HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, Feb 23: The Barchala Constituency Gorkha Jagaran Mancha organised a memorial lecture in honour of freedom fighter and social worker Ganganath Upadhyay at Dhirai Majuli Community Hall on Sunday, focusing on the theme “The Dhekiajuli Episode of India’s Freedom Movement: Martyrs and the Contribution of Freedom Fighters.”
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Chandan Kumar Sarma of Tezpur University described the Dhekiajuli incident of September 20, 1942, as a rare and significant episode of the freedom movement that has not received adequate national recognition.
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He said the stories of martyrs’ sacrifices inspire patriotism and stressed the need for greater research, documentation and publicity to bring the historic event into the national discourse.
Dr Sarma urged writers, researchers, journalists and students of Assam to undertake serious academic work on the episode and publish studies in multiple languages.
He also appealed to the public to cultivate reading habits and lauded the Gorkha Jagaran Mancha for organising the lecture to raise awareness.
The programme began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by Gop Bahadur Thapa, president of the Singari Regional Senior Citizens’ Association.
Mancha secretary Chandan Timsina explained that the lecture series aims to familiarise people, especially in rural areas, with the historical significance of the Dhekiajuli freedom struggle.
The event was conducted by retired teacher Indraprasad Phoyel.
The memorial lecture was formally inaugurated by Dr Sukadev Adhikari, president of Sonitpur Zila Sahitya Sabha and principal of Lokanayak Omeo Kumar Das College.
In his address, he said Assam takes pride in Dhekiajuli’s role in the freedom struggle and emphasised the need for wider dissemination of this history.
He noted that Ganganath Upadhyay was among many unsung contributors whose roles deserve greater recognition.
Among the distinguished guests present were Sahitya Akademi Youth Award recipient Anjan Baskota, writer Mahendra Kumar Nath, social worker Mahabir Sethia and Debicharan Neog, president of the 1942 Martyrs and Freedom Fighters Memorial Trust.
The programme also featured poetry recitation by Binita Upadhyay and musical performances by Nara Bahadur Darjee, Biren Barman, Riva Pradhan and Ridusmita Devi.
Cultural performances included a Bagurumba dance by a troupe from Nambagaribari and a Nepali dance by local artistes, which received enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Several representatives from different organisations and members of the public attended the event.
The programme concluded with the rendition of the State anthem of Assam.
