The programme at Guwahati Press Club on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos

Guwahati, Oct. 23: People here today paid tribute to Premoda Kanta Sarma, the only person known to be involved in the famous Chittagong Armoury Raid in 1930 led by legendary Surjya Sen, and a sports personality, on the occasion of his 100th birth anniversary.

Another colleague of Sen’s, Binod Bihari Chowdhury, from Chittagong in Bangladesh, passed away last year at the age of 102.

The tribute programme at the Guwahati Press Club was the beginning of the yearlong celebration of Sarma’s 100th birth anniversary, planned by Lauhapurush Premoda Kanta Sarma Smriti Rakshya Committee and several other organisations.

In the later part of his life, Sarma was influenced by the ideologies of Mahatma Gandhi, became one of his main disciples and joined the freedom movement embracing Gandhi’s non-violent ways.

At the same time, his achievement in the field of sports made him one of the familiar names among the sports fraternity. He is remembered by many for his feat of swimming across the Brahmaputra during monsoon when the river flows above the danger level.

“We will organise various programmes in and outside Assam to spread awareness among people about Sarma’s achievements. Persons who have had significant contribution in various sectors of the country will be honoured during the celebration,” said an organiser. “I have seen his struggles. He was one of the main disciples of Gandhiji. He would be remembered by many for his struggle to allow the Harijans to enter the Ugratara temple which was banned for them,” said Dhiren Barua, a social worker.