Haflong, February 12: The 133rd death anniversary of freedom fighter Veer Sambudhan Phonglo was observed by offering floral tribute and garland at the installed statue at Haflong today.
Veer Sambudhan Phonglo was a pioneer in creating movement against the atrocities towards the local people by the British and fought relentlessly for the cause of the district.
Ramesh Thaosen, Principal Secretary of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council in his speech narrated the story of Veer Sambudhan Phonglo and how he resolved to prepare for a battle against the British and succeeded in inspiring the villagers to form a group under the name of ‘Sibrai Hosom’ to raise their voice against the British.
Though there is no certainty about the accuracy about the date, Sambhudhan Phonglo is said to be born on March 16, 1850 in the tiny village of Longkhor, near the Maibang in the North Cachar Hills currently Dima Hasao district. He was born to father Deprondao Phonglo and mother Khathaidi Phonglo and had four brothers younger to him namely Umakant, Ramakant, Ramcharan alias Ramren and Haisholong. Sambhudhan was very tall, handsome and very well made man. His eyes were black and ears a bit large in size, with fair complexion. He was a devotee of Lord Shiva.
His childhood was spent at Longkhor and later moved to Gonjung. Sambudhan Phonglo was very restless and did not want to submit to the slavery. He moved to Saupra a small village near Nanadisa. Later he left this place also and shifted over to Semdikhor, near Mahur. While staying in this village, he was married to Nasadi. The village Dihorfonglo, which existed on the bank of the river of Mahur (Dihur or Dihor) is named after Sambhudhan Phonglo. A tank known as Sambhudhan-ni-dikhor meaning Sambhudhan’s tank also existed on the bank of Motinala which had been dug out by Sambhudhan and therefore named after his name. In 1832, the British annexed Southern Cachar and the Northern Cachar was annexed by the British in 1854 on the death of Tula Ram. After annexation british treacherously did not tag the Northern Cachar with South Cachar, but unscrupulously annexed the territory to the district of Nowgong. The territory was then placed under the charge of a Junior Political Officer with headquarters at Asalu. Subsequently, in 1866, this territory had been sliced away and distributed among the neighboring district of Nowgong and Naga Hills. Thus, while parts of the Diyung Valley and the Kopili Valley had been given to the district of Nowgong, a large portion was joined with the newly created district of Naga Hills. The rest formed the territory of the North Cachar Hills comprising exclusively the hilly region. Seeing the divide and rule policy of the British, which was intended to weaken the native people, Sambhudhan Phonglo could not console his mind to lose freedom, to embrace slavery by submission to the whites. He pondered over the matter and took the view that if the native people were going to lose freedom, why they should help the foreign power to consolidate its position
Sambhudhan toured extensively in the North Cachar Hills for mass contact and organization. He, therefore, succeeded in inspiring the villagers to raise their voice against the British. He was able to recruit a large number of youths to form revolutionary force. More new youths came voluntarily at the centre and offered themselves to join the revolutionary force. The increasing activities of Sambhudhan had caused a great concern for the British Government. When the matter was reported, the British authorities under Deputy Commisioner Boyed, advised the Sub-Divisional Officer stationed at Gunjung to deal with firm hands on the charge of revolting against the legally established government and issued an arrest warrant against Sambudhan Phonglo. However when the police officer with a small contingent of six armed constables arrived at Maibang to arrest Sambudhan, they got really bewildered to see the size and strength Sambhudhan had acquired and retreated back. A letter of warning was handed over to the Sub divisional Officer through the hands of the officer.
Consequently the news of his growing threat became a headache for the British Empire. Later when DC Boyed was killed in the hands of Sambudhan Phonglo, great atrocities were meted out to the people in the district which forced Sambudhan to shift to Silchar in Cachar area. It was during this time that the British treacherously bribed a women who befriended his wife and on one such visit to his home, he was surrounded by the British army. The women had taken away his “machete” or ‘Shen’ or double edged sword as has been ordered by them in his absence. He had to cut through the army with one of a rusty “machete” placed as stand for cooking purpose. He was eventually hunted down by the Bristish in the deep jungle as the creepers made it difficult for him to escape. Eventually he was captured and kept in Silchar jail till his death. For three weeks he was kept without food or even a drop of water till he breathed his last on February 12, 1883. As tribute to this courageous freedom fighter, the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council declared February 12 every year as a Martyrs’ day and observes a holiday in the entire district. The programme was largely attended by the people in general, various organisations both dimasas and non dimasas, local NGOs, senior and eminent citizens, school students, teachers and officials. The programme was actively organised by the organisation named Dimasa Students Union of Haflong in collaboration of JNH.
Though there is no certainty about the accuracy about the date, Sambhudhan Phonglo is said to be born on March 16, 1850 in the tiny village of Longkhor, near the Maibang in the North Cachar Hills currently Dima Hasao district. He was born to father Deprondao Phonglo and mother Khathaidi Phonglo and had four brothers younger to him namely Umakant, Ramakant, Ramcharan alias Ramren and Haisholong. Sambhudhan was very tall, handsome and very well made man. His eyes were black and ears a bit large in size, with fair complexion. He was a devotee of Lord Shiva.
His childhood was spent at Longkhor and later moved to Gonjung. Sambudhan Phonglo was very restless and did not want to submit to the slavery. He moved to Saupra a small village near Nanadisa. Later he left this place also and shifted over to Semdikhor, near Mahur. While staying in this village, he was married to Nasadi. The village Dihorfonglo, which existed on the bank of the river of Mahur (Dihur or Dihor) is named after Sambhudhan Phonglo. A tank known as Sambhudhan-ni-dikhor meaning Sambhudhan’s tank also existed on the bank of Motinala which had been dug out by Sambhudhan and therefore named after his name. In 1832, the British annexed Southern Cachar and the Northern Cachar was annexed by the British in 1854 on the death of Tula Ram. After annexation british treacherously did not tag the Northern Cachar with South Cachar, but unscrupulously annexed the territory to the district of Nowgong. The territory was then placed under the charge of a Junior Political Officer with headquarters at Asalu. Subsequently, in 1866, this territory had been sliced away and distributed among the neighboring district of Nowgong and Naga Hills. Thus, while parts of the Diyung Valley and the Kopili Valley had been given to the district of Nowgong, a large portion was joined with the newly created district of Naga Hills. The rest formed the territory of the North Cachar Hills comprising exclusively the hilly region. Seeing the divide and rule policy of the British, which was intended to weaken the native people, Sambhudhan Phonglo could not console his mind to lose freedom, to embrace slavery by submission to the whites. He pondered over the matter and took the view that if the native people were going to lose freedom, why they should help the foreign power to consolidate its position
Sambhudhan toured extensively in the North Cachar Hills for mass contact and organization. He, therefore, succeeded in inspiring the villagers to raise their voice against the British. He was able to recruit a large number of youths to form revolutionary force. More new youths came voluntarily at the centre and offered themselves to join the revolutionary force. The increasing activities of Sambhudhan had caused a great concern for the British Government. When the matter was reported, the British authorities under Deputy Commisioner Boyed, advised the Sub-Divisional Officer stationed at Gunjung to deal with firm hands on the charge of revolting against the legally established government and issued an arrest warrant against Sambudhan Phonglo. However when the police officer with a small contingent of six armed constables arrived at Maibang to arrest Sambudhan, they got really bewildered to see the size and strength Sambhudhan had acquired and retreated back. A letter of warning was handed over to the Sub divisional Officer through the hands of the officer.
Consequently the news of his growing threat became a headache for the British Empire. Later when DC Boyed was killed in the hands of Sambudhan Phonglo, great atrocities were meted out to the people in the district which forced Sambudhan to shift to Silchar in Cachar area. It was during this time that the British treacherously bribed a women who befriended his wife and on one such visit to his home, he was surrounded by the British army. The women had taken away his “machete” or ‘Shen’ or double edged sword as has been ordered by them in his absence. He had to cut through the army with one of a rusty “machete” placed as stand for cooking purpose. He was eventually hunted down by the Bristish in the deep jungle as the creepers made it difficult for him to escape. Eventually he was captured and kept in Silchar jail till his death. For three weeks he was kept without food or even a drop of water till he breathed his last on February 12, 1883. As tribute to this courageous freedom fighter, the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council declared February 12 every year as a Martyrs’ day and observes a holiday in the entire district. The programme was largely attended by the people in general, various organisations both dimasas and non dimasas, local NGOs, senior and eminent citizens, school students, teachers and officials. The programme was actively organised by the organisation named Dimasa Students Union of Haflong in collaboration of JNH.
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