[Assam] First martyrs of freedom struggle

[Pradip Kumar Datta]

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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