara, in October 2017, followed by an ODI between India and the West Indies the next year. [22] [23]
In January 2019, Saikia was elected unopposed to the post of Secretary and a member of the first Apex Council of ACA under the new constitution. Once in that position, he, along with other members of the first Apex Council, were pioneer in initiating several path breaking reforms in Assam cricket, including the setting up of a well-equipped office set-up with professionals and financial experts to root out mismanagement and financial anomalies. [24]
He along with the other members of the Apex Council also initiated various structural changes in conducting the cricket tournaments in Assam and its coaching programmes. Introduction of Assam Premier Club Championship, with over 6,500 registered players and over 300 clubs, inter-university tournament, inter – institution tournament were some significant moves for the association during his tenure. [25]
One of Saikia's significant contributions as Secretary was revitalizing women's cricket in Assam. He aimed to provide women cricketers with ample opportunities to compete in structured formats, enabling them to excel and advance to higher levels. During his tenure, the Challengers Trophy for women cricketers and the inter-district cricket tournament for the Kanalata Barua Trophy were started, creating pathways for greater participation and development. [26] [27] [28]
He played a key role in establishing the ACA Cricket Academy in 2020, which has since become a centre of excellence, offering state-of-the-art facilities and world-class coaching staff. Since 2021, the Academy has been training young, aspiring cricketers through its residential coaching program. Saikia continues to serve as the Member Secretary of the Academy, contributing to its growth and success. [29] [30]
During his tenure of just over three years, including two years marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, Saikia's leadership resulted in the development of 23 cricket grounds with other cricket infrastructures across Assam. Notable among these are the Amingaon Cricket Ground (a First-Class venue), North Guwahati, Furkating Cricket Ground in Golaghat, the Tezpur University Ground, the Assam Agriculture University Ground, Umrangso Cricket Ground, Barpeta Cricket Stadium, Barhampur Cricket Ground, Nagaon. Other significant projects included infrastructure improvements at Nehru Stadium, Guwahati, Charaideo, Nazira, Mulukgaon, Dhubri, Biswanath among few others.
On October 18, 2022, he was elected Joint Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and a member of the Apex Council of the Premier Sports Organization of the world. During his tenure as Secretary of BCCI, he was part of various path-breaking initiatives of the board under the leadership of Jay Shah. [31]
On May 6, 2023, Saikia was elected General Secretary of the Guwahati Sports Association (GSA). In this role, he spearheaded the introduction of a new constitution as the earlier one had lost its relevance to incorporate several essential reforms to adapt to the evolving tapestry of modern sports. Within two months, a revised constitution was drafted and implemented, leading to the resignation of the existing body re-election of a new one under the new constitution, with Saikia retaining his position as General Secretary for a tenure of four years.
In the initial months of his tenure at GSA, Saikia was pivotal in launching age-group tournaments to foster football development in Guwahati. GSA introduced the Youth and Kids League for players Under-7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17. Additionally, the association separated club teams from office teams in the GSA league and restructured the league format into A, B, and C divisions, moving away from the previous Super League system.
Saikia also played a major role in the introduction of a premier football tournament under the GSA banner – the Guwahati Premier League. This tournament achieved notable success in its inaugural year, fostering competition amongst regional football clubs and institutional teams successfully drawing crowds back to the iconic Judges' Field. [32] [33] [34]
In another major development, Saikia on September 27 announced that the iconic Bordoloi Trophy football tournament will be revamped and will be organized in a new format from January 2025. It will be a three-month long tournament that will include more than 5,600 players from 284 clubs from every part of Assam. [35]
Saikia is renowned not only for his professional accomplishments but also for his adventurous spirit, which has taken him on remarkable expeditions around the world. In 2024, he embarked on a memorable journey across the historic Route 66 in the USA, riding a Harley Davidson and soaking in the rich culture and history along the iconic highway. A year earlier, in 2023, he completed an exhilarating ride through the challenging and breathtaking landscapes of Spiti Valley, a region known for its rugged terrain and remote beauty.
His passion for exploring diverse terrains dates back even further. In 2016, Saikia traversed the entire length of Ladakh, a feat that required endurance and skill, given the high-altitude roads and harsh conditions. He also ventured through Southern Thailand, visiting almost every corner on his bike, and embarked on an epic ride in 1998 from Northern France to the Eastern regions of the country, experiencing the varied scenery and culture firsthand.
Closer to home, Saikia has extensively explored the Northeastern region of India, covering most of the picturesque yet challenging terrains.
His love for adventure extends beyond biking, as he has completed several high-altitude treks. In 2019, he successfully trekked to the Everest Base Camp, a dream for many adventurers, and followed that up with the Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal in 2022. His earlier trek to the Dzongri Top Trail, one of the most challenging routes in India, in North Sikkim in 2015 and Sandakpu in 2001 further showcases his love for exploring the great outdoors.
In 2017, Saikia pushed his boundaries even further, taking a once-in-a-lifetime voyage to the North Pole, an expedition that requires immense determination, preparation, and resilience. [36] [37]
Guwahati is the largest city of the Indian state of Assam, and also the largest metropolis in northeastern India. Dispur, the capital of Assam, is in the circuit city region located within Guwahati and is the seat of the Government of Assam. Its airport is the 12th busiest in India, the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. A major riverine port city along with hills, and one of the fastest growing cities in India, Guwahati is situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra. The city is known as the "gateway to North East India".
The Assam cricket team is a domestic cricket team represents the Indian state of Assam, run by the Assam Cricket Association. The team competes in the first-class Ranji Trophy tournament, limited-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament and the Twenty20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Gauhati University also known as GU, is a collegiate public state university located in Guwahati, Assam, India. It was established on 26 January 1948 under the provisions of an Act enacted by the Assam Legislative Assembly and is the oldest university in Northeast India. As of 2024, Gauhati University is esteemed as the 40th-ranked institution in India according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), securing its position within the top 100 educational institutions. It is accredited with a grade of 'A+' by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council in its 4th cycle of accreditation on 5 July 2024.
Bhabendra Nath Saikia was a novelist, short-story writer, editor and film director from Assam, India. Saikia received his doctorate in physics from the University of London. He began his career as a reader in the Department of Physics, University of Guwahati. He later played an important role in the publication of college level textbooks in the Assamese language during his tenure as the Secretary of the Co-ordination Committee for production of textbooks in regional languages.
Darrang College also known as Nalanda of the North Bank, is a college in Tezpur Municipality of Assam, a state of India. The college provides Bachelor's Degrees in Arts, Commerce & Science from Gauhati University, to which it is affiliated.
Oil India Football Club, also known as Oil India Limited FC, or simply Oil India FC, is an Indian institutional football club based in Duliajan, Assam. The club was founded by Oil India in 1964. It also participated in I-League 2nd Division, then second tier football tournament of Indian football league system, for three seasons.
Assam Cricket Association (ACA) is the governing body of the Cricket activities in the Assam state of India. It is affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The headquarters of ACA is at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium, Barsapara, Guwahati. It administers Assam cricket team, Assam women's cricket team and its junior state teams.
Devanand Konwar was a senior congressman from Assam who served as the governor of the Indian states of Tripura, Bihar and West Bengal.
Gauhati Town Club is an Indian multi sports club based in Guwahati, Assam. Founded in 1906, the club had participated in the I-League 2, then second highest level football in India, for two seasons. It currently plays in the Guwahati Premier Football League, GSA A Division Football League and Youth League. The Gauhati Town Club Football Academy was set up to identify, train and nurture the local talents of northeast India at grassroots level. It has highly equipped infrastructure.
The Bharat Ratna Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Trophy, commonly known as Bordoloi Trophy, is a premier annual Indian football tournament held in Guwahati and organized by Guwahati Sports Association (GSA). The tournament was established in 1952 by Gauhati Town Club. It is named after Assam's first chief minister Gopinath Bordoloi. The prestigious tournament comprises some top clubs from the northeast and rest of India. Clubs from Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, Iran and Uzbekistan have also participated in this major championship. Abahani Limited of Bangladesh lifted the 2010 edition trophy.
Green Valley Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Guwahati, Assam. Formed in 2010, the club went straight into professional football and got accepted into the I-League 2, the third tier of Indian football league system. It currently competes in the GSA A Division Football League. Previously it had participated in the top division Assam State Premier League.
The Assam Cricket Association Stadium, also known as Barsapara Cricket Stadium) and officially named Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cricket Stadium, is a cricket stadium in Barsapara, Guwahati, Assam, India. It is the home ground of the Assam cricket team and is owned and operated by the Assam Cricket Association. The stadium has a maximum capacity extendable to 55,000 spectators.
Cotton University is a public state university located in Guwahati, Assam, India. It was established in 2017 by the provisions of an Act from the Assam Legislative Assembly which merged Cotton College State University and Cotton College. The university has progressed to become one of the top 200 institutions of the country. However, as of 2024, Cotton University is ranked 373rd in the NIRF, whereas Gauhati University holds a commendable 40th position in the same ranking.
Tarun Saikia is a mountaineer and the first climber from Assam to scale Mount Everest. He reached its summit on 18 May 2013. A few days later, on 24 May, another Assamese, Manish Kumar Deka, also conquered Everest. Manipur mountaineering and trekking association had organised the expedition under the leadership of Dr L Surjit Singh. In the team there were thirteen members, of which eleven summited successfully.
Judges Field or Gauhati Town Club Ground is a multi-purpose sports ground in Guwahati, Assam. The ground is mainly used for football and cricket matches. It is the home of Gauhati Town Club, one of the oldest and premier sports club in India's north-east.
The Golaghat Bar Association or GBA, is a voluntary bar association for the Golaghat Higher Judiciary in Golaghat, Assam. The goals of the association is to regulate the legal practice and legal education in Golaghat and to cultivate the science of jurisprudence; to promote reform in the law; to facilitate the administration of justice, and to elevate the standards of integrity, honor, professional skill, and courtesy in the legal profession, including exercising disciplinary jurisdiction over the bar. Its members are elected amongst the lawyers in Golaghat Judiciary
Sobha Brahma was an Indian painter and sculptor. He lived and worked in Guwahati. He graduated from the Kalabhavana Visva-Bharati University Shantiniketan West-Bengal. Brahma developed a unique individual style that mixed traditional folk and modern Indian art.
Rajdweep is an Indian screenwriter, playwright, lyricist and journalist hails from Dhing, Nagaon, Assam. He has been awarded by Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan for his script 'Ishqlogy' at Cinestaan India's Storyteller's Script Contest in 2018. He is the first lyricist from Assam who writes Assamese songs in Bollywood film. He wrote the songs 'Jiri Jiri' for the film A Death In The Gunj and the bihu song for the film Jagga Jasoos. Again, he becomes the first screenwriter from Assam who signed a Bollywood film. He signed the film on 21 October 2019.
Subam Rabha is a football coach from Guwahati, Assam. He is currently the coach of the Reserve Team of Sreenidi Deccan FC in Hyderabad. He is also the Head of the Youth Development Programme of the club.
Sunil Girik Lachit is an Indian cricketer He made his first-class debut on 13 December 2022, for Assam in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy.
{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help){{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)