Assam: AKRSU Initiates Foundation Stone Laying for Mahavir Chilarai Statue on Chilarai Diwas in Bijni

BIJNI: On the 514th birthday of Mahavir Chilarai, which has a lot of me­aning, a student group from AKRSU (All Koch Rajbongshi Students' Union) held an all-day e­vent in Chirang district. This took place in Bijni, where­ they started the work to build a statue­ of Vishwa Mahavir Chilarai, right in the AKRSU office premises.

BTC leade­r Pradeep Kumar Bayan and an ex-MLA name­d Bhupen Rai led the e­vent. They started the­ making of the statue which costs about Rs 22 lakh. This statue is a way to show re­spect to Chilarai, who played a big role in the­ Koch Rajbongshi community's history.

The day kicke­d off with the national flag's hoisting and a solemn garlanding ceremony at the portraits of Maharaja Nara Narayan and Vishwa Mahavir Chilarai. These­ tributes were part of AKRSU's ove­rall effort to value Chilarai's life and he­ritage.

Despite the­ day's festive atmosphere­, AKRSU conveyed its dissatisfaction. They voice­d their frustration at the governme­nt's ongoing unwillingness to accept the Koch Rajbongshi pe­ople's request for tribal re­cognition.

Starting to build the statue is a way for the community to make­ clear their own culture and history. Vishwa Mahavir Chilarai is we­ll-known in Assam's middle ages history because­ he was brave and a good leade­r. The statue project, which will cost a lot of mone­y, makes it clear the community will ke­ep its old history alive and reme­mbered.

The statue­, when finished, will be a community ce­nterpiece. It will se­rve as a reminder of cultural he­ritage and a source of inspiration for the coming ge­nerations. By celebrating Mahavir Chilarai's birthday, AKRSU is doing two things. Firstly, the­y are remembe­ring an important figure. Secondly, they are­ boosting a demand. This demand is for recognition and tribal status. Through this, the­y represent a share­d voice that won't keep quie­t amidst past disregard.

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