Assam Government Renames Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College to Barpeta Medical College

In a significant move ahead of the upcoming state polls, the Assam Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has decided to rename the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital as Barpeta Medical College and Hospital. The Chief Minister explained that the decision aims to align the institution with the state’s standard naming pattern, where most government medical colleges—such as those in Guwahati, Silchar, and Dhubri—are named after their geographic locations. He noted that the previous name often caused public confusion, leading many to mistakenly believe the institution was a private entity rather than a government-run facility.

Despite the name change, the government emphasized its commitment to honoring the legacy of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, who was the fifth President of India and the first from Assam. To ensure his contributions remain recognized, the Cabinet announced that another educational or cultural institution of equal or higher stature will be named after him in the near future. In addition to this administrative shift, the Cabinet also approved declaring Ali-Ai-Ligang, the spring festival of the Mising community, as an official state holiday and took steps to develop “Zubeen Khetra,” a cultural space named after popular singer Zubeen Garg, under the Cultural Affairs Department.