How Assam celebrated Independence Day since 1947

GUWAHATI: Seventy-six years ago, when India celebrated its freedom from British rule, the celebrations then undivided Assam were grand. The Polo Ground in Shillong, the earlier capital of undivided Assam, was packed with hundreds of people who erupted in jubilation when CM Gopinath Bordoloi hoisted the national flag. Governor Sir Akbari Hydari inspected the parade after Bordoloi unfurled the flag.
As per reports by then existing newspapers of the region, sweets and snacks were distributed among 9,265 students of 51 schools. The celebration was also memorable for 418 patients undergoing treatment at different hospitals and 47 prison inmates.
Bordoloi in his speech recalled the prolonged fight and sacrifices made by the people of India for freedom from British rule. He had appealed to the people to now stand in unison and work for nation-building. That is how a new era started for India.
However, the joy of freedom did not last for long in Assam as the state lost Bordoloi on August 5, 1950, just 10 days ahead of Independence Day celebrations. His demise created a vacuum in the socio-political life of the state.
According to the then-existing weekly Assamese newspaper ‘Asomiya’, which was set up by Chandrakumar Agarwala in 1918, I-Day celebrations were low-key in Assam in 1950 as the people were yet to recover from the pain of losing Bordoloi. Then chief minister Bishnuram Medhi hoisted the national flag at the Judges’ Field in Guwahati, which was lowered to half-mast after the meeting was over to mourn the death of Bordoloi. The sky was also cloudy in Assam that day. The then Governor of Assam, Jairamdas Daulatram Das, also mourned the demise of Bordoloi after unfurling the tricolour at the Laban Parade ground in Shillong.
At around 7.40pm that day, an earthquake measuring 8.6 magnitude on the Richter scale hit Tibet. Damage was reported in upper Assam. North Lakhimpur, Jorhat and Dibrugarh were the worst-hit districts.
In 1964, third chief minister of Assam Bimala Prasad Chaliha, after hoisting the flag in Shillong, gave a radio speech on I-Day, emphasizing the need to work in tandem by the government and the people of the state to solve the issues of the state. He had assured the people of the state to take strict action to curb corrupt practices and price hike.
Chaliha said though the country saw development to a great extent since Independence, Assam was facing several critical issues, including floods and price hike.
In 1965, around 30,000 people had gathered at the Judges’ Field in Guwahati where the Assam government celebrated the I-day. It is said that it was a large gathering at the I-Day after Independence. CM Chaliha, in his speech that year, emphasized the need to strengthen the unity and brotherhood between the people living in the hills and the plains for the progress and security of the state. He promised that the state government would take all the steps to foil attempts to pose any threat to the security of the state and thereby disturb the peace. Economic crisis, inflation and low production were among the prime challenges that Assam was facing at that time, mentioned Chaliha.
The issue of the reformation of Assam had taken an important place of demand by that time. Chaliha had urged the people to have patience as it was a sensitive matter and there were several aspects, including good administration and no conflict, before the government. The capital of Assam was shifted from Shillong to Dispur in Guwahati (the present capital) in 1972-73 after Meghalaya was created.
Year after year, Assam was passing time by fighting the challenges. The state got Golap Borbora as new CM in 1978. In his I-Day speech, he cautioned the people of the state against some reactionary forces, who were at work to create chaos for their vested interests. While warning of taking stern action, he sought cooperation from the people of the state to maintain peace and harmony.
A new issue of illegal migrants in the state and the demand to detect and deport them had come up by that time. Consequently, the Assam movement led by All Assam Students’ Union (Aasu) and All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad began in 1979. The movement ended in 1985 following the signing of the Assam Accord.
The then CM Hiteshwar Saikia, in his I-Day speech that year, said “the accord was the victory of good sense of the Assamese people, victory of give and take and a victory of the democratic non-communal and secular forces.”
In the same year, the banned militant organization — United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (Ulfa-I) — was formed with an aim to establish a “sovereign socialist Assam” through an armed struggle. After a few years of its formation, the rebel group has been calling for boycotting Independence Day celebrations.
Though insurgency remained at its peak for several years, the situation improved since 2001. At present, except Ulfa-I, all other insurgent groups have surrendered their arms.