The family of Dandiram Bharali, the sole martyr from Majuli in the 1983 Assam Movement, has renewed its plea for basic road connectivity as Assam observed Martyrs’ Day on Wednesday. Despite Bharali being one of the 855 activists who died during this pivotal movement, his family remains isolated from essential services due to the lack of a motorable road to their home.
Access to the Bharali residence is limited to treacherous, waterlogged tracks that cut through paddy fields. Emergency ambulances operating under the 108 service struggle to reach the area, and even motorcycles are unable to navigate the muddy terrain, severely impacting the family’s daily life. A child in the household often misses school and exams because of these poor road conditions.
Nagen Chandra Bharali, Dandiram’s brother, expressed the family’s frustrations, stating, “Dandiram Bharali was the only martyr from Majuli during the 1983 Assam Movement. We don’t require a memorial gate as other martyr families do; we simply need a proper road. Our children lack educational opportunities, and ambulances cannot reach us. Despite our persistent appeals, we have received no assistance. People remember us only on Martyrs’ Day, but our struggle continues year-round.”
Another family member, Julie Bharali, echoed the call for improvement: “You have seen our old house and our living conditions. We have no proper road or ambulance service. We urge the government to enhance our transportation and communication facilities.”
Local resident Pranabjyoti Barik highlighted the practical implications of the family’s isolation, noting, “Without a road to the martyr’s residence, the family cannot even attend the programs organized by the district administration on Martyrs’ Day. The children face significant challenges in reaching school. Authorities must not remember them just for a day; we implore the administration to ensure proper connectivity.”
The Bharali family’s requests have gone unanswered by successive governments for over four decades. On Wednesday, they reiterated their demand for immediate government intervention to address their long-standing issues.
In a related development, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the Swahid Smarak memorial in Boragaon, Guwahati, to honor those who opposed infiltration from Bangladesh since 1979. Constructed on 150 bighas of land at a cost of Rs 170 crore, the memorial features plans for a 500-seat auditorium and a digital library that will document 5,000 years of Assamese history.
During the inauguration ceremony, Sarma urged citizens not to hire or sell land to unknown individuals, stressing the importance of maintaining Assam’s demographic integrity.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/majuli-martyrs-family-still-awaits-basic-road-access-42-years-after-assam-movement-1315673-2025-12-10?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-12-10 22:57:00
