Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday inaugurated the magnificent Swahid Smarak Kshetra at Paschim Boragaon on the solemn observance of Swahid Divas. The ceremony was filled with reverence, set to the melody of Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s timeless creation, ‘Swahid Pranamu Tumak’.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Sarma paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of the historic Assam Movement, which focused on the expulsion of foreigners. He asserted that the movement holds a decisive place in the State’s history, reflecting the patriotism, sacrifice and major struggle to protect the identity, pride, language, culture and heritage of the Assamese people. The Chief Minister stressed that each martyr remains revered and their lives serve as a perpetual inspiration.Sarma vividly recalled the background of the first martyr, Khargeswar Talukdar.
He explained that the movement was spurred when, on 2 December 1979, the Chief Election Commissioner decided to proceed with elections against the will of the people, who demanded the removal of foreign nationals’ names from electoral rolls. Ignoring this appeal, the Congress candidate for the Barpeta constituency, Begum Abida Ahmed, left Guwahati to file her nomination on the morning of 10 December. Sarma recalled how, as a fifth-grade student, he joined the widespread protest to resist her journey.
Police apprehended Khargeswar Talukdar, a first-year arts student of Howly College and tragically threw him into a roadside canal, leading to his death later that night. Inspired by his courage, 860 brave Assamese youths eventually gave their lives in the struggle. The Chief Minister noted that on this sacred day, the grateful people of Assam remember the martyrs’ sacrifice with deep respect. He confirmed that construction of the Swahid Smarak Kshetra began in Guwahati on 10 December 2019, a memorial now built on 150 bighas of land at a cost of `170 crore.
He Stated that this year’s observance carries special significance. He observed that long after the Accord, the people lacked security and fresh threats to their land and identity emerged due to the lack of courage in implementing the provisions of the Assam Accord.
He lamented that strangers illegally entered Assam, encroaching upon the land of sacred namghars and satras, including the birthplace of Srimanta Sankardev at Bardowa. These elements also infiltrated Kaziranga, where rhinos were killed and attacked the cultural heritage and economic independence of the Assamese people, creating widespread despair.
Sarma Stated that during that difficult period, the people of Assam drew strength from the martyrs’ sacrifices and prepared to fight back. He observed that in the elections of 2014, 2019 and 2021, the populace collectively resolved not to hand Assam’s political future to anyone other than the Assamese, preparing for a fight on political, cultural and economic fronts. He asserted that ten years of steady effort and continued struggle have strengthened the Assamese people, who are now ready to challenge any threat to the State.
He highlighted key Government achievements: rhino poaching in Kaziranga has stopped, encroachers have been removed from forest land and the Government is actively pushing back illegal intruders. He affirmed that Assam is now safer than ever before but cautioned that the struggle continues due to the persistent threat of demographic aggression. He appealed to the people not to sell land to outsiders, even during financial hardship and requested they refrain from engaging outsiders in trade, industry, farming, or employing them as drivers, or allowing them to run businesses on footpaths.
The Chief Minister informed that over the past five years, the State freed lakhs of bighas of land from encroachers and created a system preventing outsiders from securing Government jobs. He revealed that the Government is considering a law to bar land purchases in minority areas unless the buyer belongs to a family that has lived in Assam for three generations, urging the protection of namghars, satras and forest land.
Recalling the days of the Assam Movement, he urged the people to join a new struggle—one that is political, cultural and economic. He concluded by calling on every Assamese to visit the Swahid Smarak Kshetra at Boragaon and take the pledge to protect the community and safeguard the State and the nation.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister Implementation of Assam Accord etc Atul Bora, Minister Water Resources etc Pijush Hazarika, Minister Environment and Forests Chandramohan Patowary, Minister Revenue etc Keshab Mahanta, MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi, Deputy Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly Dr. Numal Momin, Chief Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota, Director General of Police Harmeet Singh, several legislators, members of the martyr families and many distinguished guests were present on the occasion. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the Swahid Smarak Kshetra at Paschim Boragaon, Guwahati,offered shraddhanjali to the Bir Swahids of the Assam Movement at Swahid Pranam Jyoti and interacted with the families of the martyrs. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Assam Ministers Atul Bora, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Keshab Mahanta also participated the function on wednesday
