Rajkumar Nripendra Narayan Singha

Rajkumar Nripendra Narayan Singha (1928 – 27 January 2015) was an Indian sports administrator, national-level referee, and institution builder from Assam.

He was a scion of Ahom king Purandar Singha and the eldest son of Dandeswar Singha. He contributed to the development, organization, and building of sporting institutions in Assam in the post-independence era. His work ranged from football to cricket, field hockey, table tennis, rural sports, and administrative reforms.

Early life and education

Rajkumar Nripendra Narayan Singha was born in 1928 in Jorhat, Assam. He completed his early education locally and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Jagannath Barooah College (J.B. College), one of the oldest colleges in Assam.

Career in sports

He began his sports journey as a footballer and represented Jorhat Stadium in the 1950 Independence Day Cup Football Tournament held in Nagaon, where the team finished as runners-up. His administrative potential was soon recognized, and he was elected Games Secretary of Gauhati University for the 1951–52 session. During his tenure, the university football team participated for the first time in the All India Inter-University Football Tournament and finished as runners-up. He also coached the university's inaugural cricket team, which participated in the Inter-University Cricket Tournament held in Kolkata in 1952.

Football and refereeing

Singha's contributions to football extended beyond playing. He became a nationally certified referee and officiated major tournaments such as the Santosh Trophy in 1959, held in Nagaon, and the final match in 1964, held in Guwahati. He was associated with the Assam Football Association (AFA) for over four decades, serving in various capacities, including Secretary, Chairman (in charge) of the Referees' Board, Honorary Secretary (1979–81), and Vice-President.

Contributions to other sports

Besides football, Singha was the state panel umpire for the Assam Cricket Association and served as Honorary Secretary of the Jorhat District Table Tennis Association. He also held the post of vice-president (in charge) of the Assam Table Tennis Association (ATTA). He was involved in the establishment of state-level associations in boxing, archery, kho-kho, and Kabaddi.

Hockey promotion

In 1955, Singha was involved in the establishment of the Assam Hockey Association in Jorhat and later supported the formation of the Assam Women's Hockey Association, where he served as president.

State Sports Council of Assam

In 1960, Singha turned down a government job to work with the newly formed State Sports Council of Assam (SSCA), then headquartered in Shillong. Over the years, he served as Assistant Secretary, Joint Secretary, and Advisor until 1999. During this period, rural sports schemes were consolidated across Assam during the 1970s, and the Sports Council functioned as an organization involved in sports administration in the northeastern region.

Recognition and legacy

In recognition of his service, the Government of Assam awarded him a sports pension in 1990. He also received the "Bashista Award" from the All India Physical Education Congress.

To commemorate his legacy, the "Rajkumar Nripendra Narayan Singha Sports Organizer Award Trustd" was established on 28 August 2002. Since 2003, this award has been given annually to outstanding sports organizers in Assam.

Personal life

Singha remained unmarried, believing that marriage might distract him from his commitment to sports. He was inspired by his uncle, Rajkumar Nagendra Narayan Singha, and received guidance and support from his maternal uncle, Dr. Siddheswar Buragohain.

Death

Rajkumar Nripendra Narayan Singha died on 27 January 2015. He was remembered in an obituary published in ''The Assam Tribune'' (Dibrugarh edition, 11 February 2015), where he was described as an "Icon of Assam Sports".