Bhasha Shahid Divas observed in befitting manner by the residents of Barak Valley

Our Correspondent

Silchar: ‘Unnishe May’ or May 19 has been frozen in the calendar for the residents of Barak Valley. The Bengali Language Movement also called ‘Bhasha Shahid Divas’ was a protest movement against the Assam government’s decision to hail Assamese as the only official language of the state. On that day, in the year 1961, 11 persons were shot dead by the State police, as they protested against it. The gory incident took place at Silchar railway station, Tarapur. The people of Barak Valley came out in large numbers to commemorate the 11 language martyrs. The Language Martyrs’ Day also known as Bhasha Shaheed Divas was observed across the valley.

Various socio-cultural and students’ organizations, clubs, literary bodies as well as political parties paid floral tributes to the minaret at Gandhi Bagh Shaheed Mandir. Earlier in the morning, tributes were also paid at Silchar Railway Station, Tarapur. Various functions took place at the town today. At around 2.30 pm, members of important organizations like Barak Upataka Banga Sahitya O Sanskriti Sammelan and Sammilitho Sanskritik Sangstha also commemorated the martyrs. Members representing Silchar Bar Association, ACTA, Cachar district committee, Zila Karmachari Parishad, Silchar Municipal Board Association, Chotto Prochesta and Disari visited Gandhi Bagh to pay floral tributes. Deputy Commissioner of Cachar Laya Madduri too paid rich tributes to those martyrs.

A number of cultural programmes and competitions have been organized at every nook and corner of the town. Students from different schools participated actively in a variety of competitions which comprise drawing, singing and recitation. Street plays or skits were held on Gandhi Bagh. Beautiful alpanas were drawn on Park road in front of Gandhi Bagh. On this day, in the year 1961, 11 martyrs sacrificed their lives protesting against making Assamese as the one and only official language of the state of Assam. They were protesting peacefully when rounds of firing killed 11 innocent persons which include a woman also.

Last night, a panel discussion was also conducted at the premises of Silchar Railway Station, Tarapur. Like every year, Bhasha Shahid Station Smaran Samiti started their eventful programme with Rabindra Nritya and Nazrul Nritya competitions. The panel discussion was conducted in the loving memory of the legendary Mahitosh Purkayastha, a mass leader of Barak Valley. Prof. Joydeep Biswas, advocate Dharmananda Deb, the president of the Samiti Babul Hore and the secretary of the Samiti Dr Rajib Kar spoke at length on the topic.

Also read: Cachar news