Guwahati: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday attended the ‘Swahid Diwas’ programme to commemorate the 83rd death anniversary of legendary freedom fighter Swahid Kushal Konwar. Organised by the Assam State Freedom Fighters’ Association at the Swatantra Senani Bhawan in Rupnagar, the event saw the Chief Minister paying rich tributes to Konwar and other martyrs who made invaluable contributions to India’s independence struggle.
Speaking on the occasion, Sarma emphasised that Kushal Konwar embodied extraordinary courage and patriotism, and his legacy continues to inspire every generation. He noted that Konwar was among the few freedom fighters sentenced to death for participating in the historic Quit India Movement of 1942, adding that his unwavering commitment to truth and self-sacrifice gave fresh momentum to the freedom movement.
Reflecting on the martyr’s life, the Chief Minister stated that born in 1905, Konwar actively joined the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921 at the tender age of 17. Despite family responsibilities, he worked to spread education by establishing the Rengmai Primary School. Though he later worked as a garden inspector at the Balijan Tea Estate, he voluntarily resigned following Mahatma Gandhi’s call to dedicate himself entirely to the national movement.
Sarma highlighted that Konwar was a devout follower of Mahatma Gandhi and a strict practitioner of non-violence and the Swadeshi philosophy. As a dedicated satyagrahi, he gave up salt and pledged to use only indigenous products.
Recalling the events of the 1942 Quit India Movement, the Chief Minister clarified that while an agitated section of protesters removed railway tracks at Changpool near Sarupathar on October 10, 1942, leading to the derailment of a military train and the deaths of several British soldiers, Konwar strongly opposed this violence and had no involvement in it.
However, the British police falsely framed him as the mastermind behind the conspiracy, executing him by hanging at the Jorhat Central Jail on June 15, 1943.
“I will die, but the nation will endure. The country will become free,” Dr Sarma quoted Konwar’s final words to his wife Prabhabati, showcasing his remarkable composure in the face of an unjust verdict.
Highlighting state initiatives to preserve this heritage, Dr Sarma mentioned that the government has developed the ‘Swaraj Udyan’ over 175 bighas of land adjacent to the Jorhat Central Jail at a cost of Rs 159 crore. The project preserves Konwar’s cell, the cell of Sri Sri Pitambar Dev Goswami, the gallows, and the historic jail walls.
Reaffirming the State’s commitment, the Chief Minister asserted that the Assam Government remains firmly committed to the welfare, dignity, and preservation of the legacy of freedom fighters and their descendants. He called upon the youth to draw inspiration from Konwar and contribute to nation-building through knowledge and hard work.
The solemn programme was also attended by Central Guwahati MLA Vijay Kumar Gupta, Assam State Freedom Fighters’ Association President Punyeswar Duwara, Working President Bholanath Nagariya, General Secretary Dwijendra Mohan Sharma, and descendants of several martyr families.
