Poet Abhay Borua at Phulaguri in Nagaon on Tuesday. Picture by UB Photos

Nagaon, Oct. 18: It was the 150th anniversary of Assam’s first peasant uprising in Phulaguri and only 50 people of the hamlet thought the occasion was important enough to deserve their time.

On this day in 1861, 54 farmers lost their lives at Phulaguri protesting a ban on poppy cultivation and a tax imposed by the British Raj. Some were gunned down, some burnt alive and others banished when they killed a British official, Lt Singer, enraged over the ban.

Today, only 50 Phulaguri residents gathered on the bank of the Kolong, where many were burnt alive 150 years ago.

Among those who failed to be there to honour the martyrs was newly elected MLA (Raha constituency), Pijush Hazarika, who seemed to have forgotten the promise he made to the Phulaguri people, around four months ago, that Dispur would celebrate the completion of 150 years of the peasants’ agitation.

“Initially I told them (the local villagers) that Phulaguri Dhawa would be celebrated in a big way involving all the people of the region. But it has not been done somehow. They had invited me to their programme today, but I failed to make it because of some domestic problems,” Hazarika told The Telegraph over phone today.

The precious few mourners, most of whose forefathers were killed by the British soldiers, who had gathered on the river bank, were apparently disappointed but came to terms with the absence of any representative from Dispur at the programme.

“I think Pijush Hazarika is a very busy person who does not have time to remember the Phulaguri people who have a dream of getting national recognition for Phulaguri Dhawa,” said poet Abhay Borua in his inaugural lecture at today’s programme.

Locally floated Krishak Parishad organised the hourlong programme in front of the martyrs’ monuments.

“When the local legislator announced publicly about a colourful celebration, we planned accordingly. But when that did not happen, we decided to go for an hourlong programme. We do not have any patronage for the celebration. What we have done is with the limited resources that we received as donation. If we had some more money we might have gone for something bigger. Now we plan to hold a public meeting on October 30, which will be a part of the celebration,” said the parishad’s president Hari Kanta Das.

Das said a play written by Kamal Singha Deka on the uprising would be published by the organisation next week.

It will be the second drama on the subject. The first was by Saradakanta Bordoloi.

Phulaguri Dhawa is one of the significant moments of India’s struggle for freedom.

The British administration had decided to ban poppy cultivation by the farmers because losses it suffered in opium trade — something it used to bring from north India. Imposition of additional agricultural tax added to the issue.

The then commissioner, Lt Harbert Scronz, directed Lt Singer to rein in the farmers who had gathered to protest the move. The protesters killed the British lieutenant and two constables, provoking the merciless action.