India is celebrating its 70th Independence Day and hearts of everyone is getting filled with patriotic fervor.But due to the policies followed by various parties,especially Congress, except for Jawahar Lal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi and few others,people have forgotten many freedom fighters and their supreme sacrifices.
Many donot know the freedom fighters from North East. On Independence Day let us pay tributes to freedom fighters from North East. 17 year old Kanaklata Baruah was shot down at Gohpur in present Biswanath district Assam by the Britishers when she was trying to hoist the tri color at a local police station.
On the same day 150 km away, Bohgeswarai Phukanani, 57 years old mother of eight was killed for the same reason by the Britishers at Barhampur in Nagaon district, Assam. Kanakalata was leading a group of unarmed people inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's Quit India movement. Bhogeswarai and her colleague Ratnamala were leading procession at Barhampur when poliec officer Captain Finish snatched the flag from Ratnamala. Seeing this Bhogeswari hit Captain Finish with the flag pole. He at once fired at Bhogeswari.
Rani Gaidinliu Naga spiritual and political leader from Manipur popularly known as Ranima was in jail for 14 years and was released only after India got Independence. Kushal Konwar was hanged by the Britishers for derailing a military train at Sarupathar, Gulghat district in 1942. Moje Riba was the first person to hoist the tri color at Dipa village in Arunachal Pradesh on Aug 15,1947. Riba was arrested by British police for taking part in the Independence struggle and distributing pamphlets during the Quit India Movement.
Assam's first CM Gopinath Bordoloi continuously fought for Assam being part of India foiling the design of Mulsim League into East Pakistan. Tirot Sing, chief of the Khasi people in the 18th century, fought against Britishers who tried to control Khasi hills. He died under house arrest in Dhaka.
Shoorvir Pasaltha Khuangchera, was the first Mizao leader to fight Britishers when they invated Lushai Hills (Mizoram). Matmur Jamoh from Arunacl Pradesh killed British assistant political officer Noel Williamson in 1911 as he did not like the British interference of people's day-to-day life while his followers killed another British officer Gregeorson. He was sent to celuular jail in Andaman where he died in obscurity. Sambhudan Phonglo, freedom fighter from Dimasa tribes in Assam too fought against Britishers.
