DATE:
March 16, 1996
Saturday, 12:10 AM
PLACE:
Gangajhari Rail Station
Kalkalighat, Karimganj, Assam
The 501-hour Rail and Road Blockade Programme, launched by the Bishnupriya Manipuri Students’ Union, marked a historic turning point in the struggle for the recognition of the Bishnupriya Manipuri language.
On the very first day of this historic movement, Satyagrahis stopped the down train from Karimganj at Gangajhari Railway Station. In response, the police opened fire without warning on the peaceful demonstrators, leaving hundreds brutally injured.
Among those courageous souls who stood unwavering that day was our beloved sister, Sudeshna Singha (Bulu). In the pursuit of linguistic justice, she laid down her life and became a martyr for her mother tongue.
With her supreme sacrifice, Sudeshna became the second woman in recorded human history to give her life for her language — the first being Kamala Bhattacharjee of the 1961 Bengali Language Movement in Assam.
16 March remains forever written in red in the history of the Bishnupriya Manipuri people. Every year, Bishnupriya Manipuris across Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Bangladesh, and Myanmar solemnly observe this day as Shahid Sudeshna Divas, paying tribute to her courage, sacrifice, and boundless love for her mother tongue.
Sudeshna is our pride.
Sudeshna is immortal.
Her legacy lives on, inspiring generations to uphold the dignity of their language and cultural identity.
16 March is etched in red in the history of the Bishnupriya Manipuri people. Every year, Bishnupriya Manipuris across Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Bangladesh, and Burma solemnly observe this day as Shahid Sudeshna Divas, a tribute to her courage, sacrifice, and love for her language.
Sudeshna is our pride. Sudeshna is immortal. Her legacy lives on, inspiring generations to uphold the dignity of their language and cultural identity.
Last  in August 15, 2002
Copyright © 2001, 2002 Ashim Singha. All rights reserved.
|
