Lecture in Guwahati highlights Assam and Northeast’s overlooked role in India’s Freedom Movement

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 29, 2025

A lecture programme on the theme “Role of Assam and Northeast in the Freedom Movement of India” was organised on Wednesday at the Conference Hall of S.B. Deorah College, Guwahati. The event was jointly hosted by the Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Samiti, Assam Kamrup Mahanagar Samiti, and the Department of History, S.B. Deorah College.

The session was presided over by Dr. Dharmendra Nath, Principal of the college, who also delivered the welcome address. It was moderated by Assistant Professor Devi Priya Barthakur, while Head of the Department of History, Magrul Hussain, outlined the objectives of the programme.

Hemanta Dhing Mazumdar, National General Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana, New Delhi, attended as the keynote speaker, and Professor Dr. Ramesh Chandra Deka, Vice-Chancellor of Cotton University, graced the occasion as the chief guest.

In his address, Mazumdar underscored the immense yet underrepresented contribution of Assam and the Northeast to India’s independence struggle. He observed that mainstream narratives have often ignored the region’s role by focusing largely on those who received tamrapatras (copper plaques) and pensions. He pointed out that countless villagers and townspeople from across the Northeast had taken part in the movement, with many later refusing government recognition, leaving their sacrifices absent from official archives.

Chief Guest Dr. Deka enriched the session with historical insights, recalling Maniram Dewan not only as Assam’s first tea cultivator but also as the first Assamese to publish a research paper. He further highlighted the pioneering role of John Berry White in establishing medical education in Assam, with the John Berry White Medical College later evolving into Assam Medical College.

Assistant Professor Hussain, in his remarks, reiterated the importance of documenting the contributions of Assam and the Northeast for future generations.

The programme drew participation from over 200 students, along with faculty and staff. It concluded with a vote of thanks by Khagen Kalita, Advocate at Gauhati High Court and State Office Secretary of Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Samiti, Assam.