By Dipak Kurmi
Swahid Divas 2025 unfolds in Assam with a resonance unlike any observance in the past four and a half decades. What was once a solemn annual ritual of remembrance has transformed this year into a defining milestone in the State’s collective journey of memory, justice, and identity. On December 10 in Guwahati, Assam witnesses a historic moment with the inauguration of the Swahid Smarak at Paschim Boragaon, a memorial dedicated to honouring the 855 martyrs of the Assam Movement. The memorial, conceptualised as a permanent embodiment of gratitude and remembrance, is being formally unveiled by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The day’s significance is heightened further by the lighting of the eternal flame in the evening, symbolising the immortal spirit of those who fell in the movement that reshaped the socio-political destiny of Assam.
For many in Assam, the Assam Agitation remains one of the most influential mass movements in the region’s history, driven by concerns over cultural survival, illegal immigration, and safeguarding the unique Assamese identity. Beginning in 1979 after the tragic martyrdom of Khargeswar Talukdar, who became the first youth to sacrifice his life for the cause, the movement catalysed a sweeping wave of student activism, political consciousness, and widespread public participation. Over the years, the movement’s legacy has been preserved largely through memory, literature, songs, and personal testimonies. Yet, despite the magnitude of the sacrifices, a dedicated, state-recognised memorial had been conspicuously absent—until now.
Chief Minister Sarma, after reviewing final preparations before the inauguration, described the day as a pivotal and emotional one for the State. He emphasised that this is the first time since Independence that Assam has officially honoured the martyrs of the Movement through such a grand and permanent tribute. The Swahid Smarak, which will be inaugurated at 11 am, is followed by the lighting of the eternal flame at 4 pm, a gesture expected to become a symbolic centrepiece for future commemorations. The Chief Minister expressed that the event marks a moment of reconciliation with the past, a moment nearly forty-five years overdue, yet profoundly significant for every family that lost a loved one during those turbulent years.
Swahid Divas has long been a day of mourning and remembrance, but 2025 elevates it to a new plane of historical recognition. Schools, colleges, and public institutions across Assam will join the observance, with the inauguration ceremony being broadcast live across all districts to ensure statewide participation. One of the most emotionally compelling collective gestures of the day will be the simultaneous performance of the patriotic song Swahid Pranamu Tumak in every district. This coordinated homage is intended to unify the State in a moment of shared gratitude, remembrance, and reflection.
The Swahid Smarak itself is not merely a structure of stone and steel. It is a meticulously designed space intended to carry the lived memories of the Assam Movement into the future. Architecturally significant installations will narrate the timeline of the agitation, offering an immersive journey through the events, sacrifices, and hopes that defined the movement from 1979 to 1985. The memorial includes dedicated areas for public gatherings, educational programmes, and cultural commemorations, ensuring that it evolves into a vibrant space of learning and reflection rather than a static monument. By integrating interactive and interpretive elements, the Smarak is envisioned to serve as a living classroom for younger generations, many of whom only know the Movement through textbooks and family anecdotes.
A particularly poignant element of the memorial is the inclusion of reserved spaces representing martyrs whose photographs or complete information could not be traced. The Chief Minister noted that records remain incomplete for nearly 400 martyrs. For some, names exist without photographs; for others, photographs survive without names or addresses. This gap in documentation reflects the chaos and urgency of the period during which the Assam Movement unfolded. To address this, the State government has committed to a special project aimed at tracing families, collecting additional details, and commissioning artistically sketched portraits for those whose images may never be recovered. These empty yet symbolically charged spaces in the memorial will stand as silent reminders of the unnamed sacrifices embedded within Assam’s collective history.
Another significant development on Swahid Divas is the inauguration of the new office building for the Implementation of Assam Accord Department. This department plays a crucial role in operationalising the clauses of the Assam Accord, signed in 1985 as the culmination of the movement. The inauguration of the new office signifies a renewed governmental commitment not only to honouring the memories of the martyrs but also to implementing the promises made to the people of Assam nearly four decades ago. Alongside this, a dedicated photo gallery has been opened to the public, showcasing rare archival photographs and historic documents from the years of the Assam Agitation. These visuals, curated to recreate pivotal moments from 1979 to 1985, offer profound insight into the scale, intensity, and emotional energy of the movement. For many families who lost loved ones during the agitation, this gallery represents an official acknowledgement of their personal histories and sacrifices.
The significance of Swahid Divas 2025 extends beyond the physical inauguration. It represents a moment of reckoning with the unfinished tasks of remembrance. For decades, the martyrs were honoured through community gatherings and personal tributes, but the absence of a central memorial left many families seeking a formal space of recognition. With the establishment of the Swahid Smarak, that void is finally addressed. It creates a unified site where the stories of the 855 martyrs can be preserved, honoured, and transmitted across generations. Many of these martyrs were young, often students, driven by an unwavering belief in protecting Assam’s cultural and linguistic heritage. Their sacrifices, long held within the private spaces of homes and villages, now find a permanent place within the public consciousness of the State.
The inauguration ceremony is expected to draw families of martyrs from various districts, turning the event into a deeply personal moment for those who have waited for decades to see their loved ones formally recognised. Cultural bodies, civil society organisations, and citizens from diverse backgrounds will converge at Paschim Boragaon, transforming the space into a collective ground of remembrance and solidarity. The memorial is expected to become a site for annual observances, student visits, cultural programmes, and historical retrospection.
As Assam steps into this new chapter of remembrance, the Swahid Smarak becomes more than an architectural landmark; it becomes a testament to a people’s unbroken resolve to honour their past. It stands as a symbol of unity, a repository of history, a space of learning, and, above all, a site for emotional healing. On Swahid Divas 2025, as the eternal flame is lit and the State collectively pays tribute to its martyrs, Assam reaffirms that the sacrifices made in the movement were not in vain. Through stone, light, and memory, the stories of the martyrs continue to shine, guiding the generations that will inherit the legacy of the land they loved and defended.
(the writer can be reached at dipakkurmiglpltd@gmail.com)
