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Updated August 11th, 2018 at 19:56 IST

Assam youths to rally with 3.5 km long Tricolour this Independence Day

The organisers have informed that on August 15, they will take out a massive rally in Baksa with the 3.5km long Tricolour

Reported by: Anirudha Bhakat
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Not more than a decade back, Independence Day in this corner of India would mean a total shut down. No one would dare to step out. Only the vehicles assigned for emergency services would ply on the road. I still remember, how in 1998, my relatives put a black flag on top of the vehicle carrying the lifeless body of my little cousin. The fear factor was uncountable militant outfits operating in the region with ULFA topping the list. 

But things are now gradually changing. 

It was the Independence Day blast of 2004 in Dhemaji, that played a significant role in bringing the change. The price was the sacrifice of 18 lives, mostly school children aged between 12-14.

14 years on, the families await justice to come one day. Most of the predators are roaming freely, thanks to the government policy of 'peace talks', and their commander-in-chief still in the jungles of Myanmar. But 14 years down the line, the youths have realised. The militants too, as now they don't call 'bandh', but just makes an appeal to boycott, which again is being defied over the last one decade. 

Baksa, now in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (earlier in Nalbari district), was a hotbed of militancy in the 80s, 90s as well as in the beginning of the first decade of 21st century. Like any other kid of the 80s, 90s in Assam, kids of that era from Baksa area also spent their childhood without any memories of Independence Day celebration. 

But, the change everybody wanted is now here. Large number of people now come out every year to celebrate Independence Day. The various rider clubs in Guwahati take out bike rallies to mark the occasion. These are the good things that are happening right now in this corner of India. 

This year, the region is all set to witness another patriotic move by a few youths. The development is coming from Baksa. The Sunrise Youth Club in Bholajhar Uparkhuti area of the district will rally with the longest Tricolour. The work for the same has already begun. A local tailor is stitching the 3.5km long Tricolour and it has been learned that he has not charged a single penny for it. The entire project has cost around Rs 4 lakh. 

The organisers have informed that on August 15, they will take out a massive rally in Baksa with the 3.5km long Tricolour. More than 4000 people are expected to join this patriotic initiative. Pavan Oli, assistant secretary of the Sunrise Youth Club told Republic that the district administration and local politicians have also extended support to this noble initiative. 

"The local politicians, the deputy commissioner, the police everyone has extended their support. It gave a boost to our morale. As you know until a few years back, no one dared to observe Independence Day, but now the people have also realised and they will come out on August 15 to join us," said Pavan. 

The organisers wanted to make it to the Guinness Book of World Records, but due to financial constraints, their dream is still far from reality. 

However, the change that the State in particular and the region, in general, has undergone over the last few years is quite visible with youths coming out to observe Independence Day. The day is now not far when militancy will be a thing of past for the people living in the Northeast, opening gates of opportunities in the region.

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Published August 11th, 2018 at 19:31 IST

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