MANGALDAI: Brisk preparation is going on to celebrate the 130th Krishak Swahid Divas at the historic Pothorughat with a four day long detailed colourful programme on January 26, 27, 28 and 29. Sipajhar legislator Dr Paramananda Rajbongshi has taken up the initiative with the active cooperation of the district administration of Darrang and people of the locality.
Mention may be recalled here that on January 28 of 1894, the rural peasants of Darrang district irrespective of their caste and religion offered strong protest quite in a peaceful manner against the British rulers at Pothorughat-a sleepy village at the distance of 16 km from Mangaldai and opposed the enhanced land revenue. The colonial British rulers instead of giving a patient hearing to the agitated peasants, opened idiscriminate firing upon the rural peasants killing 140 peasants on the spot and and causing injuries to about 150 peasants. The British showing their true colour dumped and burried all the 140 dead peasants in a single pit without observing any rituals. This tragic yet glorious chapter of the freedom movement of India took place much before the Jalliwanwala Bagh massacre and the rural peasants without any particular leadership raised their voice against the British rulers in a non violent way which later was adopted by the ‘Father of the Nation’ during the freedom struggle.
As per the instructions of the then Governor of Assam Lt Gen (rtd) SK Sinha, the Army constructed a Krishak Swahid memorial at Pothorughat with assistance from Darrang district administration and the Army has also been celebrating the ‘Krishak Swahid Divas’ every year with full military honour. GOC in C of Eastern Command Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita in 2023 took part in the Krishak Swahid Divas celebration as the chief guest.
Addressing a press meet on Friday at the DC’s conference hall, Sipajhar legislator Dr Paramananda Rajbongshi in presence of District Commissioner Munindra Nath Ngatey informed that a four day detailed program would mark the 130th celebration of Krishak Swahid Divas. On the spot drawing competition, speech competition has been organized while books and literatures on Krishak Vidroh at Pothorughat will be released. Inauguration of the Krishak Swahid museum, Krishak Mela, marathon race, cultural procession with the Krishaks in their traditional agriculture equipments and troops reflecting ethnic cultures will be another programs of attraction. A documentary on the peasants rebellion at Pothorughat made by the ‘Janasanyog’ Assam on behalf of Agriculture department will be released in the celebration while the Bhumi Pujan of the well decorated Krishak Swaid memorial at an estimated amount of Rs 1 crore will also be performed. Colourful cultural function will be organized every evening.
The district administration of Darrang has already instructed all the government departments to arrange for stall in the exhibition particularly the agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, PHE, Irrigation, Handloom and Textile.
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