India's Independence: Let's Remember the Unsung Heroes of Northeast

GUWAHATI: India has celebrated its 75th Independence Day this year. On the momentous occasion, many great personalities who fought for the country's freedom were remembered with reverence. In the struggle against the Britishers, the contributions of freedom fighters from the Northeast region have apparently not received their due honour till date.

Here are a list of some of the legendary figures from the Northeast whose brave and fervent efforts had helped the nation achieve liberty on August 15, 1947.

Kanaklata Barua

Barua was born on December 22, 1924, in Borangabari of the undivided Darrang district, Assam. She became known during the Quit India Movement, when she joined the Mrityu Bahini, a suicide squad. She was only 17 then. On September 20, 1942, the revolutionary camp of Gohpur division of undivided Darrang district took the decision to hoist and unfurl the tricolour at a local police station, and it was Barua who had spearheaded the task. When the officer in-charge of the police station warned against continuing with their plan, Barua refused to budge. The police thereafter opened fire and Barua was shot dead holding the flag.

Bir Tikendrajit Singh

Bir Tikendrajit Singh, who sacrificed his life along with his General Thangal for protecting the territorial integrity of Manipur, is regarded as a hero of supreme sacrifice and extraordinary valour in the history of the state. He had led the Manipuri soldiers in the Anglo-Manipuri war in 1891, however their efforts went in vain as the British, against whom the Manipuris were fighting, captured Manipur on April 23, 1891. Tikendrajit was arrested and hanged publicly later.

Gopinath Bordoloi

Born on June 6, 1890, Gopinath Bordoloi not only challenged the British, but also made it sure that Assam remained part of India at the time of Independence. He eventually became the first chief minister of undivided Assam. Bordoloi, who was a big admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, joined the Indian National Congress in 1922, and started his political activism during the non-cooperation movement. He, however, garnered recognition with the introduction of the Mountbatten Plan in 1947 when Bordoloi battled the Muslim League's leaders to make sure Assam remained in India. After Independence, he played a vital role in rehabilitating a massive number of refugees who had escaped communal clashes in the newly created East Pakistan. He was soon given the title of 'Lokapriya' for his services. He died a few years after Independence on August 5, 1950.

Haipou Jadonang

A Rongmei Naga leader from present-day Manipur, he was a spiritual leader, social reformist and political leader who had made valuable contributions to free the Naga people from the clutches of British colonial rule during the early decades of the 20th century.

U Tirot Sing Syiemlieh

U Tirot Sing Syiemlieh, who was born in the year 1802, was a native chief of Nongkhlaw, a territory in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. He had led the Khasis in their fight against the British during the 1829-1833 Anglo-Khasi war.

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