Assam: Protest highlights sorry state of Gandhi Smriti Stambha in Sivasagar

OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR: Senior journalist and social activist Pranjal Rajguru staged a one-hour symbolic protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi Smriti Stambha in Sivasagar on Tuesday, demanding immediate preservation and beautification of the site. The protest, held from 1 pm to 2 pm, highlighted the neglect and deterioration of the historic Mahatma Gandhi Smriti Stambha and Udyan, located near the Boarding Field in the heart of Sivasagar town.

The memorial, which contains a portion of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes, was established in 1948 on land adjacent to the then Indian National Congress office shortly after the Father of the Nation’s death. It is the only such memorial in Upper Assam, making it a site of immense historical and national significance. Despite its importance, the site has suffered from decades of neglect, resulting in its current dilapidated condition, Rajguru alleged.

Pranjal Rajguru strongly condemned the neglect, stating that various political parties, despite holding power in Assam at various times, have failed to show the necessary respect, gratitude, and responsibility toward Gandhi’s legacy. The park is now overrun with wild vegetation and littered with alcohol bottles and garbage. Additionally, a significant portion of the memorial grounds has recently been enclosed and utilized for a newly-constructed public toilet adjacent to the Boarding Field, Rajguru further alleged.

The protest received support from several well-wishers and members of the local press fraternity. Sivasagar police representatives, including Town Sub-Inspector Dipankar Chetia and a traffic department officer, were present at the site and symbolically concluded Rajguru’s protest by offering him fruit juice.

Among those who extended moral support at the venue were senior journalists Ratu Kumar Das and Pawan Kejriwal, Acting General Secretary of the Sibsagar Press Club Himanshu Neog, and journalist Pranjal Pujari, along with other concerned citizens.

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