HT Correspondent
JORHAT, July 28: Along with rest of the state the death anniversary of Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan was observed as ‘Deshbhakti Divas’ on Thursday by the Jorhat district administration with support from the office of the District Information and Public Relations officer, Jorhat in a solemn ceremony at the conference hall of the Jorhat deputy commissioner’s office complex.
The function was presided over by the Jorhat deputy commissioner Ashok Kumar Barman and attended by several administration officials and a number of people that included educationists, social workers and people associated with cultural activities. Tributes were paid to the great patriot starting with the offering of flowers before the portrait of Phookan.
Several speakers addressed the gathering and spoke about the life of the patriot who was one of the great freedom fighters of the state.
Additional deputy commissioner Damodar Barman, CEO of Jorhat Zilla Parishad Pranab Kumar Bora, Jorhat-based regional director of DIPR Tridib Nandan Bora, Jorhat DIPRO Sarodi Gogoi, president of Jorhat Zila Sahitya Sabha Dr Ratul Chandra Bora, Jorhat district BJP president Hemanta Kalita, AIIDC and JDSA president Santanu Puzari, Jorhat Press Club president Diganta Burahgohain, head of the History department of Jorhat College (Amalgamated) Soumitra Puzari were among those who attended the function.
Majuli: In Majuli also, the death anniversary of Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan was observed as ‘Deshbhakti Divas’ in a function organised on Thursday by the district administration with support from the office of the District Information and Public officer at the cultural centre auditorium at Kamalabari.
A district administration official informed that Majuli deputy commissioner Pulak Mahanta offered floral tributes to the great patriot in front of his portrait in the programme attended by district administration officials and local people that included several retired and serving teachers of educational institutes.
Mahanta, in his address on the occasion, spoke about the life of Phookan and his love for the country. The function, which started with rendition of a ‘borgeet’ by Gunjan Baruah, an artiste of Majuli, was anchored by assistant commissioner Deba Narayan Hazarika, who is also the DIPRO (in-charge) of Brahmaputra island district.
Our Sonitpur Correspondent adds: Along with the rest of the state, Deshbhakti Divas was observed in a solemn function organised by the office of the District Information and Public Relations officer, Sonitpur in association with the Sonitpur district administration. On the occasion of the 83rd death anniversary of Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan on Thursday, a shradhanjali program was organised at Bhupen Hazarika Kalabhumi where deputy commissioner Deba Kumar Mishra offered floral tribute at the portrait of the great freedom fighter and spoke briefly about the life of Tarun Ram Phukan and his immense contribution during the freedom struggle of the country. CEO, ZP, Karabi Saikia, ADC Dyotiva Bora, DIPRO Neena Baruah and other senior officials of the district administration were present during the program.
Later, the deputy commissioner inaugurated a street play on the life of Tarun Ram Phookan at Court Chariali. The play was performed by Abir Natya Goshti in several locations of Tezpur town with the aim to make the people aware about the immense contribution of Tarun Ram Phukan towards the freedom struggle, especially the non-cooperation movement started by Mahatma Gandhi.
Our Haflong Correspondent adds: To mark the death anniversary of Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan, ‘Deshbhakti Divas’ was observed by the district administration in association with the O/o DIPRO Dima Hasao. The programme was organised at the conference hall of the deputy commissioner’s office in Haflong.
The programme began with an offering of floral tribute to the portrait of freedom fighter by the deputy commissioner, officers and staff present. Speaking briefly about the life and greatness of Tarun Ram Phookan and his struggle during the freedom movement in Assam along with the rest of the parts of India, the deputy commissioner said that it is a very noble initiative of the government to remember the greatness and contribution of this great freedom fighter of the state.
Meanwhile, a similar programme was also organised at the office of the District Information and Public Relations office, Dima Hasao where the officers and staff of the O/O additional director of Information & Public Directions and DIPRO also observed the ‘Deshbhakti Divas’ at its office premises. Floral tributes were offered to the portrait of Deshbhakt after which officials of the department gave speech about the life history of Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan. Pallav Majumder, ACS of the office of the SDO Civil and office of sub-division Information & Public Relations at Maibang also observed the day to mark the greatness of the freedom fighter.
Our Hojai Correspondent adds: Under the aegis of Hojai District Information and Public Relation department and with the support of Hojai district ‘Deshbhakti Divas’ was observed at the deputy commissioner’s conference hall located at district headquarter at Sankardevnagar in Hojai on Thursday. DC Anupam Choudhury graced the occasion as chief guest. Dr Sagar Barua, retired teacher, Khagarijan College, Nagaon and Dr Phatik Tamuli, lecturer, Lanka Mahavidyalaya graced as guest of honour. At the very outset, the guests lit the lamp and paid floral tribute in front of the portrait of Tarun Ram Phookan. The objective of the meeting was briefly described by ADC Manas Jyoti Nath and all the guests were honoured with Assamese phulam gamosa and a sapling. On this occasion, 13 family members of freedom fighters were specially invited namely Purna Kanta Sarma, Kamal Baniya, Hem Kalita, Nilmani Phukan, Hemanta Kakati, Brajendra Sarma, Kirandra Sarma, Dilip Phukan, Prafulla Gayan, Lukan Bora, Lakhiram Barua, Surajit Bhattacharjee, Abdur Rahman and all the media persons of Hojai district.
DC Anupam Choudhury, Dr Sagar Barua, Dr Phatik Tamuli, Nilamani Phukan, Lukan Bora and Newslive journalist Litumoni Nath spoke on the occasion and remembered the contribution of Deshbhakt Tarun Ram Phookan. ADC Upsana Dutt, Robert Taylor, election officer Jangamir Rongharpi, Lanka CO Ankita Dutta, Doboka CO Dimpi Gogoi, media persons and staff from DC office were present during the program.
Our Silchar Correspondent adds: Along with the rest of the state, ‘Deshbhakti Divas, 2022’ was observed in Cachar to commemorate Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan on his death anniversary.
A solemn function was organised by the regional office of information and public relations Barak valley zone, Assam under the aegis of district administration, Cachar at ‘Gandhi Bhaban’ here on Wednesday.
Silchar legislator Dipayan Chakraborty graced the occasion as chief guest while noted columnist and renowned poet Dipankar Ghosh, advocate Rajat Ghosh, secretary press club of Silchar, Shankar Dey and Pradipta Kumar Deb from information and public relations Barak valley Zone were also present on the occasion.
At the outset, all the dignitaries paid floral tributes on the portrait of Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Silchar Dipayan Chakraborty said, “Tarun Ram Phookan was a prominent leader of Assam, he was popularly known as ‘Deshbhakta’. He was educated in Cotton Collegiate School, Guwahati and Presidency College, Calcutta. Later, he moved to the Bar from the inner temple of London. He was educated as a lawyer but also served as lecturer in Earle Law College in Guwahati.”
Elaborating on the contribution of Desh bhakta Tarun Ram Phukan, Dipayan said, “He was a prominent member of a political organisation, then named Assam Association till 1920. Tarun Ram Phukan played a significant part in forming the Assam branch of Indian national congress in 1921. He was elected as the first president of the association when the Non-Cooperation movement started. Tarun Ram Phookan took a leading part in it and toured various parts of Assam carrying the message of Mahatma Gandhi. In connection with the Non-Cooperation Movement, he was sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment in 1921.”
Dipayan also appreciated the decision of Assam Government to observe ‘Deshbhakti Divas’ on July 28 every year and appealed to the young generation to follow the path of idealism and patriotism of Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan.
Dipayan also laid stress on the infrastructural development of the only Assamese medium school in Silchar ‘Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan Higher Secondary School’ and said that Rs 1 crore will be allocated for the project in the current financial year.
Advocate Rajat Ghosh, noted columnist Dipankar Ghosh, secretary Press Club Silchar, Shankar Dey and upper division assistant Information Public Relations, Barak valley zone Pradipta Kumar Deb also paid their rich tributes and spoke on the occasion. Later, a cultural program was also presented by the Silchar Youth Choir.
