Maniram Dewan

A section of people has been, in the past few days, discussing and debating on social media about the correct depiction of the face of Maniram Dewan, one of Assam's, nay India's – greatest patriots. The debate has been apparently triggered off by some information in circulation, in which it has been reportedly stated that the statue of Maniram Dewan which will be installed at Cinnamora in Jorhat is based on a photograph available on some social media sites, which in reality is that of another person. The said photograph has a person seated at the centre, with two other unidentified persons sitting beside him and four others in a standing position. While any sensible person will outright reject this picture, or the central person in this picture to be Maniram Dewan, the fact remains that Benudhar Sarma, the great historian and scholar had long ago given a vivid description of the great patriot on the basis of interviews with a number of persons who had either seen Dewan or had met people who had seen the Dewan when he was alive. If the statue which is being installed soon at Cinnamora actually happens to be based on the picture of the unknown person mentioned above, then it will not just be gross disrespect to the great patriot and martyr, but also a grave crime and injustice to the entire nation, especially as the country celebrates Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to mark the 75th year of India's independence. While the debate over the depiction of Maniram Dewan is on, it is important to draw the attention of the government to this before time runs out and the day for the unveiling of the statue arrives. If required, the Chief Minister should be pressed for taking a call and finding out the truth. It is also for the learned intellectuals, historians and scholars to come out and point out the truth so that Assam does not land up installing an unknown person's statue like that of Maniram Dewan.