National Seminar on “Unexplored History of Indian Freedom Movement with Special Reference to Undivided Sivasagar District of Assam”

Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Samiti, Jorhat District in collaboration Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi and Nanda Nath Saikia College Teachers’ Unit, Titabar has successfully organized One Day National Seminar on the topic, “Unexplored History of Indian Freedom Movement with special reference to Undivided Sivasagar District of Assam” on 24^th December, 2021 at N. N. Saikia College, Titabar, Assam. At the very outset Dr. Gunaram Nath, President of Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Samiti, Jorhat District, welcomed all delegates, scholars, guests, students to the seminar. The seminar was inaugurated by, Prof. Dambarudhar Nath, an eminent academician, V.C. The Majuli University of Culture, Majuli Assam. Prof. Nath in his inaugural speech touched upon the various dimensions of the issues related with the unexplored History of Indian Freedom Movement with special reference to Undivided Sivasagar District of Assam and wished the seminar a grand success.  The Key-Note Address of the seminar was delivered by Dr. Soumitra Puzari, HoD and Associate Professor, Department of History, Jorhat College, an academician of Jorhat, Assam. In his speech, Dr. Puzari highlighted the major concerns of the contemporary writings on Freedom Movement and urged upon the researchers, scholars and intellectuals working in this time to trace the roots of freedom movement initiated by the different section of the people of India with special reference to North East India. Though a lot of research has been made on the history of Freedom Struggle, yet a lot of scope still there to through light on a few still unexplored areas of the movement. It is also important to use the non-conventional sources like folk-tales’ folk songs, printed advertisements etc. to discover new information regarding different dimension of the Freedom struggle of the Undivided Sivasagar District. Dr. Haradhan Saha, Associate Professor, Institute of Advanced Studies in Education, Tripura was another attraction of the inaugural session. Dr. Haradhan Saha, in his speech as the Chief Resource person of the seminar drew attention of the scholars and delegates the issues of freedom movement as reflected in modern literature. He also emphasis upon the significant role of the people of the region in the Freedom Movement of India. Mr. Hemantadhing Mazumder, Sangadhanik Scachiv of Uttar Purba Pranta, Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Samiti chaired the meeting as a resource person for the seminar.

After the inauguration of the seminar the technical sessions were started. Three parallel sessions were run on 24^th December, 2021 to accommodate all the paper presenters and for sufficient discussion on their papers. The Resource persons who help in conducting the technical sessions of the National Seminar are Dr. Dimbeswar Bora, Associate Professor, C.K.B. Commerce College, Jorhat, Dr. Keshav Bhuyan, Khetra Prasarak, Rastriya Sayang Sevak Sangha, Jorhat, Shri Santanu Thakur, Retired Associate Professor,C.K.B. Commerce College, Jorhat, Dr. Gautom Bora, Dept. Of Assamese, N.N. Saikia College, Titabar. There are all total thirty-five (35) research papers are presented in the seminar and forty-four (44) participants took part in this National Seminar. Among the paper presenters, seven(07) participants presented their paper on online mode.   The paper presenters addressed almost all possible issues of Freedom movement of India in the context of North East India ranging from socio-political, socio-economic, agrarian, indigenous ethnicity, cultural aspects. The chairpersons of each technical sessions offered insightful comments and valuable suggestions to the paper presenters. Some of the remarkable papers that presented in the seminar that received praise from the scholars and chairpersons are listed below:

1. The Satra institution and the Freedom Movement of Assam: An analysis- Gitarha Goswami.
2. The 19^th Centuries Peasant Movements and its impact on the Human Security of Assam- Farzia Yasmin Chaliha.
3. Educational Development in Colonial Assam with special reference to the role of Assamese Bhadralok- Dr. Chiranjib Dahal.
4. The Rebel Bankuru Chaora and the Silent Revolution in the Santak Tea Estate(Sibsagar): A deconstructive Study- Bikash Nath and Mr. Jiban Boruah
5. Role of Assamese Women in the Freedom Struggle with Special reference to Undivided Sivasagar District- Ilaxi Bora & Mr. Poresh Kalita
6. An insight into the economic history of Sivasagar district of India in the pre- Independence period- Jagat Jyoti Barua
7. Contribution of the Satras of Majuli and Jorhat in the Freedom movement of Assam- Raktimjyoti Hazarika
8. Assamese women in the Freedom Struggle: A Study of Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya’s Mrityunjay- Miss Rimi Rekha Phukan.
9. Revisiting the Revolt of 1857 in Assam with special reference to Maniram Dewan- Amarjit Hazarika
10. Understanding the role of Assamese women in the Freedom Struggle of India with special reference to Mahila Samities.-Miss Tinamoni Rajkumari
11. Freedom Struggle, Mrityubahini and JyotiPrasad Agarwala- Rekha Kalita.
12. The Dalit and the Dalit Panthers Movement: A Brief History- Ripunjoy Bezboruah.
13. Gomodhar Konwar a unsung hero of the Freedom Movement of India against the Colonial British- Miss Kabita Dutta.
14. Exploring the role of Ghar Jeoti(1927-31) in creating Mass movement in the Undivided Sibsagar District- Miss Anannya Boruah.
15. Participation of Assamese women in the Quit India Movement: A special reference to the women of Undivided Sibsagar District- Miss Rashmi Rekha Borgohain.

The seminar came to an end with the valedictory session on 24^th December, 2021. This session was chaired by Shri Dimbeswar Borah, Working President, Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Samiti, Jorhat District. Dr. Haradhan Saha delivered a speech in the session that highlighted some major findings in his view, from the deliberations of the one-day national seminar. The seminar was successful in producing fruitful results by creating awareness as well consciousness among the students, academicians, research scholars and most of all the general people of the area regarding the various issues and challenges related with the unsung heroes of the Freedom Movement of India.