76th Death Anniversary of Freedom Fighter 'Swahid Kushal Konwar' observed in Golaghat

Sarupathar: The 76th death anniversary of Freedom Fighter Swahid Kushal Konwar was observed in a solemn ceremony held at Rajuhuwa Bhawan (Social Bhawan) in Sarupathar under Golaghat district on Saturday.

The program was organized jointly by the Dhansiri sub-divisional administration and local citizens. Floral tributes were paid after lighting the lamp on the tomb of the great freedom fighter who laid his life for the sake of the freedom of the country from the hands of the British.

Kushal Konwar was born on 21 March 1905 at Balijan near Sarupathar in the modern District of Golaghat in Assam.

His family descended from the royal family of Chutia kingdom and used the surname "Boruah", which was later abandoned. Kushal attended the Bezbaruah School. In 1921, while still at school he was inspired by Gandhiji’s call for a non-cooperation movement and took an active part in it. Inspired by Gandhiji’s ideals of Swaraj, Truth, and Ahimsa, Konwar set up a primary school at Bengmai and served as its honorary teacher. Later, he joined the Balijan Tea Estate as a clerk where he worked for a while. However, the spirit of independence and call of Mahatma Gandhi inspired him to dedicate himself wholeheartedly to the Independence Movement. He organized the Congress party and lead the people of the Sarupathar area in Satyagraha and non-cooperation movement against the British. Later at dawn on 15 June 1943 at 4:30 am, Kushal Konwar was hanged in Jorhat Jail. He sacrificed his life knowing as Mahatma said: "He alone can be a true satyagrahi who knows the art of living and dying."

Meanwhile, underlining the great valor and heroism of Swahid Kushal Konwar, said the SDO of Dhansiri Subdivision during the program “Swahid Kushal Konwar set a great example of human sacrifice through his deep commitment towards the cause of the nation. Human life is impermanent but their great contributions to the society live forever. Those who work for the nation with honesty and commitment are remembered always. The youth must take a lesson from the heroic feats of the freedom fighters and develop strong belongingness for their motherland” and also added “freedom fighter Kushal Konwar was the only martyr in India who was hanged during the last phase of ‘Quit India Movement’ in the year 1942-43 for conspiracy against the British Government and train sabotage at Sarupathar Railway Station. He was hanged at Jorhat Central Jail on June 15, 1943."

On the other hand, the administration and the public of Dhansiri Subdivision offered tributes to the martyr on his death anniversary on 15th June by organizing a blood donation camp at Sarupathar civil hospital. SDO (Civil) Dhansiri, Dr. P. Uday Praveen along with leading senior citizens and School and college students of Sarupathar were present on the occasion. The dignitaries paid rich tributes to the martyr and recalled the sacrifices made by Kushal Konwar during his life.

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