The college has been associated with the names of many illustrious personalities. The pioneers of the college first started it as a night college in order to give an opportunity to the poor students to pursue their higher studies as they earned their livelihood during the day. Classes (evening) started from 13th of September 1943 with 15 students in the premises of Kamrup Academy H.S.

It grew under the shadow of World War II and as a part of the nationalistic struggle against foreign rule. Borooah College was established in the year 1943 in the name of Bholanath Borooah, a doyen of Assamese business and a close associate of Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaruah.