Guwahati, Nov 8: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today laid the foundation stone for Swahid Kanaklata Barua State University in Gohpur — the state’s first Technology and Vocational Education and Training (T-VET) university, to be built at a cost of Rs 415 crore.
The university has been named after Swahid Kanaklata Barua, the 17-year-old freedom fighter who laid down her life while leading the Tricolour during the Quit India Movement.
The new university is envisioned to equip students with next-generation skills in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Drone Technology, and Quantum Computing, transforming Gohpur into a hub for future-ready education and innovation.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Finance Minister said Gohpur holds a special place in Assam’s history as the birthplace of Swahid Kanaklata Barua, the 17-year-old freedom fighter who laid down her life while leading the Tricolour during the Quit India Movement.
“A university in her name is a fitting tribute to her supreme sacrifice. It should have been established long ago. Nothing could be more appropriate than building a university to honour her legacy,” Sitharaman said.
Highlighting the Centre’s focus on education and skill development in the Northeast, Sitharaman revealed that Rs 21,000 crore has been invested in the region’s education sector since 2014. “Over 850 new schools have been established in Assam, 15 medical colleges and 200 skill institutes have come up, and the region’s first AIIMS is now operational,” she added.
She also announced that the government has approved Assam’s first Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Guwahati and that India’s first National Sports University is being established in the Northeast.
Sitharaman further underlined the government’s commitment to infrastructure and connectivity in the region. “Ten new greenfield airports have been built in the last 11 years. After 75 years of Independence, the first goods trains finally reached Manipur (2022) and Meghalaya (2023) — a milestone in regional integration,” she said.
Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who attended the event, described the university as a “landmark project in Assam’s education sector” and a “tribute to the indomitable spirit of Kanaklata Barua.”
“This university will provide a platform for young minds to gain technical expertise and contribute towards building an Atmanirbhar Bharat. We aim to develop infrastructure to accommodate around 10,000 students within the campus,” Dr. Sarma stated.
State Ministers Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Ajanta Neog, and Ashok Singhal, along with Sonitpur MP Ranjit Dutta and Gohpur MLA, were also present at the ceremony.
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