Famous Personalities of Assam

AKHIL GOGOI
Akhil Gogoi is a peasant leader and RTI activist from Assam. Over the years he has
been leading many anti-graft movements in the state. Gogoi came to national
attention after he was awarded the Shanmugam Manjunath Integrity Award in 2008
for his relentless fight against corruption In 2010, he was awarded the national
Right to Information Award by Public Cause Research Foundation (for his role in
exposing a 12.5 million scam in Sampoorna Gram Rozgar Yojna in the Golaghat
district of Assam. Gogoi is the founder Secretary of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti
(KMSS)- a left wing peasant organization based in Assam.

Early life and Initial Activities

Akhil Gogoi was born on 1 March 1976 in Lukhurakhon village of Selenghat, Jorhat,
Assam. He attended the Cotton College, Guwahati during 19931996, where he
studied Assamese literature. He was the general secretary of the college students
union for two consecutive years. Soon he joined the United Revolutionary Movement
Council of Assam (URMCA), a mass organization of CPI-ML-PCC under the leadership
of the legendary naxalite leader Santosh Rana. However, by the end of the 1990s
he broke with Rana and devoted himself as an editor of Natun Padatik, an
independent Marxist journal published in Assamese, along with Dr Hiren Gohain.
Gogoi lives in Guwahati of Assam along with his wife and son.

Anti Big Dam Movement

Since mid-2009, Gogoi has been leading a state-wide movement against
construction of big dams in the ecologically sensitive regions of Assam and
Arunachal Pradesh. In particular, his organisation KMSS demands immediate halt to
the ongoing construction of the dam of Lower Subansiri, a mega hydroelectric
power project under NHPC with an estimated capacity of 2000 MW.

A Crusader Against Corruption

For some time, he was also associated with Anna Hazare led anti-graft campaign
India against Corruption. However, he broke with IAC after some of the IAC
members decided to form a political party. Explaining his reasons to resign from IAC,
Gogoi said that the support IAC had received was only for building up a strong and
sustained mass movement against rampant corruption, and not floating an election
centered political party.

"Maoist" controversy

In April 2010, a secret report of the Assam government alleged that Akhil Gogoi had
close connections with CPI-Maoist. Gogoi challenged the report and dared the
Assam government to prove the allegation. Intellectuals across the country
including Magsaysay Award Winner Sandeep Pandey and Medha Patkar condemned
the government for trying to implicate the activist. In an interview with NDTV, Akhil
Gogoi said, "I am a Marxist and I do believe in social transformation. But I am not a
Maoist. They don't believe in mass activities. We at KMSS are trying to organize the
masses for radical change. But the attempt of the government to implicate me as a
Maoists shows their frustration because they have been unable to contain the
growing popularity of KMSS". It created an embarrassment for the Assam
government and the matter was dropped thereafter.

Recent activities
Recently Akhil and his comrades in KMSS have opened a number of provisional
retail outlets in different parts of Guwahati city to facilitate direct access of rural
peasantry with urban markets. Claiming it as an alternative to FDI in Retail as well
as mafia-run-syndicates, Akhil and his organization have expressed their plans to
open more outlets in the city on a permanent basis. These outlets will be run by the
peasants themselves and will sell agrarian products on a drastically lower price,
removing the middleman in between. On the very first day of the opening of the
outlets, more than hundred quintals of vegetables have been reported to be sold
within a few hours.

AKHIL GOGOI has started crusade against the land Mafia like Prithnia who have
bought thousands of bighas of agricultural land in rural Kamrup. Govt is presently
doing investigation into the matter based on the allegation of Akhil Gogoi run KMSS.

BAGH HAZARIKA
Bagh Hazarika, also known as Ismail Siddique, is a 17th-century figure from Assam,
known for his valor. He was born at Dhekerigaon village near Garhgaon. Once a
tiger had entered his village and Ismail Siddique, who was literally unarmed, killed
the tiger. The news of this valour reached the Ahom king Chakradhwaj Singha and
he called the young man to his court to display his strength. The king was
impressed by the show of strength, the king appointed him a Hazarika, an Ahom
office in charge of 1000 paiks. This event marks the beginning of the legend of the
brave Bagh (Assamese language: tiger) Hazarika that culminated in his acts of
bravery during Battle of Saraighat.

In this first conflict, the Mughal forces were well entrenched on the hills of the north
bank of the Brahmaputra river with a chain of huge cannons. Bagh Hazarika
suggested a plan on how to disable the Mughal guns to the Ahom General Lachit
Borphukan, the royal minister Atan Burhagohain and other generals. Impressed by
the plan, they entrusted Bagh Hazarika with command to lead the operation.

That night an advance party led by Bagh Hazarika along with a few soldiers crossed
the Brahmaputra by boat and landed on the northern bank of the river and laid in
wait for the right moment. While the Mughal soldiers were busy saying their Fajr or
dawn prayers, Bagh Hazarika and his soldiers climbed the high embankments and
poured water into the Mughal cannons, rendering them useless.

Sometime later, the Ahom army announced their advance by blowing the trumpets.
In response, the Mughal soldiers rushed to their posts and tried to fire the cannons
at the advancing Ahom forces. But, the wet cannons would not work. The Ahom
forces used their cannons to the full strength and the Ahom army landed safely on
the north bank and attacked ferociously as the Mughal soldiers retreated helplessly.

This victory had proved the courage and valour of Bagh Hazarika beyond any doubt
and he was felicitated by the King. Bagh Hazarika thus went down in the annals of
Assam history as a highly skilled front ranking military officer who was fearless and
could jump like a tiger on his enemies in the battlefield.

CHILARAI
Shukladhwaj or more popularly Chilarai, was the younger brother of Nara Narayan,
the king of the Kamata kingdom in the 16th century. He was Nara Narayan's
commander-in-chief and he got his name Chilarai because his movement as a
general was as fast as a chila (kite). Chilarai is known to have descended from the
powerful founder of the Koch dynasty of Kamatapur, Biswa Singha. By his valour, he
played a significant role in expanding the empire of his elder brother, Maharaja Nara
Narayan. His valour ensured Koch supremacy over the Bhutia, Kachari kingdom and
the Ahoms though several battles were fought between the Koches and Ahoms with
countable victories for both sides.

Biography
Chilarai was the third son of Maharaja Biswa Singha. His mother Padmavati was
from the country called Gaur.

Chilarai was instrumental in giving Srimanta Sankardeva protection and shelter, as

well as marrying his niece Kamalapriya (alias Bhubaneswari). It was only due to his
Royal Patronage that Sankardeva was able to establish the Ek Saran Naam Dharma
in Assam and bring about his cultural renaissance. His son and grandson were
responsible for breaking away of Koch Hajo from the parent kingdom.

Shukladhwaj also named Chilarai which means 'Kite Prince' was perhaps the
greatest general that Indian history ignored. A master military strategist, he was the
commander of elder brother and Koch king Naranarayan's army. Chilarai's valour
ensured Koch supremacy over the Bhutia, Kachari kingdom (of Hadimba, now
dimapur) and the Ahoms (though several battles were fought between the Koches
and Ahoms with countable victories for both sides). In June 1563 the Koches under
the command of Chilarai managed to occupy the capital of Ahom, Gargaon.

Several Kings namely the then Raja of Manipur and the Khasi chief (Viryyavanta)
submitted to the Koch army.The Jaintia Raja and Rajas of Tippera(Tripura) and Sylhet
were also vanquished and put to death by Chilarai and his army. It must be
mentioned that Chilarai never committed brutalities on unarmed common people
and even those kings who offer their surrender were treated with utmost respect.
Only those kings and soldiers who refused to surrender were treated with strong
hands. But the brothers never annexed conquered territories nor oppressed the
people. They only collected tributes from the vanquished kings. Even enemyprisoners were kindly treated and given land-grants to settle.

Chilarai also adopted guerrilla warfare successfully- even before Shivaji Maharaja of
Maratha empire did.

The duo (Chilarai and Naranarayan) turned towards Bengal but due to unforeseen
circumstances Chilarai was captured by the Afghan Sultan Sulaiman Karrani while
Naranarayan retreated to his capital. Much of the Koch kingdom was captured by
the Afghans thereafter. However Chilarai and Nara Narayan later rebuilt the
Kamakhya temple that the Sultan's army had destroyed. They also patronized the
great Vaishnavite movement of Sankardev.

Chilarai died in 1577 of small pox on the bank of Ganges.

Bir Chilarai Divas

The birth anniversary of Mahabir Chilarai is organized by Government of Assam
annually from 2005. The Government also declares this day as state holiday.

Bir Chilarai Award

The awards instituted by the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam in
2005 which comprise a shawl, a citation and a cheque of Rs. 1 lakh

KANAKLATA BARUA
Kanaklata Barua (December 22, 1924 - September 20, 1942) also called Birbala and
Shaheed (martyr) Kanaklata Barua was an Indian freedom fighter from Assam who
was shot dead while leading a procession bearing the National Flag during the Quit
India Movement of 1942.

Early life
Kanaklata was born in the Borangabari village of the undivided Darrang district of
Assam as the daughter of Krishna Kanta and Karneshwari Barua. Her grandfather
Ghana Kanta Barua was a famous hunter in Darrang. Her ancestors were from the
Dolakharia Barua kingdom of the erstwhile Ahom state who relinquished the
Dolakharia title and continued retaining Barua title. Her mother died when she was
only five and her father, who remarried, died when she reached thirteen. She went
to school till class three but then dropped out to take care of her younger siblings.

Freedom fighter

A sculpture at Kanaklata Udyan or Rock Garden at Tezpur, Assam, describing the

incident.
During the Quit India Movement Kanaklata joined the Mrityu Bahini, a death squad
comprising groups of youth from the Gohpur sub division of Assam. On September
20, 1942, the Bahini decided it would hoist the national flag at the local police
station. A procession of unarmed villagers were led by Barua to do so. The police
under Rebati Mahan Som the officer in-charge of the police station warned the
procession of dire consequences if they proceeded with their plan. Undeterred by
the police, the procession continued marching ahead when the police fired upon the
procession. Kanaklata was shot and the flag she was carrying with her was taken up
by Mukunda Kakoti who too was shot at. Both Kanaklata and Kakoti were killed in
the police action. Kanaklata was only 17 years of age at the time of her martyrdom.

Death and commemoration

The Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Kanak Lata Barua of the Indian Coast Guard,
commissioned in 1997, is named after Kanaklata. A life size statue of hers was
unveiled at Gauripur in 2011.

KUSHAL KONWAR
Kushal Konwar was an Indian Tai-Ahom freedom fighter from Assam and he
happened to be the only martyr in the country who was hanged during last phase of
the Quit India Movement of 1942-43.

Early life, education and work

Kushal Konwar was born in March 21, 1905 at Balijan near Sarupathar in the present
District of Golaghat in Assam. Kushal did his schooling in the Bezbaruah School. In
1921, while still at school he was inspired by Gandhijis clarion call for Noncooperation movement and took active part in it. The young man inspired by
Gandhijis ideals of Swaraj, Truth and Ahimsa, set up a primary school at Bengmai
and served as its honorary teacher. Later, he joined the Balijan Tea Estate as a clerk
and worked for a while. But, the spirit of independence and call of Mahatma Gandhi
inspired him to dedicate himself wholeheartedly in the Independence Movement. He
organised the Congress party and lead the people of Sarupathar area in Satyagraha
and non-cooperation movement against the British. He was elected the President of
the Sarupathar Congress Committee.

Quit India Movement

In August 8, 1942 the Congress Working Committee in its meeting in Bombay
passed the Quit India resolution. This resolution demanded complete withdrawal
of the British from the Indias soil. Mahatma Gandhi gave the call of do or die to
the people of India. The British reacted by arresting Mahatma and all the Congress
leaders and putting them in jails. Across India, this sparked widespread mass
movement in against the British. Cutting across caste, creed, and religion the
people came out on to the streets shouting the slogan of Vande Mataram. In spite
of Gandhijis appeal for peaceful non-cooperation and dharna, in many regions the
movement erupted in violence with people burning offices and damaging
government properties, disrupting the road, rail and telecommunication network.

People of Assam too spontaneously joined this historic movement of 1942. Two of
the leaders of Assam Pradesh Congress, Gopinath Bordoloi and Siddhinath Sarma
were arrested by the British in Dhubri while returning from Bombay attending the

Congress Working Committee meeting. Other Congress leaders like Bishnuram

Medhi, Bimala Prasad Chaliha, Md. Tayebulla, Omeo Kumar Das, Debeswar Sarma,
etc., were arrested from different parts of Assam and thrown into jails. Assam too
burned like the rest of India and many people leaving the path of non-violence
engaged in violence.

On October 10, 1942, hidden in the thick fog of early morning, some people
removed few sleepers of the railway line near Sarupathar in Golaghat district. A
Military train passing by derailed and many British and American soldiers lost their
lives. The British army immediately cordoned the area and started operation to
catch the culprits. Innocent people of the area was rounded up, beaten and
harassed. The British police let loose a reign of terror; people were beaten up and
arrested.

Accusing Kushal Konwar as the chief conspirator of the train sabotage, the British
police arrested him. An ardent follower of Gandhiji and his principle of non-violence,
Kushal was ignorant about the sabotage plan and action. He was innocent but the
police charged him as the mastermind of the train sabotage. He was brought from
Golaghat and was lodged in the Jorhat jail on November 5, 1942.

In the Court of CM Humphrey, Kushal Konwar was declared guilty, though there was
not a single proof against him. Kushal was sentenced to death by hanging. He
accepted the verdict with dignity. When his wife, Prabhavati visited him in the Jorhat
jail, he told her that he is proud that God has selected him to be the only one
among the thousands of prisoners to give the supreme sacrifice for the country.
Kushal spent his remaining days in the death row cell of Jorhat jail in prayers and
reading the Gita.

Martyrdom
At dawn on June 15, 1943 at 4.30 am, Kushal Konwar was hanged in Jorhat Jail. He
sacrificed his life knowing as Mahatma said: He alone can be a true satyagrahi who
knows the art of living and dying.

Family
Kushal konwar married to Prabhawati in his early age.He had two sons Khagen and
Nagen. Both of them had died.

LACHIT BORPHUKAN
Lachit Borphukan was a commander and Borphukan in the Ahom kingdom known
for his leadership in the 1671 Battle of Saraighat that thwarted a drawn-out attempt
by Mughal forces under the command of Ramsingh I to take back Kamrup. He died
about a year later due to illness.

Brief life
Lachit Borphukan, was the son of Momai Tamuli Borbarua,the first Borbarua
(Governor of upper Assam and Commander-in-Chief of the Ahom army) under
Prataap Singha. Lachit Borphukan was educated in humanities, scriptures and
military skills. He was given positions of responsibility of the Soladhara Barua (scarfbearer) of the Ahom Swargadeo, a position equivalent to a Private Secretaryship,
which was regarded as the first step in career of an ambitious diplomat and
politician. Other offices held by Lachit before his appointment as Borphukan
included Superintendent of the Stable of Royal Horses (Ghora Barua), Commander
of the strategic Simulgarh Fort and Superintendent of the Royal Household Guards
or (Dolakaxaria Barua) to the Ahom king Chakradhwaj Singha.

King Chakradhwaj Singha selected Lachit Borphukan lead the army in the campaign
against the Mughals who held Guwahati. The King presented Lachit with a goldhafted sword (Hengdang) and the customary paraphernalia of distinction. Lachit
raised the army and preparations were completed by summer of 1667. Lachit
recovered Guwahati from the Mughals and successfully defended it against the
Mughal forces during the Battle of Saraighat.

Lachit Borphukan died about a year after the victory at Saraighat due to natural
causes. His remains lies in rest at the Lachit Maidaam built in 1672 by Swargadeo
Udayaditya Singha at Hoolungapara 16 km from Jorhat.

There is no portrait of Lachit Barphukan, but an old chronicle describes him, saying
"His face is broad, and resembles the moon in its full phase. No one is capable of
staring at his face."

Battle of Saraighat
After being defeated by Lachit and his forces, the Mughals army and sailed up the
Brahmaputra river from Dhaka towards Assam advancing to Guwahati. The Mughal
Army under Ram Singh consisted of 30,000 infantry, 15,000 archers, 18,000 Turkish
cavalry, 5,000 gunners and over 1000 cannons besides a large flotilla of boats.

Ram Singh, the Mughal commander in chief failed to make any advance against the
Assamese army during the first phase of the war. An arrow carrying a letter by Ram
Singh telling that Lachit have been paid rupees one lakh and he should evacuate
Guwahati was fired into the Ahom camp, which eventually reached the Ahom king,
Chakradhwaj Singha. Although the king started to doubt Lachit's sincerity and
patriotism, his prime minister Atan Buragohain convince the King this was just a
trick against Lachit.

During the last stage of the Battle of Saraighat, when the Mughals attacked by the
river in Saraighat, the Assamese soldiers began to lose their will to fight. Some
elements retreated. Though Lachit was seriously ill he boarded a boat and with
seven boats advanced against the Mughal fleet. He said "If you (the soldiers) want
to flee, flee. The king has given me a task here and I will do it well. Let the Mughals
take me away. You report to the king that his general fought well following his
orders". His soldiers rallied and a desperate battle ensured on the river
Brahmaputra.

Lachit Barphukan was victorious. The Mughals were forced to retreat from Guwahati.
The Mughal Commander-in-Chief, acknowledging his defeat by the Ahom soldiers
and their Commander-in-chief Lachit Barphukan, wrote, "Glory to the king! Glory to
the counselors! Glory to the commanders! Glory to the country! One single
individual leads all the forces! Even I, Ram Singh, being personally on the spot, have
not been able to find any loophole and an opportunity!"

Memorial & monuments

Lachit Divas
On 24 November each year Lachit Divas (Lachit Day) is celebrated statewide in
Assam to commemorate the heroism of Lachit Borphukan and the victory of the
Assamese army at the Battle of Saraighat.

Lachit Borphukan gold medal

The best passing out cadet of National Defence Academy is conferred the Lachit
Borphukan gold medal. It was instituted by the Assam Government in May 2000 to
perpetuate the memory of Lachit Borphukan. Battalion Cadet Adjutant Aaditya
Udupa, 126th NDA Course,was awarded the medal for the Spring Term 2014 on 28
May 2014.

Lachit Borphukan's Maidam

Lachit Borphukan's Maidam was constructed in memory of Lachit Borphukan at
Gohain gaon of Meleng-Hulungapar. Jorhat, Assam. It is 8 km far from the famous
Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary. Here last remains of Borphukan were laid under
this tomb (Maidam) constructed by Swargadeo Udayaditya Singha in 1672.

Tarun Ram Phukan

Tarun Ram Phukan (1877-1939) was a prominent leader of Assam. He was popularly
known as Deshbhakta. He was educated in Cotton Collegiate School, Guwahati and
Presidency College, Calcutta. Later, he moved to the Bar from Inner Temple in
London. He educated as a lawyer but also served as Lecturer in Earle Law College in
Guwahati.

He was a prominent member of a political organization then named Assam

Association till 1920. Phookan played an important part in forming the Assam
Branch of the Indian National Congress in 1921. He was elected its first President.
When the Non-Cooperation Movement was started, Phookan took a leading part in it
and he toured various parts of Assam carrying the message of Mahatma Gandhi. In
connection with the Non-Cooperation Movement, he was sentenced to one year's
rigorous imprisonment in 1921.

Phookan became the Chairman of the Reception Committee,Pandu Session of the

Indian National Congress in 1926. He also served as Chairman of the Municipal
Board and Local Board of Guwahati and undertook several programmes for the
upliftment of the under-privileged sections of society. He established a Leper Asylum
in Guwahati. He was a great orator and also a prominent writer. He served as the
President of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, a premier literary organisation in Assam at its
Goalpara Session in 1927. He also served as President of the Assam Chhatra
Sammelan in 1928.

In 1921, Assam Provincial Congress Committee (APCC) was formed with its
headquarters at Guwahati and Kuladhar Chaliha as its president. Tarun Ram
Phookan became the president. The reconstituted APCC elected Phookan, Gopinath
Bordoloi, Bimala Prasad Chaliha, Chandranath Sarmah, Krishna Nath Sarmah and
Kanak Chandra Sarmah as the members of the AICC. This new committee initiated
and invited Gandhi to Assam in 1921 to propagate the message of non-co-operation
amongst the masses. Gandhi's visit gave tremendous impetus to the congress
workers to carry out the non-cooperation movement and implement the principles
of Swadeshi.

All India Congress Committee session was hosted by the APCC in 1926, at Pandu,
Guwahati which was presided over by S. Srinivasa Iyengar and national leaders like
Motilal Nehru, Sardar Ballav Bhai Patel, Dr.Rajendra Prasad, Madan Mohan Malaviya,
Muhammad Ali, Shaukat Ali, Sarojini Naidu, S. Satyamurti, Abul Kalam Azad, etc.
attended the session.