Whenever we mention our ancestral village of Mayong, inquiries about its legends of black magic and witchcraft often arise. Another frequent question is how an Ahom family came to settle there. To understand the life story of our grandfather, Hari Chandra Gogoi, we must first recount our family’s history in Mayong.
Our ancestry traces back to Dharmadutta Gohain, who served as the Morangi Khowa Gohain, the frontier governor of what is now Golaghat district, during the Ahom reign in Assam. He was succeeded by his son, Jayadwaj Gohain, who also held this post and was instrumental in quelling the first Monmoria Rebellion during the reign of King Lakshmi Singha (1769-1780 CE).
Rahmon Gohain, Jayadwaj’s son, became a close aide to King Chandrakanta Singha during the Burmese invasion of Assam (1817-1826 CE), accompanying the king to Guwahati via the Brahmaputra River. Later, Rahmon moved to Darrang, where he married Sanni from the Koch royal family. Following Sanni’s death, he married Jayanti. During this period, Rahmon met the King of Mayong, who visited Darrang for a matrimonial occasion, prompting Rahmon to relocate to Mayong and become the first of our family to settle there.
From Jayanti, Rahmon had a son named Mular Singh Gohain, known locally as Tokeri Bajuwa Burna, due to his passion for playing the lute. Mular Singh’s son, Sivaram, worked as a clerk at Chancrapur Tea Estate. Sadly, Sivaram lost his two young sons, Shafiram and Betharam, likely to cholera, which led him to resign and return to farming in Mayong.
It was during this time that our grandfather, Hari Chandra, was born to Sivaram Gohain in Raja Mayong village, now part of Morigaon district. As the only surviving son, he was raised with great care; his father ensured that he received an education instead of engaging in agriculture.
Sivaram was involved in establishing the Mayong Lower Primary School in 1904, where Hari Chandra would later teach. In his records, Hari Chandra referred to his father as Sivaram Gohain, which may indicate that he changed the family name from Gohain to Gogoi for undisclosed reasons.
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to Assam in August 1921, Hari Chandra joined the Non-Cooperation Movement. By December 1926, he attended the 41st Indian National Congress session at Pandu near Guwahati, organized by the notable Assamese patriot Tarun Ram Phukan, alongside leaders such as Gandhi, Motilal Nehru, and Sardar Patel. Despite being a government employee, he became prominent in Congress and actively participated in the freedom movement.
During the Quit India Movement in 1942, Hari Chandra collaborated with freedom fighters like Mahendra Hazarika and Haladhar Bhuyan. He also had connections with the group led by Bhibiram Bora and Mahadananda Dev Goswami, infamous for derailing a British military train at Panbari near the Panikhaici Railway Station on November 24, 1942. The British, however, could not make significant arrests due to a lack of evidence.
After India gained independence, Hari Chandra Gogoi continued his service to the community. In 1959, he was appointed the first president of the Mayong Gaon Panchayat under the Assam Panchayat Act. Renowned for his honesty and generosity, he declined the pension for freedom fighters and avoided publicity; only one photograph of him exists.
Hari Chandra Gogoi passed away in 1978, leaving behind six sons and six daughters. In his honor, the Hari Chandra Gogoi Lower Primary School was established in 1981, and recently, Mayong Anchalik College named its new indoor stadium after him.
As time progresses, memories fade. Future generations may never fully grasp the sacrifices made by freedom fighters for the independence we enjoy today. Thus, it is vital to share and remember stories of lesser-known patriots like our grandfather, Hari Chandra Gogoi, who served his nation with commitment while avoiding fame and accolades.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/hari-chandra-gogoi-mayongs-unsung-freedom-fighter-who-shunned-fame-1588324
Category: Assam,Featured
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Publish Date: 2025-08-15 13:57:00
