First martyrs of freedom struggle
Sir,Assam came under the British rule only on February 26, 1826 through an
illegal treaty concluded at Yandavu in Burma between two occupying foreign
forces the British and the Burmese. The British did not keep their promise to
leave Assam free for which the disgruntled Assamese rebels installed Gomdhar
Konwar, a family member of the Ahom kings, as the King of Assam in the last
part of November, 1828 and under him a battle was conducted against the British
at Mariani, Jorhat which was led by Dhananjoy Borgohain. The battle ended with
defeat to the Ahom king and many of the rebels including Gomadhar Konwar were
arrested and later imprisoned.
Again, the rebels consolidated their strength and attacked the British forces
at Rongpur on March 25, 1830 and set fire to the British magazine stored there.
However, the Assamese rebels were defeated and Piyali Borphukan was arrested on
the spot. Subsequently there was another battle at Charaideo, Sibasagar against
the British where many rebels were killed and Jiuram Dulia Barua and a few
others were arrested on the spot. The arrested persons were sent to to the
Dewani Panchayat for trial which was held on the bank of Joysagar tank and the
trial court finally recommended to the Commissioner at Guwahati to hang Piyali
Borphukan and Jiuram Dulia Barua to death. However, before receipt of the final
order from the Commissioner, Piyali Borphukan and Jiuram Dulia Barua were
hanged on the bank of the Sibasagar tank. Thus these two rebels of Assam
occupied a pride of place as the first Martyrs of India in its War of
Independence. The Government of India should accord
prime-positions to these two martyrs of Assam along with the subsequent
martyrs of India including Mangal Pandey. Yours etc., HITESWAR BARTHAKUR,
Krishnagar, Chandmari, Guwahati.
Assam Tribune, Editorial.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=apr0907\letter
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