DATE:
March 16, 1996
Saturday, 12:10 AM
PLACE:
Gangajhari Rail Station
Kalkalighat, Karimganj, Assam
The 501-hour Rail and Road Blockade Programme, initiated by the Bishnupriya Manipuri Students’ Union, marked a powerful beginning in the struggle for the recognition of the Bishnupriya Manipuri language. On the very first day of this historic movement, the down train from Karimganj was halted by Satyagrahis at Gangajhari station in Kalkalighat. In response, the police opened fire without warning, brutally injuring hundreds of peaceful protestors.
Among the brave hearts who stood firm that day was our beloved sister, Sudeshna Singha (Bulu), who laid down her life in the pursuit of linguistic justice. With her ultimate sacrifice, she became the second woman in recorded human history to give her life for her mother tongue — the first being Shahid Kamala Bhattacharjee, a martyr of the 1961 Bengali Language Movement.
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.
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