Today when I see happy people around us rejoicing so enthusiastically to celebrate the IndependenceDay honouring the Tricolour and saluting our Brave Patriots and Martyrs who sacrificed their all for our Motherland’s Freedom , I remember an era of dark and terrorfilled days of the 80s , 90s and atleast the first decade of the present century when antiNational and separatist terror gangs like ULFA and others stopped the people of Assam from observing the National Ceremonies like Independence and Republic Days at gunpoint and threatful dictats . Common people were helpless then . They were unarmed while the ULFA and all others were equiped with lethal weapons . Naturally , the unarmed common people were afraid to come out in the open for saluting the Tricolour and the martyrs which is a fundamental right , duty and responsibility of the citizens of an independent and sovereign nation . So during the ULFA dominated Assam , the culture of celebrating the NationalDays by saluting the Tricolour publicly was almost vanished and these NationalDays were then only observed through the government ceremonies . For almost two decades , no public functions or programmes , which were regular or common events in Assam alongwith the rest of the country before ULFA’s emergence , could be organised by the unarmed people because of the armed militant group’s threatful dictats . But in 1998 , a few people openly and publicly hoisted the NationalFlag paying tributes to our patriots and martyrs and came out on the street raising the Tricolours in hands and challenged ULFA’s dictat for the first time . This was a significant step taken by a few courageous journalists along with some brave citizens and this event was observed in the Guwahati Press Club premises . It was the RepublicDay – 26 January of 1998 , and since then the handful brave journalists made it a mission to observe our NationalDays on 26 January and 15 August saluting the Tricolour and honouring the patriots and martyrs to instil courage into the minds of the mass people to challege the antiNational terrorists . It was the beginning .
As I am asked to narrate that event of 1998 , I start from the day of 24 January of that year when I was working in the now defunct Assamese daiily newspaper ‘Ajir Batori’ . On that day , while in the office-desk at morning time , I was very much disturbed by seeing a press release of ULFA which threatened of bloodshed if people observe the ‘RepublicDay’ and hoist the Tricolour . It was like an open call for a massacre from an antiNational force against the patriotic Indians . It was too much and my heart and soul immediately urged me that something must be done before too late . These antiNational terrorists must be resisted somehow and the spirit of patroitism and humanism must be raised up or restored among the people if we want to live as the proud Indians . I met my editor Mr Dhirendra Nath Chakravary , the veteran journalist and a great patriot , and showing him the terror-gang’s dictat said ,’ Sir , if these elements are not resisted by now , they will start a reign of terror and the antiNational forces will finish Assam . As unarmed common people can not do anything against this armed gang , we the journalists must do something . Let us hoist the NationalFlag at the Press Club . It will be a challenge to ULFA’s dictat and surely it will encourage and inspire the mass people in future to honour the Tricour and express the gratitude to the patriots and martyrs of the FreedomStruggle .’
Sir was also thinking about the matter seriously . He immetiately declared ,’ Yes , we will hoist the Tricolour on the RepublicDay even if we will be two , three or four people .’
At that momement senior journalist and a very bold personality in the media fraternity Sabita Goswami , whom I used to call ‘Baideu’ , was also present in Sir’s room . Baideu said , ‘ I am with you even if we three have to challenge ULFA .’ Then Baideu discussed for some times regarding our venture and gave us some valuable suggestions . At that time Tricolours were not availabe in the market or anywhere except some government departments . Baideu assured us that she would collect a big Tricolour and the flag-pole .
Then Sir wrote a bold and inspiring press note that was a clarion call for the patriotic press people and citizens to come to Gauhati Press Club and hoist the Tricolour in honour of the Patriots and Martyrs of our FreedomStruggle . After that Baideu and I collected signatures of the journalists who supported the cause and distributed the photo-copies of that press note to the city media houses . Bhindeu late Bhabani Goswami helped us a lot on our pressnote distribution venture by providing a ride on his car . He also prepared the long flag-pole for the event .
Our call was published in some newspapers on the 25th and on the 26January patriotic and brave people belonging to both media and non-media gathered in the Press Club and celebrated the Tricolour hoisting ceremony . Seniormost among the journalists late Naresh Rajkhowa unfurled the Tricolour while Chakravaty Sir inspired the gathering with his bold and patriotic speech . After honouring the Tricolour and offering the respectful tributes to the FreedomFighters , a silent procession was led out on the highway aroun DighaliPukhuri with flags and placards in hands .
Other distinguished seniors present were Nirupoma Borgohain , Preeti Barua , Dhirendra Nath Bezbaruah , Kanaksen Deka , Premadhar Sarma , Ajay Datta , M S Prabhakar . Hiten Mahanta , Ajit Patowary , Ranen Kumar Goswami , Anita Kalita , Geetartha Pathak , Munin Bayan , Dibas Phukan , Pabitra Deka represented the then young faces of thebrave journalists . At this moment of writing , I can not remember all the names for which I am extremely sorry and beg pardon from all those patriot brave souls .
Thus it was the beginning to challenge the dictats of the antiNational separatist forces . Though it was not a very big gathering , it sparked a spirit to defy militant body’s unjust and tyrannical demands . The spirit continued to live . When brave and patriot journalist Nava Thakuria became the Press Club Secretary , he started celebrating the NationalDays with new vigour and zeal . DN Chakravarty Sir and Nirupoma Borgohain Baideu continued to lead us for long . On the 26 January and 15 August of each year , people belonging to media and non-media along with children also gathered in the PressClub to uphold their patriotic and national spirits . Distinguished citizens Ajay Datta , Dr Jagadindra Raychoudhury , Jaharlal Saha , Pradip Thakuria , Kailas Sarma , Abhijit Sarma , Bitu Talukder , Purabi Barua , Jayanta Gogoi , Kuntala Chakrabarty , Tarali Chakrabarty , Sumana Datta never missed a programme . DN Singh , Mukul Kalita , Sabita Lahkar , Pranabjit Doloi , Pramod Kalita , Rubee Das , Ramon Bora , Anup Sarma , Dipankar Dev Sarma , Dr JesimRaja , Dweepen Bayan , Mamata Mishra , Samir Sandillya , Akhyamala Bora , Sewali Kalita , Anirban Choudhury , Biswajit Nath , Azlina Khanom constantly represented the media spirit . Again I am a pardon beggar if I have forgotten a brave name . In fact , NavaThakuria made the occasions celebrated like festivals . His powerful leadership made this patriotic journey to be continued for long . Though the gatherings were never vast or huge but they always kept the spirit alive defying the dictats of the armed separatists . It can be said that till almost 2012 , the Flag hoistings at Press Club on the National Days were only such public events . So it became the only venue for the brave and patriotic souls who wished to honour the Tricolour and pay tributes to the Freedom Fighters . So this spirited movement of honouring the Tricolour once started in a terror striken era by a few media and non-media persons surely encouraged and inspired the common people , because after 2012 hoisting of the Tricolour on the national days began in many public places of the city and other areas of the State . And today Tricolour is everywhere around us . Today ‘Ghar Ghar Tiranga’ slogan is on everyone’s lips . Think of the days when people were afraid of buying and honouring the Tricolour and of today when Tricolour has become people’s wealth of pride !
– Rupam Barua
