Today is observed as “Bhasha Swahid Divas”, the Language Martyrs Day, specially in Assam’s Barak Valley, along with the rest of the state. This is to commemorate the death of 11 people who were killed on May 19, 1961, during an agitation demanding the revocation of the Assam Official Language Act, 1960.
According to Assam Official Language Act, 1960, Assamese was to be the only official language of the Northeastern state. However, there were demands to make Bengali the same, with respect to Barak Valley.
In Hailakandi, Karimganj and Cachar, residents observe this day as Bhasa Swahid Diwas (Language Martyrs Day) to commemorate the death of 11 people who were killed on May 19, 1961 during an agitation demanding the revocation of the Assam Official Language Act, 1960, in which, Assamese was to be the only official language of the state.
Tributes pour in from several sections of the society, ranging from politicians to sportspersons to musicians and beyond.
It may be mentioned that, the incident on that historic day took place on the railway tracks of Silchar railway station as due to just 17 rounds of police fire on the protestors, led to the death of nine on the spot and two more the next day. .
NE India Broadcast is a news and media platform, with focus on the Northeastern states comprising of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim and Eastern Region West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha. You can email us at : neindiabroadcast2021@gmail.com or office@neindiabroadcast.com