Guwahati, northeast India: Persistent militants’ threats on their minds, but patriotic fervors carrying in theirs hearts, the people of northeast India once again rose on the occasion to observe the Republic Day that commemorates the adoption of Indian constitution on 26 January 1950 and pay homage to the martyrs of India’s freedom struggles.
Defying the diktat of some separatist militants, the residents of the trouble-torn region thronged to the government sponsored and community celebrations on the occasion of 66th R-Day and remembered the sacrifices of numerous freedom fighters to make India a sovereign nation.
The auspicious day began with at least six blasts in Manipur and Assam, but the patriotic citizens ignored the caveats, issued by few banned armed outfits of the land-locked region, and joined the nation to hoist the Tricolour that symbolizes the supreme sacrifices of all the known and unknown martyrs of India’s independence movement. As the nation glued to the television sets to experience the R-Day celebrations in New Delhi, where the US President Barack Obama in presence of President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi with other dignitaries witnessed the R-Day parade showcasing the military might and diverse cultural treasures of India to the world, the habitants of far-eastern localities also joined in the festivity. Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who unfurled the national flag in absence of Governor PB Acharya (also in-charge of Nagaland and Tripura) in Guwahati, asked the armed militants to shun the path of violence and join in the peace talks. The veteran Congress leaders however warned that the government would never tolerate the unlawful activities engineered by the revolutionary turned terrorist outfits. Announcing various welfare schemes for the benefit of needy families of Assam, Gogoi also declared about a new scheme ensuring free medical treatment to the below poverty line families. He also promised of new initiatives for working on the sanitation programmes.
Governor Acharya, in a message on the propitious occasion, emphasized on the protection of one-horned rhinos in various forest reserves of the country. Mentioning about the pre-historic animal, which is Assam’s State symbol, the Governor insisted on the collective responsibility for the preservation of all wildlife in the bio-diversity hotspot region.
Unfurling the Tricolor in Kohima, Governor Acharya also highlighted the necessity of maintaining peace in the region, which is surrounded by many foreign countries state. Talking about the ongoing peace talks between militants and the government, the Governor expected an amicable settlement of the issue of insurgency.
Compare to other States in the region, Manipur witnessed the mixed response of the boycott call and general strike by the banned armed outfits. But R-Day celebrations were also reported from various parts of the State, where the chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh hoisted the national flag in Imphal. Ibobi Singh too reiterated that that violence would bring nothing good for the people but endless suffering and miseries.
Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar also pointed out that terrorism must be curbed for the development of the nation. Hoisting the Tricolour in Agartala, Sarkar also cautioned that militants taking shelter in foreign soil (read Bangladesh) would however try to destabilize the region till their resources are not curbed.
Attending the R-Day function in Tura, Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma declared a few welfare schemes for the development of the hilly State. Sangma also launched the Destination Meghalaya plan with emphasis on education, healthcare and harnessing renewable energy for each and every family of the State.
Mizoram Governor Aziz Qureshi hoisted the national flag in Aizawl and disclosed the commitment of the State government to root out corruption from all sectors. The Governor emphasized on promoting trade relationship with Burma (Myanmar), which adjacent to the Southeast Asian nation.
Sikkim Governor Shreeniwas Patil unfurled the Tricolour in Gangtok and Arunachal Pradesh Governor Nirbhoy Sharma hoisted the national flag in Itanagar, where both the Governors urged the people to pursue democratic values and principles rising above selfish interests and also join hands in the prosperity of the region.
The journalists and conscious citizens of the pre-historic city of Guwahati, as they did earlier years, assembled in Guwahati Press Club to hoist the national flag. Hoisting the Tricolour, senior journalist Pramod Kalita called upon one and all Indians to remember and pay respect to the spirit and sacrifices of numerous freedom fighters. Kalita pointed out that India, unlike many of its neighbouring countries, has maintained the spirit of democracy since the days of Independence in 1947. He however cautioned that every Indian must be cautious against anti-national elements and also some veiled entities pretending to be progressive, secular and patriotic.
Earlier, senior journalists Rupam Barua described how a section of journalists took the challenge to defy the diktat of separatist militants in 1998 and hoisted the national flag in the press club and continued the spirit to observe both the Republic and Independence Days.
The participants then took out a procession chanting patriotic slogans. Those who attended the programme included Dr Jagadindra Raichoudhury, Ranen Kumar Goswami, Basanta Barthakur, Vivekananda Choudhury, Hem Bora, Jahnavi Goswami, Mrinal A. Hazarika, Sumana Dutta, Hrishikesh Dutta, Pranabjit Doloi, DN Singh, Kailash Sarma, Purabi Barua, Pradip Thakuria, Anita Kalita Goswami, Akhyamala Bora Thakuria, Namita Bora and many others.
Over the years, it has become almost a reflex action for various banned militant outfits of the region, to call for boycott of the R-Day (also the Independence Day) programme, protesting against the ‘colonial Indian government’ allegedly exploiting the resources of the region. This year too was no different, but the people responded to the boycott call with near total indifference.
Countering the boycott call by the militants, the Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) earlier appealed to the people to defy the diktat and celebrate the national festival. The media forum, particularly requested all the media establishments and journalist organizations including local press clubs of the region to take an initiative to hoist the Tricolour and worship the martyrs.
The author is a journalist based in Assam and secretary of Guwahati Press Club
