Tara Tali Rajabari (Nakachari), May 24: The Assam government will institute an award in the memory of Gomdhar Konwar, the Ahom prince who had rallied his men and stood up to the British in the early 19th century.
Konwar is said to be the country’s first person to revolt against British rule when he challenged their might in 1827 — 30 years before the First War of Independence in 1857.
Just a year after the famous Yandaboo treaty, through which the British started their reign in Assam, Konwar declared himself king in a small village, 35km south-east of here and revolted against British rule. He was later captured and sent to Cellular Jail in the Andamans.Not much was known about him before 2002 when a xansi paat (Sanchi bark) script pertaining to his anti-British activities surfaced at Deodhaigaon in Sivasagar district. The Gomodhar Konwar Smriti Surakshya Committee formed thereafter had been dem anding due recognition for the freedom fighter.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi inaugurated a fibreglass statue of Konwar and a park, near the pond, which was used by Gomdhar here today. He said the government would institute an award in the name of the great hero that would be given every year to a person or organisation doing well in a particular field, the details of which would be decided later. “We will do our best to propagate the attempt of Konwar, who was a patriot,” Gogoi said.The 28-foot-tall statue and park were constructed at a cost of Rs 20 lakh, which was allotted by the chief minister during his visit to the area two years ago. While announcing funds of another Rs 10 lakh for developing the park, Gogoi said the place could be developed into a tourist spot. He said the government would also erect a statue of Konwar in Guwahati.
The chief minister said although freedom fighters like Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmi Bai and Bhagat Singh were household names, Konwar was relatively unknown to the rest of the country. Gogoi also attended the mahurat of Gomdhar: A Flowing River and The Warrior of the Light — a documentary on Konwar that will be made by the Gomodhar Konwar Smriti Surakshya.
