Swahid Divas Observed

 Context:

• Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal honoured the families of the martyrs of the Assam Movement at the ‘Shraddhanjali’ programme. The day was also observed by different organisations including AASU and AGP.
• Governor Banwarilal Purohit recalled the supreme sacrifice of the martyrs of Assam Agitation on the eve of Swahid Divas today. In a message, the Governor said the 855 martyrs of Assam Agitation set an ideal example of love for the motherland.

Significance:

• It was on December 10 in 1979 that Khargeswar Talukdar became the first martyr of the Assam Movement. Altogether 855 people embraced martyrdom and thousands others were injured during the movement (1979-1985) against illegal migration from Bangladesh.

Assam Movement

• The Assam Movement (or Assam Agitation) (1979-1985) was a popular movement against illegal immigrants in Assam.
• The movement, led by All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the 'All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad' (AAGSP), developed a program of protests and demonstration to compel the Indian government to identify and expel illegal, (mostly Bangladeshi), immigrants and protect and provide constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to the indigenous Assamese people.
• The Nellie massacre and Khoirabari massacre were some cases of extreme violence. The agitation program ended in August 1985 following the Assam Accord, which was signed by leaders of AASU-AAGSP and the Government of India.
• The agitation leaders formed a political party, Assam Gana Parishad. It came to power in the state of Assam in the Assembly elections of 1985 and later in 1996.

By: Ziyaur Rahman