Memorial for those killed in Assam Agitation, CM Sonowal lays foundation stone

In Assam, December 10 is marked as Swahid Diwas (Martyrs’ Day) to mark the death of Khargeswar Talukdar, the first person who was killed in the agitation in 1979 in Bhabanipur.

Updated on: Dec 10, 2020, 21:37:08 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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Thirty five years after the signing of the Assam Accord that marked the end of a six-year agitation against Bangladeshi immigrants, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday laid the foundation stone of a memorial for 855 people who lost their lives in that stir.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal laying the foundation stone of the martyrs’ memorial in Guwahati on Thursday. (HT Photo)

The Swahid Smarak and Swahid Udyan are being constructed in a 98 ‘bigha’ plot at Paschim Boragaon in Guwahati.

In Assam, December 10 is marked as Swahid Diwas (Martyrs’ Day) to mark the death of Khargeswar Talukdar, the first person who was killed in the agitation in 1979 in Bhabanipur.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Sonowal said the memorial and the park would preserve the legacy of those who sacrificed their lives for Assam and it will inspire future generations.

“If we are to showcase our identity and heritage, we must preserve our history,” the chief minister said, underscoring that the state government’s initiative to build the memorial will highlight the valour and commitment of the people who laid down their lives to protect Assamese identity.

Sonowal also took part in the state-level Swahid Diwas programme at Khanapara in the office premises of the Assam Accord implementation department and launched the first volume of a four-part Data Book on the Assam Agitation.

Several senior ministers, MPs, MLAs, bureaucrats and police officials attended the functions.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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