From Our Correspondent
GUWAHATI: Assam government and Indian Army have paid homage to the martyrs of 1894 farmers’ rising at Patharighat in Darrang district of Assam who had made supreme sacrifice while protesting against the brutalities and oppressive rule of the British in Jan 1894.
A ceremony was organized by the Army’s Red Horns Division of Indian Army at Patharighat. Major General RN Nair, Sena Medal, General Officer Commanding of the Red Horns Division, Brigadier VK Tiwari, Commander of the Red Horns Artillery Brigade and Mr Kumud Kalita, DC Darrang district paid floral tributes to the martyr in the martyrs’ column at Patharighat.
It was at this spot on 28 Jan 1894, that 140 innocent farmers were brutally massacred and 150 others injured, when they rose in protest against the oppressive increase in land revenue by the then colonial British rulers.
The farmers, belonging to different caste, creed and religion had risen against the British tyranny as a cohesive force and with this Assam emerged as one of the pioneers and forerunners of India’s struggle for independence.
A memorial was constructed at Patharighat by the Army with cooperation of the Civil Administration and the same was dedicated to the memory of the martyrs by Lieutenant General (Retired) SK Sinha, the then Governor of Assam on 28 January 2001.
A childrens’ park adjacent to the memorial, constructed by ‘Red Horns Division’ as part of Operation Sadbhavana, was also inaugurated after memorial service.
The glittering function was witnessed by a large number of people from the Darrang District.
Major General R N Nair and Kumud Kalita, DC Darang district addressed the gathering.
