Assam Police bade farewell to Pani Ram Das

Family members bid farewell to father on Dec 1, 2010

Forgotten hero of Indias freedom struggle:Pani Ram Das

On November 30,2010 a silent social worker and freedom fighter passed away,who had sacrificed his life for the motherland.A very brilliant student,orator during his school life Das decided to follow Mahatma Gandhi's call to free India sacrificing his brilliant career,Pani Ram Das was born on 7th April,1917 at the village Kameipara ( Jaljali ) under Mangaldai police station.He was
the second son of late Ratibar Saikia.Das joined Patharighat M.E.Schoolin 1929 and passed class VII in 1934.He was admitted to Mangaldai Government High School in the sameyear in class VIII.He was dedicated to the nation by his father in presence of ‘Tyagabir Hem Barua’a nation famed social worker and great Freedom Fighter of Assam.His father wished that Das would be the
servant of the people and accordingly his original title ‘Saikia’was changed to ‘Das’ in 1929.He was a very brilliant student and had passed the Matriculation examination  in Ist Division from Calcutta University in 1937.He was deeply attracted to India’s freedom struggle by Mahatma Gandhi,so instead of joining a college for higher education ,he decided to devote his prime youth for the service of Mother India. Once he was rusticated by the school authority for leading all students to boycott the coronation ceremony function of King George VIat Mangaldai in 1937.

Political Activities: In 1938,he joined the Indian National Freedom Struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi.He came in touch with the great leaders of Freedom Struggle ofIndia and Assam.In 1941,he offered ‘Satyagraha’ at the direction of Gandhi,and was imprisoned for the first time.In December 1942,he along with Khitindra Das,Basab Kakati,Joy Chandra Das and Lakhi Ram Deka
successfully set ablaze the British Revenue Circle Office at Mangaldai town,which stunned British administration Assam.In the year 1942,the Chief Secretary,Assam (Shillong)passed shoot at sight order on him andDas went underground since 25September,1942.He was the in-chare of Kakalbhangi (Tangla) tribal welfare camp which was innugurated by the then Prime Minister of Assam Gopi Nath Bordoloi. On 3rd February 1943, Das was arrested by the police when some award greedy locals spotted him to police.He was send to Tezpur jail on 8th February 1943.Later he
was sent to Jorhat jail in 1944 serving two years rigorous imprisonment.In the various jails of Assam,he came in personal contact with great leaders of Assam, Gopi Nath Bordoloi,Bimala Prasad
Chaliha,Bishnu Ram Medhi,Fakruddin AliAhmed,Deba Kanta Barua, Debeswar Sarma,Siddhi Nath Sarma,Amiya Kumar Das,Mahendra Mohan Choudhury etc.

Personal Life: He was married to Kanak Lata Das,daughter of a social worker cum Freedom Fighter Bhakat Ram Saikia on 4th June 1949.Pani Ram  Das left behind  five sons namely-Jayanta Kumar Das (journalist and science organizer);Ramen Kumar Das (an HPC technician);Dr.Naba Kumar Das (Vety.doctor) Bikash Kumar Das (medical profession);Bhargab Kumar Das (journalist) and a married daughter, Nibedita Das Barman.

Social Activities before Independance : In 1946 he organized the All Assam Exhibition on agricultural products at Jaljali near Mangaldai,which was innugurated by the Prime Minister
(then) of Assam Gopinath Bordoloi.Sri Das was one of the most trusted aides of Gopi Nath Bordoloi.When India became independent in 1947,at the advice of Mahatma Gandhi he resigned from congress party to devote all his time for the welfare of the rural people of Assam.He even
turned down an offer of Bimala Prasad Chaliha,then C.M.of Assam to join the Assam assembly as an MLA.He was offered accommodation and job at Guwahati by some great people like Debeswar Sarma and Gopinath Bordoloi,but he refused politely saying Mangaldai required his service
more.The govt.of Assam had offered a plot of 80 bighas of land free as were allotted to other freedom fighters of the state,but Das distributed all the land to landless people of the villages.

In 1946 thousands of immigrant Muslims league volunteers  started attacking local people of Monitari,Barbori,Rangamati areas shouting slogans in favour of Pakisthan and Jinnah.Later they even marched to the Civil SDO’s residence of Mangaldai creating panic and terror at
Mangaldai.It was Sri Pani Ram Das &  Bhadra Kanta Sarma of Mangaldai who had organized terror stricken people to counter the attack.A volunteer camp was organized at Borbori on 25 th October,1946.The camp was visited by Deb Kanta Barua(later AICC president)and Barin Ghosh of Calcutta.Sri Das successfully solved the crisis avoiding Communal clashes. In 1947 he along with great social worker cum doctor, Dr.Hara Kanta Saharia established Burhinagar Dispensary,which was formally taken over by Assam govt.in 1951.

Social Activities after Independence:  In 1951 he requisitioned 150 Bighas of land at Kalaigaon which was about to be occupied by the immigrants from East Pakisthan and established Kalaigaon Sevashram, a rural social welfare N.G.O. Which was inaugurated by the then C.M. of Assam, Bishnu Ram Medhi. Former C.M.of Assam Bimala Prasad Chaliha was the founder president of the
Sevashram Trust.Other members of the Trust were Mahendra Mohan Choudhury,Bijay Chandra Bhagawati, Biswa Dev Sarma and Amal Prabha Das.Since then Sri Das has been doing all the social welfare activities for the better living of of the people.His advisors requested him to keep the said land in his own name at least for theuse of his children in future,but he stuck to his decision.
 In 1960,during the language movement attacks on the language minoritiy communities in Assam had started in Kalaigaon areas,but Pani Ram Das arranged many peace rallies in and around Kalaigaon saving the lives and property of the people. In 1960,famous Gandhian and leader of Bhoodan movement Acharya Binoba Bhabe had visited Sri Das and stayed at his house for a fortnight at Kalaigaon Sevashram. In 1962,during Chinese aggression, thousands of panicked stricken people had started fleeing Mangaldai, Kalaigaon etc.for safer places;but Sri Das along with some other leaders convinced them to stay back at their respective homes.He took initiative to mobilize people for voluntary services for the construction of roads and bridges for the movement of the Indian Army. In 1965,when cholera had broken out at Kaligaon areas,Sri Das arranged
a medical relief camp at Kalaigaon Madrasa School and saved lives of many poor people.In the same year he arranged an eye relief camp at Kalaigaon in association of Srimanta Sankar Mission.
In 1970,he organized Mangaldai District Educated Unemployed Youth’s Association and convinced Assam government for the establishment of the Industrial Estate at Mangaldai.Lands and industrial loans were provided to the unemployed youths and an agriculture farm was established at Bhairabkunda for the youths He was the founder secretary of Kalaigaon Hhigh School,founder
president of Kalaigaon Marketing Society and Kalaigaon College.In 1971 he organized All Assam ‘Santi Sena Sanmilan’at Kaligaon Sevashram for spreading the message of peace.

Pani Ram Das was the founder of Assam Movement .He raised the issue of illega foreingners for the forst time in Assam at several huge meetings at Mangaldai,Guwahati,Kalaigaon Tangla etc. and had to suffer a lot during that time.He along with his two sons namely Jayanta Kumar Das and Bhargab Kuimar Das spent several months in prison during 1980 -1983. for which cause his ailing  wife Kanak Lata Das lost her life in 1986.

In 1971 Prime Minister of India,Indira Gandhi honoured him with the ‘Tamrapatra’for his service to the nation. Das earned national focus in 2000 and 2001,when he had started his single handed fight to save the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi.He went to New Delhi and met dignitaries like Mrs.Sonia Gandhi, journalist Kuldip Nayar,Gandhian leader member of parliament late Nirmala Deshpande, Gandhi’s grandson and writer Mr.Raj Mohan Gandhi,journalist Sanjay Hazarika etc.and finally he met the then Hon’ble President of India K.R.Narayan,who was much impressed at his personality and his mission was over with success saving the legacy of the Father of theNation.

Cultural Activities:Pani Ram Das has always been interested for the conservation of traditional folk songs and dances of Assam.He was himself a good actor and had acted on many occasions at Kalaigaon and Mangaldai.He was a good poet too and had composed many poems.He was invited to recite poems at the Asom Xahitya Sabha session at Mangaldai in 1973.In 2005 he was
felicitated by the Asom Sahitya Sabha session at Sipajhar.
Das introduced famous folk song and dance‘Darangi Ojapali’ and ‘Deodhani’ dance to the national level.He invited Academy award winner Oja Lalit ch.Nath and Radhika Devi to perform at the INC session at Pandu in 1946.Sri Das took all initiative for the performance of these artists at the Assam Sangit Natak Academy session at Sibsagar in 1961 and at Asom Sahitya Sabha session , Shillong in 1953. At the request of Abani Kr.Das,Station Director of All India Radio,Guwahati he arranged for the performance of these artists through AIR,Guwahati in 1953.He had been the member of the advisory board of AIR Guwahati from 1965 to 191968.Noted Assamese writer and director, Dr. Bhabandra Nath Saikia wrote an editorial on Sri Das in hismagazine ‘Prantik’in 2001.He was the first reporter of ‘The AssamTribune’from Mangaldai.

The Hon’ble President of India Mr.APJ Abdul Kalam felicitated Sri Das at the AshokHall,Rastrapati Bhaban,New Delhi on 9-8-06 for his contribution to the nation. He was also felicitated by the Vice Chancellor of IGNOU at New Delhi in August 2007 for his contribution to the freedom struggle of India.
Even at the age of 94 years, Das had been trying to establish a rural hospital, an indoor stadium and a cultural complex at his Kalaigaon Sevashram.He offered 50 Bighas of land free of cost to the Assam government for the said projects for the rural people of Assam,by his application,dated 16-07-06 addressed to Sri Tarun Gogoi,CM ,Assam.But he has not received any response from the government so far.Finding no way,Das had approached the Army for the establishment of a
vocational training center at Kalaigaon Sevashram and it was inaugurated in  January 2009 Pani Ram Das had also (dated Ist February,2008)  written to Dr.Manmohan Singh,Hon’ble Prime Minister,India offering 10 acres of land free for the establishment of a bio-diversity conservation park at Kalaigaon Sevashram and Hon’ble PM has granted an amount of Rs.5 lakhs as the first installment of the project. Works has already been started under NREGA for the construction of the “Kanak Lata Das Bio-Diversity Conservation Park” with an amount of Rs.25 lakhs.At the age of 94 years, he still looked young and was looking forward
for the welfare of the people of the country.

Forgotten Heores of Assam in 1940 in ICU

Noted Gandhian and freedom fighter Pani Ram Das of Kalaigaon has been shifted to ICU at International Hospital in Guwahati in critical condition yesterday afternoon at 4 pm.Earlier he was admitted to the hospital on November 26.The 95 years old freedom fighter had been suffering from digestive disorder along with kidney problem. He is the only living freedom fighter of Darrang and Udalguri district who had served several years in British prison during freedom struggle.He had been a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and Binoba Bhabe.Pani Ram Das passed Matriculation examination in first division with letter mark in English in 1937.But he preferred joining fight against British imperialism in India,did not continue his studies to become an ICS.He also turned down an offer to join Assam Assembly as a Minister (by his friend Bimala Prasad Chaliha,CM Assam in 1958.According to family sources no minister or organisations of the state have met him in the hospital except high ranking army officials of Red Horns Division.The army officers and also donated blood to the freedom fighter on November 27.

Future Achieveer,Guwahati,Assam

Future Achieveer,Guwahati,Assam

Pillion riding banned in Udalguri district in Assam

In view of the subversive activities by anti social elements,particularly by the NDFB(R) ,the District Magistrate of Udalguri, has banned pillion riding in the district by order dated 11 November,2010.Only children below 5 years and women have been exempted.

Another science model exhibition at Tangla by students

A two days science model exhibition cum painting competition was arranged  at Asom Academy Tangla in Assam (India)recently on on November 14 and 15.Hemanta Barua, Principal,Asom Academy,Tangla formally inaugurated the two days programme by hoisting the school flag on November 14 at 9 am followed by a talent search examination for the students of class IV.
DN Hazarika,CircleOfficer,Harisinga Revenue Circle inaugurated  the science model exhibition along with painting and craft exhibition at 3 pm in the afternoon. On the occasion Circle Officer Hazarika thanked the organizers for arranging the exhibition cum competition and said that children of Udalguri district had been marching ahead defying so many odds including terrorist activities and frequent bandhs.He further said that regular arrangements  of various such creative activities would create positive attitude among children.He also appealed teachers,parents and people to encourage children by participating in more and more activities like craft and science exhibitions. Journalist Hareswar Kalita also spoke a few words on the occasion.The craft and science model exhibition was open for the students of other schools on November 15.Scores of students from various schools of Tangla, namely-Tangla HS School, Maharishi Vidya Mandir,Jatiya Vidyalaya Asom,Tangla English Medium HS, Tangla Adarsha Vidyapith,Sankardev Sishu Niketan and Pioneer College,Tangla.

Jayanta Kumar Das,District Coordinator,Durlav Barua,Asstt.District Coordinator, NCSC, Udalguri; Keshab Saharia,Asstt,Coordinator of Aryabhatta Science Centre,Kalaigaon were felicitated at the exhibition premises  in the afternoon on November 15.On the occasion they explained about various science programmes like INSPIRE awards,NCSC projects, various Aryabhatta science competitions  under Assam Science Technology & Environment Council, Guwahati,(ASTEC) etc and requested students to involve themselves with more and more science and technological activities.The results wre also announced on the spot.In science model competition- Bhaskarjyoti Borah and Chanu Barman won first prize,while Chandrama Boro won second and Dhiraj Doloi,Anil Singh and Manasjyoti Deka won third prizes respectively.

Reform of present day education system discussed at Kalaigaon in Assam

The annual college week celebration of Kalaigaon College was held from November 9 to 13 at the college premises with various programmes.The hoisting of the college flag marked the begining of the week on November 9 followed by plantation of trees,games and sports,literary competition,quiz,debate and cultural programmes.A seminar on “Importance of present day education system for the future generation” was arranged on the concluding day on November 13.Arabinda Das,Principal,Kalagaon College inaugurated the seminar.Mati Ram Medhi,HOD of Geography,Mangaldai college conducted the seminar.Noted writter Dr.Arupa Patangia Kalita and Ghateswar Barua of Tangla College took part in the seminar as the invited guests.On the occasion Dr.Patangia Kalita expressed her regret at the deteriorating academic atmosphere in the educational institutions of the country with special reference to Assam.She said that there had been 19 fake universities in the country and 89 percent schools lacked drinking water and toilet facilities.She further said that 43 percent education institutions in the country had been controlled by private bodies there by enhancing the cost of higher education.The students studying in english medium schools have also been suffering from communication gap with the society.

In his concluding speech, Mati Ram Medhi remarked that the on going education system had some good features but needed modification as per the need of the time.Social worker Kamal Prasad Sarma also took part in the discussion.The cultural programme marked the closing of the college week celebration in the evening.

International children's Day observed at Kalaigaon in India

The birth day of Pandit Nehru,which has been observed internationally as the “International Children's Day” was also observed at Kalaigaon Town LP School premises with day long programme.Significantly,all the arrangements of the celebration were done by the children themselves. Little star Preetichanda Saikia offered floral tribute to the image of Nenru to mark the begining of the celebration at 8 am followed by lighting of lamp by another little star Mukesh Chouhan.Several other programmes like painting,extempore speech,games and sports,spot essay writting were also arranged on the occasion.The prize distribution session was held at 2 pm which was presided over by little star Niharka Deka.A few noted citizens of Kalaigaon namely -Kami Ram Saharia, Harakanta Barua,Chitra Patowari,Kamal Prasad Sarma etc attended the open session.Little star Rituparna Bora's speech as the appointed speaker had been appreciated by all.The celebration was organized by a few little children of Kalaigaon namely-Niharika Deka,Antara Das,Jayeeta Sandilya,Nisha Medhi,Afrina Rahman and Pinki Harijan.