'Deshbhakti Divas' will inspire youth with nationalistic fervour, says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

It is a platform to deliberate on the thoughts and contributions of great leaders and freedom fighters

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the Assam Government took the decision to observe 'Deshbhakti Divas' to mark the death anniversary of Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan on this day every year with a view to generate more awareness among the public about the life and ideals of the great freedom fighter and also to inspire the youths with nationalistic fervour.

The Chief Minister said this while speaking at the State level "Deshbhakti Divas" organized by the I&PR Department at Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan Udyan at Bharalumukh in Guwahati on Wednesday.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister offered floral tribute at the statue of Deshbhakta at the park. Stating that the 'Deshbhakti Divas' would bring forth many neglected chapters of Assam's history to public knowledge, Chief Minister Sarma said that Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan and Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi were the leading figures of freedom movement in Assam who kindled the passion for Independence among the people of the State.

Highlighting Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan's contribution to India's freedom movement, Chief Minister Sarma said that as president of the provincial Congress, Deshbhakta led the freedom movement in Assam and played a key role in Mahatma Gandhi's first visit to the State in 1921 and the Congress session held at Pandu in 1926, which was crucial from many ways in the country's independence movement.

The Chief Minister also said that Deshbhakta was a visionary and always stood for the interest of the people of the State. It was due to his conflict with the Congress leadership on the participation of the party in the provincial government that he split away from Congress and formed the 'Asom Jan Sangha' in 1936, stated Chief Minister Sarma, adding that had the Congress realized the foresight of Deshbhakta and allowed participation of the provincial Congress in the government, history and demography of Assam would have been totally different today.

The Chief Minister lamented the fact that Deshbhakta failed to get due honour all these years; and, that is why the present State government decided to commemorate his death anniversary as the 'Deshbhakti Divas' to keep alive his work and ideals.

He also mentioned that the observation would offer a platform to deliberate on the thoughts and contributions of great leaders and freedom fighters like Tarun Ram Phukan, Nabin Chandra Bordoloi, Gopinath Bordoloi, and Bishnu Ram Medhi among many others. This would enable the new generation to connect with the past, added the CM.

Minister of Information & Public Relations and Water Resources (I&PR) Pijush Hazarika, in his speech, said that the eighth Cabinet meeting of the State government held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma decided to observe 'Deshbhakti Divas' on July 28 to commemorate the rich contributions and legacy of Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan to freedom movement of the country and social life of Assam.

The I&PR Minister said that Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan along with Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi gave leadership to freedom movement in Assam and was also the president of AXX (Axom Xahitya Xabha), Asom Chatra Sanmilani and the Congress. He informed that the State government organized the 'Divas' in a low-key manner this year at the Janata Bhawan and also at the DC offices apart from the State-level programme at Bharalumukh due to the COVID-19 situation.

However, suggestions from family members were obtained and people would also be consulted on ways to take forward the programme to the grassroots ensuring greater public participation. Grandsons of Deshbhakta, Dr. Hemendra Ram Phukan also spoke on the occasion and highlighted many untold stories from the freedom fighter's life.

Prior to beginning of the programme, a two-minute silence was also observed in honour to the deceased police personnel who had lost their lives at the Assam-Mizoram boundary while safeguarding Assam's Constitutional boundary.

Secretary of I&PR Department Nira Gogoi Sonowal, DC Kamrup (Metro) Biswajit Pegu, I&PR Director Anupam Choudhury, several family members of Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan including grandson Jitendra Ram Phukan, grand-daughters Bani Goswami, Minati Khound and Indrani Baruah were present in the programme among others, stated a press release.

APCC OBSERVES DIVAS: The APCC (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee) observed the 82nd death anniversary of Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan in Rajiv Bhavan here on Wednesday. A 'Sarbadharma' (all-religion) prayer service was held and tributes were paid to the patriot from Assam.

Paying rich tributes to Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan, Former MP and senior Congress leader Bolin Kuli made special mention of Deshbhakta's contribution towards women empowerment and pointed out the ways in which he had encouraged women to take the centrestage in society, stated a press release.

Also Read: Will maintain territorial integrity, says Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Also watch: