A tribute to Freedom fighter Hari Prasad Mishra

Hari Prasad Mishra, an unsung hero of the freedom movement of India was born on October 22, 1925 to Late Gouri Kanta Mishra and Leelawati Mishra at Major Aati Nepali Gaon (presently known as Samar Dalani) of undivided Darrang district. Mishra did his schooling from Samar Dalani Government Junior Basic School. He had completed his primary stage of schooling at the age 17 in 1941. As he passed the LP standard, the breathless atmosphere of the Quit India Movement began to start. Leaving his education aside, Hari Prasad was also attracted to the nationwide movement as a young boy.

Hari Prasad Mishra was assigned as a spy by the Congress party at the local level. Hari Prasad, with the influence of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala had joined the Mritu Bahini (the Death Squad). Hari Prasad had undergone the training of Congress volunteers when Hem Chandra Baruah and Omeo Kumar Das were the president and secretary of APCC and Jyoti Prasad Agarwala was GOC of the Death Squad. Hari Prasad along with other six youth from his native village underwent training held at Bhaganbari Nepali Gaon under the supervision of Baparam Gogoi Barua; GOC of Death Squad and Convener of Tezpur district Congress Committee. He was appointed as 'Nayak' after the training.

The Congress party at the local level gave Hari Prasad Mishra the duty of a spy. He also served as an underground worker of the party. His intimate companions of the village were Taranath Sarma and Nidhi Prasad Sarma. He worked for maintaining peace and harmony at the village level. Mishra maintained a cordial relationship with Sootea and Jamuguri Committee too. Gahan Chandra Goswami, Bijoy Chandra Bhagawati, Chandra Kanta Bhuyan were companions of that time.

As a part of the agenda taken by the Congress committee, it was decided to hoist the tricolour in all the government institutions including government offices, court building and police station simultaneously on September 20, 1942. However, the Sootea committee had decided to hoist the tri-colour prior to the scheduled date and accordingly the tri-colour was hoisted at Sootea Police Station on August 20, 1942. It is said that Sootea Police Station was the first and only place in India where the tricolour was hoisted for the first time, lowering the Union Jack. Mahendra Barkataky, Boloram Bormudoi, Chandra Bora, Biren Borkataky and other freedom fighters took part in this historic event. Later on, the British administration had arrested Mahendra Borkataky, Boloram Bormudoi, Dimbeswar Hazarika, Buleswar Hazarika, Biman Bora, Kula Hazarika, Deben Borkataky etc. leaders terming the flag hoisting as illegal on August 22, 1942.

Like other parts of the country, the Congress workers of Gohpur, Sootea and Dhekiajuli assembled and marched towards respective police stations to hoist the tricolour on September 20, 1942. The British administration opened fire on the protesters, leading to two deaths of Kanaklata Baruah and Mukunda Kakaty of Gohpur and 13 others at Dhekiajuli police station. But the tri-colour was hoisted peacefully at Sootea PS on that historic day. The then Section commander of Sootea Death Squad Golak Saikia unfurled the tricolour on that day, lowering the Union Jack. Hari Prasad Mishra, the eyewitness of the rare but historical movement breathed his last on January 5, 2023 at the age of 98 due to old age related ailments at his residence.

After the mass movement of 1942, Hari Prasad continued to serve the party as a primary worker in the village level besides social service. He played a distinguishing role in the establishment of many socio-economic and educational institutions in the greater Nagsankar area.

After the much-desired freedom, Mishra came in close contact with All Assam Freedom Fighters' Association. He became the president of Sonitpur district committee of Freedom Fighters' Association. The unsung hero of the freedom movement was honoured with a political sufferer pension by the state government from 1994. The then president of India Pranab Mukharjee at Rastrapati Bhawan felicitated the senior most freedom hero on August 9, 2016 along with other freedom heroes of the national movement. Today, on the occasion of Adya Shradha, I pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul. May he live in eternal peace in heavenly abode.

– Anjan Baskota

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