Guwahati (The Stellar News): A spectacular Swahid Smarak and sprawling Swahid Udyan in memory of martyrs of the historic Assam Movement is coming up in the pre-historic city on the south bank of mighty Brahmaputra river. The martyr’s memorial is expected to preserve the legacy of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Assam. Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal offered bhumi pujan to mark the beginning of construction work on 10 December. Sonowal himself a former leader of All Assam Student’s Union which led the agitation (1979 to 1985) against illegal Bangladeshi migrants. He commented during the program that it takes a lot of courage and limitless love for one’s own land & its people to become a martyr. “Martyrs are the real jatiya nayaks (national heroes) of Assam who sacrificed everything for protecting State’s and stature,” said Sonowal adding that the emerging martyr’s memorial with an area of over 98 bigha at Paschim Boragaon area of Guwahati is designed to inspire the future generations to dedicate themselves for the State’s identity, growth and overall development.
Sonowal also took part in the State level Swahid Divas program and released the first volume of Tathyakosh (data-book) on the Assam movement which culminated with the signing of Assam Accord with the Union government in New Delhi. Asom Gana Parishad was born out of the movement and presently the regional party is an ally to BJP led government in Dispur. Speaking on the occasion, the young chief minister expressed optimism that the data-book would provide authentic resource materials for researchers and academics to study an important movement led by student leaders with the support of common people. Meanwhile, Sonowal mentioned about the government gesture to offer rupees five lakh each to 855 martyrs’ families as a token of honour and appreciations. In presence of State ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chandra Mohan Patowary & Atul Bora, Parliamentarian Queen Ojah, CM’s media adviser Hrishikesh Goswami & legal adviser Santanu Bharali, Assam BJP president Ranjit Kumar Dass and other dignitaries, Sonowal reiterated the government commitment to create a corruption free, pollution free, terrorism free and illegal foreigner free Assam.
