Anwara Taimur, first female Muslim CM, passes away

Sydney: The first female Muslim Chief Minister, Syeda Anwara Taimur, died on Monday in Australia at the age of 84. The only female Muslim chief minister of Assam, Anwara, was suffering from health complications and was staying with her son in Australia for the last few years.

A four-term MLA, she had an illustrious political career spanning over four decades. Taimur was a Congress leader in Assam until joining AIUDF in 2011. She served as the Chief Minister of Assam from December 6, 1980 to June 30, 1981. She was elected to the Assam Assembly in 1972, 1978, 1983 and 1991 as nominee of the Congress. She was a minister from 1983 to 1985 when she held the portfolio of the Public Works Department.

Anwara, who a teacher of economics in Debicharan Barua Girls College in Jorhat before joining politics, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1988.

She figured in the headlines after her name was found missing from the NRC (National Register of Citizens) list in 2018.

Her death has been mourned by Vice Presdient Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma among other political leaders.