Assam: SMD College observed death anniversary of Swahid Maniram Dewan

A CORRESPONDENT

GAURISAGAR:  Swahid Maniram Dewan (SMD) College, one of the higher educational institutes of Greater Charing, observed the death anniversaries of two prominent personalities of the Charing area in Sivasagar district, Swahid Maniram Dewan and veteran litterateur, historian Benudhar Sharma that fall on the same date on February 26 with a day-long programme.

Notably, on February 26, 1858, Maniram Dewan was hanged by the British along with Piyali Baruwa at Jorhat Jail for conspiring against them during the 1857 uprising while veteran litterateur, historian Benudhar Sharma died due to old-age-related ailment on February 26, 1981. The function was jointly organized by the Department of History and IQAC of SMD college in collaboration with Bharat Itihash Sankalan Samity, Sivasagar District Committee, and College Alumni. In the function, Dr Baloram Das, Associate Professor and HoD of History, Gargaon College, was present as a resource person.

In his speech, Dr Das stressed that Maniram Dewan, a man of keen qualities, skilled intellectual knowledge and intelligence, was initially a trusted man of the British. The British used Maniram Dewan as a weapon by giving him the title of Dewan, but he became angry against the plot to kill Assam and the Assamese. Dr Das said that Maniram Dewan had planned to secretly use a portion of the money collected in the name of land revenue for the anti-British movement and to store it to strengthen the potential rule of the Ahoms.

On the other hand, Manoj Kumar Borthakur, Working President, Bharat Itihash Sankalan Samity, Sivasagar District Committee and senior journalist, graced the function as an appointed speaker and delivered his speech on the life and works of the noted Assamese writer, historian, poet and journalist Benudhar Sharma. He said that Benudhar Sharma worked to make the people self-reliant in the rural areas of Assam nearly 100 years ago. The sources and background of historian and Padmabhushan Benudhar Sharma in history and literature were different from others. Journalist Borthakur also criticized some historians for writing derisively against Benudhar Sharma, belittling his great achievements as a social reformer and political activist of the Congress.

The meeting was also addressed by Binita Saikia Dey, member, Assam Women Commission, Mauchumi Duwara Dutta, Secretary, Bharat Itihash Sankalan Samity, Sivasagar District Committee, Bikash Chaliha, Principal, Deoraja Peoples HS School, Dipak Bora, Professor and Head of Philosophy Department, Rana Neog, Vice-Principal of the college, and Mrigeswar Saikia.

Earlier, Principal of the college Dr Bidyananda Borkakati placed a floral wreath at the foot of the great martyr Maniram Dewan’s statue while Promode Duarah, College governing body President and former principal of GKB College, Tamulichiga, placed a seleng chadar on the statue of Moniram Dewan in the morning. Principal Borkakati, who is also the District President of Bharat Itihash Sankalan Samity, Sivasagar District Committee, delivered his welcome speech while Ranjit Das, Professor and Head of Assamese Department, anchored the whole programme.

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