Assam, the largest and most populous state among the seven sister states in North East India, has the biggest economy in the region. The primary industry in Assam is oil and natural gas exploration and refining, with other industries being auxiliary industries of petroleum and petroleum products such as fertilizers. Notably, Assam is home to the world's second-oldest oil field. The list below comprises individuals who live and work in Assam and are among the wealthiest in the state.

Kailash Chandra Lohia

The Lohia Group, headed by Mr. Kailash Lohia, is a diversified conglomerate based in Guwahati, Assam, and is among the largest in the North East Region of India, with a net worth of $200 million (2000 Crore). Its inception dates back to 1981 when it began as M/s Bajrang Steel Sales Corporation. Currently, the Lohia Group comprises almost fifty different companies, operating in various fields, including steel, cement, AAC blocks, TMT/Rebars, Ferro alloys, GP/GC sheets, low ash met coke, textiles, food processing, kraft paper, and oxygen bottling. They are the exclusive distributor and authorized stockist for TATA GP/GC sheets in the North East and also act as dealers/distributors for various other steel manufacturers.

Recently, the Lohia Group has diversified into other ventures such as education, real estate, automobile, lifestyle sanitary, fittings, marble, tiles, and other interior products. Shubham, a subsidiary of the Lohia Group, is a leading real estate company in the North Eastern region that has been instrumental in elevating the living standards of Guwahati for over ten years.

Sanjeev Kumar Prithani

Brahmaputra Group and Indo Group are two companies with a net worth of $100 million (1200 Crore) operating in the financial services sector. Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Prithani, the joint managing director of Brahmaputra Group, hails from a family of first-generation entrepreneurs, with his late father, Mr. Suresh Prithani, having founded the group in 1987. Brahmaputra Group is a leading real estate developer in Guwahati, Assam, with diverse interests beyond real estate developments. It has ventured into other sectors, including the construction of a Hydro Electric Power Project, mining, and an industrial park in Guwahati, as well as projects related to highways, airports, and tunnels.

Hemendra Prasad Barooah & family

Hemendra Prasad Barooah, associated with Barooah and Associates, is a renowned figure in the tea plantation industry of Assam. He hails from the affluent Khongiya Barooah family of Thengal and is the son of well-known Indian entrepreneurs, tea planters, and philanthropists - Siva Prasad Barooah and Kamal Kumari Barooah. The Khongiya Barooah family has actively supported the interests of Assam and promoted Tea Tourism in the region.

Inheriting tea plantations from his mother, Hemendra Prasad Barooah became the most renowned and wealthiest tea planter in the state. He was instrumental in opening up the Thengal Manor bungalow to the general public, supporting tourism in Assam. Hemendra Prasad Barooah's affiliation with Barooah and Associates contributes to the financial services industry in Assam.

 

Dipankar Dutta

Dipankar Dutta, an enterprising individual, left Assam to pursue higher education in computers in New Delhi. After successfully completing his course, he returned to his hometown and established an institute called Computer Education Centre (CEC) in Noonmati in 1994. Starting with just two computers, the institute has now completed sixteen successful years and has expanded to over 130 centers all over Northeastern India.

CEC offers a wide range of training courses in various fields such as computer education, fashion designing, interior decorating, journalism, and management courses, among others. The institute, associated with the education industry, has made a significant contribution to the skill development of individuals in Assam and Northeastern India.

Badruddin Ajmal

The Ajmal Group of Companies, which specializes in producing attar perfumes and oils extracted from plants, has made a significant fortune for its chairman, Badruddin Ajmal. In addition to his business pursuits, Ajmal is also a member of the Indian Parliament, representing the Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency.

 

Shiv Prakash Mittal

Greenply Industries Ltd. is the largest interior construction material producer in India, and it began its operations in 1990 as Mittal Laminates. Apart from Assam, the company has established its presence in Kolkata, Rajasthan, and Delhi. The company has a net worth of $50 million (500 Crore) and operates in the construction material industry.

Bhagya Kalita

Mr. Bhagya Kalita, a prominent figure in the business world of Assam, has diversified interests spanning real estate, hospitality, tourism, and infrastructure development. Although his business ventures are based in Assam, he himself resides in Delhi. One of his noteworthy contributions to the real estate industry is BK Tower, a premier establishment in the hospitality and commercial sectors, with an estimated net worth of $50 million (400 crore).

 

Chokhani Prakash

Mahadeobari Tea Co., with a net worth of $30 million (250 Crore), is chaired by Chokhani Prakash, a well-known tea planter in Assam's Tinsukia district. He owns four gardens in the region, including one that has been hailed as a mega-garden. His company's brand, Mahadeobari Tea, is widely popular and has a wide reach.

 

Tanushree Hazarika

Eclectic Group, a publishing company with a net worth of $50 million (250 Crore), is managed by Tanushree Hazarika. The group is responsible for publishing the popular English magazine Eclectic North-East. Additionally, Hazarika is the founder of Tattva Creations and the non-profit organization, the Brahmaputra Foundation.

Alen Ahmed

Mr. Alen Ahmed, an alumnus of Don Bosco School in Assam, abandoned his MBA studies to assist his father's cinema hall business. His father had constructed the first movie hall in Guwahati, which provided him with a rich legacy in the real estate sector. The family business now includes four theaters. Upon taking over the company, Mr. Alen Ahmed founded Neha Builders, which expanded on his father's sturdy groundwork to develop a diversified general contracting firm.

Shyam Kanu Mahanta

Shyam Kanu Mahanta is the managing director of MMS Advisory, a major advisory company operating in India's northeast region. In addition, he serves as the chief functionary of Trend MMS, which organizes events such as Srimanta Sankaradeva Movement, Samannay, North East Festival, and Rongali. Mr. Mahanta is known for his keen sense of aesthetics and presentation, particularly when it comes to food and decoration.

Sanjukta Dutta

Sanjukta Dutta is a well-known fashion designer and director hailing from Assam. She has participated in numerous international fashion shows and collaborated with many renowned international fashion brands. As a brand ambassador of Assam, she expresses her love for the state's fabrics and incorporates traditional Assamese style in most of her designs.

Conclusion

Assam, which is the largest state in Northeast India, serves as the hub and center of the northeast. Its economy is the key catalyst for growth in the northeastern states of India. Guwahati, the capital of Assam, is the largest city in the Northeast. Apart from the top 10 wealthiest individuals in Assam mentioned above, other notable figures include AK Pansari, Rajesh Himbatsingka, Ratan Sharma, and Basanta Kumar Mittal.